Teens are more susceptible to mental and behavioral issues because their minds are still developing. In order to address these problems, a treatment center will provide a range of teen therapy services NC and surrounding areas need. Reality therapy for teens is one example. However, many families don’t know about reality therapy and what to expect.

Reality Therapy and Its History

Reality counseling revolves around the position that everyone constantly strives to fulfill five basic psychological needs. As a client-centered type of therapy, it focuses on the present and solving current problems. This approach is different from most forms of counseling that address past situations to understand the present.

Psychiatrist Dr. William Glasser developed reality therapy in the 1960s. He based it on the theory that people choose how to act. When they can’t or fail to meet their basic needs in healthy and effective ways, problems develop.

This theory sets reality counseling apart from other therapy methods that attribute people’s problems to mental illness. During sessions, therapists focus on helping teens develop better decision-making skills. By making better choices, they can have healthier relationships, effectively solve problems and achieve life goals.

In addition, reality therapy for teens provides a sense of empowerment, improves self-confidence and self-esteem, and increases self-awareness. Teens get better at letting the past go and not worrying about the future too.

Basic Human Psychological Needs

Freedom, fun, love, power, and survival are the five basic psychological needs on which reality therapy focuses. Its basis is on the idea that not meeting these psychological needs causes mental distress.

Freedom is the ability to maintain personal space and be independent. In order to meet the fun need, teens need a sense of pleasure, enjoyment, and satisfaction in life. Of course, love represents appreciation and passion from family members, friends, and the community.

In order to meet the power need, teens need to have a sense of achievement, self-worth and winning. Finally, the survival need requires that they have food and shelter.

The choices that teens make can have constructive or destructive effects on these basic needs. In reality therapy, they learn how to be more aware of poor choices that prevent them from meeting these needs. Changing their actions has a positive effect on how they feel and their ability to achieve goals.

What to Expect in Reality Therapy Sessions

Therapists might begin reality counseling sessions by guiding teens away from focusing on their past behavior. Instead, they steer concentration toward current actions. Also, they focus on present needs more than symptoms.

Since reality therapy for teens focuses on specific problems, therapists ask them to think about the effects of their actions. This step helps them focus on what they can change instead of what they can’t. By doing so and understanding their needs, therapists can help them plan to meet those needs. As a result, teens can strengthen their relationships with others and develop healthy habits.

However, failure isn’t an option during reality counseling. When teens fail to implement a plan, therapists work with them to design a new plan. In many cases, life skills training is necessary to give teens the tools that they need to fulfill the plan.

See How Foothills at Red Oak Recovery Can Change Your Teen’s Life

Does your teen need help understanding how choices and behaviors affect happiness? Foothills at Red Oak Recovery can provide education through reality counseling. We also use a range of other therapy services, such as:

• Individual therapy
• Experiential or recreational therapy
• Family therapy
• Group therapy
• Equine therapy

As an outpatient treatment center, Foothills at Red Oak Recovery wants to help your whole family heal. We can treat a variety of mental and behavioral health disorders. Some examples include disordered eating, trauma and substance abuse.

Don’t ignore the distress that poor choices and behaviors have caused in your teen’s life. Get the treatment that he needs at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery. Call 866.300.5275 for more information about our reality therapy.