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Dr. Glasser's present approach focuses on mental health as a separate entity from mental illness. In the same way that doctors can prescribe healthy habits and diet to encourage physical health, Dr. Glasser proposes ways to encourage mental health in his clients. Choice theory is the primary theory behind his counseling approach. According to this theory, unhappiness and relationship problems, either in school or in one's personal life, derive from the fact that all humans have learned to use external control psychology. This type of thinking and behavior is founded on a person thinking "I know what's right for you." This thought leads people to try to control or change one another, and it is a frequent approach that teachers and school administrators take with students. Using external control or allowing another to use it on you leads to unhappiness in any relationship, whether it is with your spouse, colleagues, or students. Dr. Glasser's consultation with schools involves teaching people to respect one another. Better relationships between teachers and students will increase the quality of the school, which will result in increased learning. According to choice theory, the primary way to foster this respect is to reduce external control and increase choice. For example, when consulting with teachers, Dr. Glasser teaches them ways to convey to students that they have a choice as to whether they learn or not. When teachers give students this choice—and it is a real choice, not simply the false sense of choice—they begin to eliminate external control and allow the classroom relationship to change positively. Good schools and classrooms are all about relationships. Dr. Glasser characterizes external control with a list of "seven deadly habits" that destroy relationships: criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing, and bribing or rewarding to control. He recommends replacing these habits with "seven caring habits" that improve all relationships: supporting, encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating differences. When counseling teachers, Dr. Glasser models the seven caring habits in all his interactions with his clients. Doing so creates and strengthens the counseling relationship, which in turn shows teachers how to improve their relationships with students. If teachers change at least a few of the habits of external control by replacing them with some of the caring habits, they will see positive results in the classroom. Dr. Carlson follows an Adlerian approach to working with teachers. He uses a seven-step process that allows him to work in a brief (yet effective) fashion. His ideas are highlighted in his recent book, coauthored with Don Dinkmeyer Jr., Consultation: Creating School-Based Interventions. |
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