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Reality Therapy and Virtual Reality TherapyWhat is reality therapy? Reality therapy is a type of counseling that has been taught by Dr. William Glasser since 1965. It is firmly based on the Choice Theory, and the successful application of Reality Therapy is contingent upon the counselor being familiar with the Choice theory. Additionally, counselors who take classes in Reality Therapy are also taught the Choice Theory. Based on the belief that unsatisfactory or non-existent connection to people who are important is at the root of all human problems, Reality Therapy helps people reconnect. This reconnection process always starts first with the counselor/teacher connecting to the individual and then uses this as a model for the counselee to reconnect to the people who are of importance in his or her life. Avoid discussing the past, choosing to focus on the present instead since all human problems are related to something unsatisfactory in the present. Avoid discussing symptoms and complaints whenever possible since these are the ways that counselees tend to deal with unsatisfying relationships. Understand the concept of total behavior. In other words, focus on what counselees can do directly – act and think. Avoid criticizing, blaming, or complaining while encouraging counselees to do the same. Remain non-judgmental and non-coercive while encouraging people to judge all they are doing by the Choice Therapy axiom which is: “Is what I am doing getting me closer to the people I need?” If the choice of behaviors is not doing that, the counselor will work with the counselee to find new behaviors, which will lead to better connections with the people he or she needs. Teach counselees that excuses will not pave the way for reconnections, no matter how legitimate they may seem. Focus on specifics by finding out as soon as possible from whom the counselee is disconnected from and help him find new behaviors that will help him reconnect to that person or persons. Help them develop a specific. Workable plan to reconnect to the people they need and then follow through with the plan by helping them evaluate their progress. Counselors can make suggestions but should not lead the counselee to believe there is only one possible plan. Be patient and supportive while continuing to focus on the source of the problem. Virtual Reality Therapy – What is it and how does it work? Virtual reality therapy is a new type of therapy in which the client is immersed into a computerized environment using a head-mounted display and trackers. The use of this technique creates a visual, sensory, and auditory environment that psychologically exposes you to your fear. It doesn’t matter whether your fear is airplanes, speaking in front of a crowd of people, or driving over bridges. These fears and phobias are overcome through a combination of virtual reality and biofeedback/cognitive-behavior therapy techniques through a process known as counter-conditioning. As unbelievable as it may seem, the success rate on this therapy is 93%. Methods of Treatment Cognitive strategies are used to locate problematic thinking styles and attitudes that are contributing factors .in unpleasant feelings and self-defeating behaviors. Behavior strategies and relaxation training are used to manage a variety of both behavioral and physiological problems. Biofeedback procedures can be used for patients to teach them how to manage psycho physiological problems of various types. Virtual reality therapy itself is a method that uses a virtual environment in order to release clients from their phobias. Virtual-Reality Therapy can be used for things other than just learning to deal with phobias. Though a rather new and state of the art concept, there has been some success with the treatment of pain and other related illnesses. This state of the art concept has given people relief from pain that was not helped any other way: back, gastrointestinal, and much more. Some people living with Phobias for years with no successful treatment have found solace in Virtual Reality Therapy. This coming of the computer age in which we live is finding many things possible that even ten years ago we could not have imagined, not just as it relates to mental health issues, but to health issues in general – even life in general. The age of the Virtual treatment center has arrived, and it going to become a bigger part of the future than even the scientists and engineers who helped create it would have guessed. |
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