Have you ever just stopped and asked yourself, “what do I really want?” Our days are full of wants. We want this or that for breakfast, want to catch the bus, want to buy new shoes, want to watch the TV and so on. All proof of normality! Still, there are bigger wants that we harbour in our minds, how we want our lives to be, how we want to relate to those nearest and dearest, what we want for our children. According to Choice Theory psychology it is our wants that drive our behaviour, all in an attempt to meet our basic needs.
Let’s face it, It can be scary to stop and reflect on these big wants but Choice Theory would suggest that we link such thoughts to action plans. I want to get on better with my son ….. SO … what could I do to improve things? I want to enjoy my work more … SO … when, where and how will I start? We don’t need to think of massive plans but something that starts us in the right direction, ideally something that we really can do with at least a 90% chance of success.
Glasser, who created Choice Theory, explains our wants as our inner “Quality World”, all the people, things, places, values we want in our lives, everything that we are striving to make happen. According to him, we assemble these pictures as a way to meet our basic needs and our everyday behaviour is always working towards making these pictures reality. That makes our wants a very important part of our everyday psychological functioning so maybe it is worthwhile pausing to clarify what they are.
- What are some of my really important wants?
- Which of these do I wish to process now, to clarify and evaluate?
- What can I do to help make this want happen?
- Is my plan simple and with a good chance of success?
- Am I really going to do it and, if so, how – when – where ?
Dublin Community Mediation
For some time now Dublin Community Mediation’s leadership has been exploring the value of Choice Theory Psychology in its training of mediators. DCM’s training covers a wide range of vital mediation skills and Choice Theory fits into their model very well. In July 2026 a starter group of 11 members completed their Basic Intensive training […]
THIRTY YEARS OF CHOICE THEORY PSYCHOLOGY
Dr Glasser gave his first talk in Ireland on 1st June 1985, forty years ago this year. He had been invited by Arthur Dunne and, two years later, he returned to be present at the very first certification course in Ireland. With his full approval, the “William Glasser Institute Ireland” was set up in 1987 […]
George Leonard Harrington, M.D.
Dr. Glasser always spoke warmly about Dr. George Harrington, whom he considered to be his mentor in UCLA and, in 1965, Dr, Glasser dedicated his book “Reality Therapy” “To G.L. Harrington, M.D.” It was in fact Dr. Harrington who convinced Glasser about the role of choice in so-called “mental illness”. Read more about this amazing […]
Fellowship for Eileen Hearne
On Saturday 23rd August, the William Glasser Institute Ireland conferred the honour of Fellowship on one of our founding members, Eileen Hearne. Arthur Dunne did the honours of awarding the Fellowship Certificate to Eileen who was accompanied by her daughter Stacey and son-in-law Peter. Friends and colleagues travelled from practically the four corners of Ireland […]
What Do You Really Want?
Have you ever just stopped and asked yourself, “what do I really want?” Our days are full of wants. We want this or that for breakfast, want to catch the bus, want to buy new shoes, want to watch the TV and so on. All proof of normality! Still, there are bigger wants that we […]
Simulated Interview with Dr. Glasser
An astonishingly creative and accurate way of presenting Dr. Glasser’s ideas! That is what Dr. James Overholser has achieved in his three-part simulated interview with Dr. Glasser. This material was originally published in the Irish Journal of Counselling & Psychotherapy and we are able to present it here by kind permission of the author and […]
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