ERIC Number: EJ790166
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 3
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1172
EISSN: N/A
Distinguishing Our "Would-Be Friends" from Our "True Friends"
Parish, Thomas S.; Rehbein, Gary C.
Education, v128 n1 p103-105 Fall 2007
For Dr. William Glasser (1965), the world-famous originator of Reality Therapy, the first question that he generally asks of all those who seek his services is: "What do you want?" While seeking to acquire an answer to this inquiry, however, he strongly recommends that the therapist also "make friends with the client," so that the relationship is more open and cooperative between both parties (i.e., the therapist & the client). Besides acquiring the client's "wish list" of things s/he desires, the therapist should also determine other things too. For instance, it would be most beneficial for the client if the therapist would ask him/her to list his/her "would-be friends," as well as his/her "true friends", for such information could prove to be most insightful as the therapist seeks to help his/her client to make better, more efficient choices. This brief article will seek to explain why it is important to help our clients to differentiate their "would-be friends" from their "true friends," for only the latter will more likely effectively assist one's clients in making such choices.
Descriptors: Psychotherapy, Patient Education, Physician Patient Relationship, Friendship, Trust (Psychology), Helping Relationship, Client Characteristics (Human Services)
Project Innovation, Inc. P.O. Box 8508 Spring Hill Station, Mobile, AL 36689-0508. Tel: 251-343-1878; Fax: 251-343-1878; Web site: http://www.projectinnovation.biz/education.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A