Counseling Profession Loses a Friend and a Legend of Counseling
by Bob and Sandie Wubbolding
On August 23, 2013 Dr. William Glasser died peacefully in his home
surrounded by his wife Carleen and his son Martin. He had been in a
state of declining health for several years and had been retired for
four years.
He will always be remembered for founding reality therapy. His
groundbreaking book Reality Therapy, published in 1965 created a stir
among professional people. This book was the result of his experience
and research in a mental hospital and a correctional institution. He
described how he believed people chose their behavior and could
therefore alter it. Even though he was a psychiatrist the psychiatry
profession did not readily accept his work. But counselors, social
workers and educators welcomed it enthusiastically and began
implementing it in schools, clinics and in correctional institutions.
For 50 years Dr. Glasser traveled throughout North and South America,
Europe and Asia lecturing to large groups of professional people and
others who wished to assist their clients more effectively or who wished
to improve their own lives. As time went by he added a theoretical
basis to the practical delivery system. He called the theory “choice
theory” and described it as the train track for the train, reality
therapy. One provides direction and the other is the vehicle or the
methodology for helping individuals become more in control of their
lives.
In 1974 he developed a certification process in reality therapy. Since
that time, thousands of people have taken training programs and been
certified in reality therapy through the William Glasser Institute. At
the present time this program exists in over 20 countries and on six
continents.
In his many books, lectures and conversations he always stressed the
importance of human relationships as central to effective mental health.
As a visionary he wanted to teach his system to the world. As a
practical service provider he always demonstrated his system in his
teaching by asking members of the audience to present him with difficult
situations. He frequently said, “Give me your toughest clients” and
immediately related to them with empathy, firmness and most of all with
his eye-twinkling humor.
Reality therapy and its theoretical basis choice theory are now
represented in most counseling textbooks and are taught in counseling
courses. His system has gained respect and prestige as a scientifically
proven methodology applied to persons from cultures around the world.
He was a frequent presenter at ACA conferences delivering keynote
addresses. He especially enjoyed talking to students and practitioners
in the exhibit hall while spending hours each day answering questions
and autographing books. In 2004 he was pleased receive the Legend in
Counseling Award for his development of reality therapy presented by the
American Counseling Association.
At the 1990 International Conference of the William Glasser Institute,
the Silver Anniversary of the publication of Reality Therapy, the
superintendent of the Ventura School, Bea Dolan, sent the following
touching tribute to Dr. Glasser emphasizing human relationships:
“We at the Ventura School started every treatment program the
department had: citizens’ advisory groups, ward advisory committees,
small and large group counseling, off-campus services, etc. And what
did we get – each other! A reward beyond compare.”
Quite recently, a woman approached him at his home and begged him for
advice for how to deal with her 3 year-old son. He paused for a long
time and then reached deep down inside his soul and gave her 2
suggestions: “Always treat him as if he is good.” And “Set up
circumstances where he can only succeed.” These wise words could serve
as his suggestions for all counselors. They represent for us a
worldview, an attitude toward clients and his perception of all human
beings. These two sentiments transcend a particular counseling system in
that they summarize his legacy.
From a personal point of view, we feel a deep sense of loss. Our
relationship with him is exemplified by his visit to us after Bob’s
heart surgery. He came from Los Angeles to Cincinnati, Ohio to check on
my health and as he said, “I wanted to see with my own two eyes that you
are healing.” We considered him friend, family, mentor, colleague,
visionary. Rest in peace, good friend.
