William Glasser (1925–2013)

William Glasser was, quite simply, one of the most influential educators and therapists who ever lived. Beginning in the 1960s when he first develope Reality Therapy, he was among the first to develop a relatively brief methond for helping people address a wise range of personal problems, from depression and addictions to lifestyle issues.

By concentrating on the consequences of one's behavaior and the choices one makes, Glasser provided a framework for helping people move toward taking constructive action in their lives. His classic books Reality Therapy (1965), Positive Addiction (1976), Reality Therapy in Action (2000), and Counseling with Choice Therapy (2001) educated several generations of practitioners about his theory. Reality Therapy has since become so popular that Glasser Institutes have sprouted up all over the world, from Australia and Hong Kong to Russia and the Middle East. At this point, practically every therapist makes use of some aspect of his approach.

As if his contributions to therapy were not enough, Glasser was just as influential in the field of education. Through his books Schools Without Failure (1969) and The Quality School (1990), he expanded his "choice theory" to design education and discipline strategies that both empower children and make them more responsible for their behavior. He has accomplished similar goals by developing "choice theory communities" in which civic and corporate cultures are restructured in such a way as to emphasize more cooperative and self-determined actions.

Although trained originally as a psychiatrist, Glasser has spent most of his professional life working in the areas of education, counseling, addictions, organizational behavior, and public health. He has also concentrated more recently on improving marital relationships, in his books What is this Thing Called Love? (2000) and Getting Together and Staying Together (2000). Glasser was also auite active as a speaker and writer, continuing to refine his ideas and apply choice therapy to new settings. [adapted from The Mummy at the Dining Room Table, by Jeffrey A. Kottler and Jon Carlson (2004)]