What belief guides reality therapists regarding client control?

The belief that clients have more control over their behavior than they realize is central to the principles of Reality Therapy. Reality therapists operate on the premise that individuals have the capacity to make choices and can take responsibility for their actions, thoughts, and feelings. This perspective empowers clients to recognize their potential for change and to understand that, while they may feel trapped by circumstances, they ultimately have the ability to influence their own lives and decisions.

This focus on personal agency and the understanding that clients can choose to change their behaviors is both a foundational aspect of Choice Theory and a key component of effective therapeutic practice. By guiding clients to recognize and harness their inherent control, therapists facilitate a process of self-discovery and personal empowerment, leading to more positive outcomes in therapy.

Emphasizing that clients should rely on external support for change, follow strict guidelines, or that they are entirely helpless runs counter to the fundamental ideas of Reality Therapy, which stresses self-agency and personal responsibility in the process of change.