What does "planning for the future" involve in Reality Therapy?

In Reality Therapy, "planning for the future" focuses on establishing actionable steps aligned with goals. This aspect emphasizes the importance of moving forward by setting specific, realistic objectives and identifying the practical ways to achieve them. It enables clients to take responsibility for their choices and actions while encouraging them to consider how their current behaviors impact their desired future.

By engaging in this planning process, individuals can reinforce a sense of control over their lives, empowering them to make conscious decisions that will lead to personal fulfillment and satisfaction. The proactive nature of this planning is essential in helping clients visualize their goals and the steps needed to reach them, thereby fostering a future-oriented mindset.

In contrast, creating a detailed life history mainly focuses on past experiences rather than future aspirations. Reflecting on past therapy sessions does not typically aid in direct future planning but rather serves to review previous progress. Identifying historical patterns of behavior looks backward at what has occurred rather than looking forward to actionable outcomes. Thus, establishing actionable steps is the core element of effective future planning in Reality Therapy.