Do you remember Dr. William Glasser, from your studies? He is a world-renowned psychiatrist who has been teaching Reality Therapy since 1965. He has authored several books including "Choice Theory – A New Psychology of Personal Freedom." Glasser offers a new way of improving relationships. He teaches that unsatisfying or disconnected relationships are the source of most crimes, addictions, mental illness, abuse, marital, family and school failures.
Choice Theory states that all we do as humans is behave, that almost all behavior is chosen, and that we are driven to satisfy five basic needs – survival (food, shelter, safety, reproduction), love and belonging (friendships, connections with people), power (respected, make an impact, influential), freedom (to be yourself, do as you wish) and fun (driving force behind learning, exciting-energizing). The most important need is love and belonging. Closeness and connectedness with the people we care about is a requisite for satisfying all of our needs.
Choice Theory is offered as an alternative to external control psychology. External control psychology is where you punish those who are doing wrong, so they will do what is right; then reward them, so they continue this behavior. This forcing, punishing, coercive psychology is destructive to relationships.

Reality Therapy is the method of counseling used to create meaningful relationships, and through this relationship, teaching skills that help people … find happiness.

Choice Theory strives to explain the following:

• that we choose everything we do, including the misery we feel
  
• other people can neither make us happy nor make us miserable
  
• all we get from and give to others is information
  
• information is gathered in our brains where we process it; then we make a choice of what to do
  
• taking more effective control of our lives means making better choices as we build relationships with others
  
• our past does not have to make us a victim
  
• unhappy people are unable to get along with others
  
• we are driven by the basic needs of survival, power, fun, freedom, love and belonging. All behavior choices are attempts to fulfill these basic needs in our lives
  
• only through negotiation and compromise can we successfully resolve conflict in our lives. Coercion and threats will not work, they destroy relationships
  
• we need to: STOP, THINK, EVALUATE, PLAN, and DO when making a responsible choice.
  

Reality Therapy is the method of counseling used to create meaningful relationships, and through this relationship, teaching skills that help people to self evaluate their behaviors to make more effective choices in their lives. Since unsatisfactory or non-existent connections with people are the source of almost all human problems, the goal of Reality Therapy is to help people reconnect. This reconnection starts with the counselor first connecting with the individual and then using this connection as a model for how the person can begin to connect with people.

A few techniques taught by the William Glasser Institute include asking thinking questions such as: What is good about being here?; Is that what you really want?; Would you be willing to do things differently to get what you want?; Is what you’re doing getting you what you want?; Is (what you doing) bringing you closer to (your goal) or pushing you further away?; How will you know things have improved?; Who can you change?

These questions are designed to challenge a persons thinking patterns and encourages them to re-evaluate behaviors that lead to disconnections with others they need. An important goal of Reality Therapy is to teach others that they are in control of their choices and that nobody can force them to behave differently. We may be motivated by others and influenced by consequences, however, we are the one’s who ultimately decide if we will change our behaviors. This empowering leads to more effective control over our lives and the decisions we make.

The William Glasser Institute provides training in the practice of Reality Therapy. The Institute conducts seminars throughout the United States, Canada and in several other countries throughout the world.

To learn more about Choice Theory / Reality Therapy, contact the William Glasser Institute at 22024 Lassen Street, #118, Chatsworth, CA 91311 USA. Phone number (800) 899-0688 or (818) 700-8000, Fax (818) 700-0555. Check out their website at http://www.wglasserinst.com.

Successful Conference Held in 2000
By: Doug Nurenberg	Both fun and learning took place at the Annual Conference held in Frankenmuth.

The 13th Annual Conference of the Michigan Home-Based Family Services Association (MHBFSA) entitled "Changing Systems, Changing Needs" was a great success, in terms of presenters and venue. Of the 228 participants at the conference, most ranked Frankenmuth as an excellent location (one wonders if shopping opportunities played any factor in this ranking.) Cheryl Marie Gully, MSW, CSW, one of two keynotes on the first day, presented on "Working with the Sexually Reactive Child", while Beck Dunn, the other keynote speaker on Day One presented on "Visits to the World of the Domestic Violence Home: Safety Issues." The last day offered participants an enjoyable and educational presentation by the third keynote, Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy, as he discussed "Prevention and Treatment Strategies with At-Risk Adolescents".
Day Two offered the opportunity for many local presenters to pass on their knowledge and lessons learned from working with children and families. Highlights from Day Two were: "Experiential Learning as Assessment and Treatment in Home-Based Settings" by Jill Clark, MSW and Sandra Tropp, MA; "Not My Child’ Signs of and Factors Leading to Gang Involvement" by Chris Chalupa, MSW, CSW;
"Assessing and Interviewing the Juvenile Sex Offender" by Matthew Rosenberg, MSW, CSW; and "Teaching Families and Youth Effective Communication Skills" by Thomas DuRussel Weston, ACSW. We thank them and all the other presenters for their time and effort. All of the presentations were well attended and participants rated presentations from good to excellent.
At the Awards Banquet, we enjoyed Frankenmuth’s famous chicken dinners and were able to praise professionals for their contributions to MHBFSA and to home-based services in Michigan. President’s Awards were awarded to members who represent the mission of the Association "to strengthen families and communities through advocacy, education, and promotion of family-centered home-based services delivery".
Other highlights of the Banquet were Jeff Greshak displaying and describing the MHBFSA website, http://www.mihomebased.com/ and Laura Johnson-Hughes leading participants through an experiential exercise.
Overall, the Annual Conference was a great success as participants were able to relax, re-energize, and learn.


MHBFSA
News

Winter 2001

A new slate of officers has been elected for 2001. Laura Johnson-Hughes, (Wayne Center) will serve as President, Jill Peck, (Highfields) will act as Vice President, Char Beedle, (Ingham Counseling Center) Treasurer and Cheryl Sibilsky, (FIA) will continue as Board Secretary. Tim Monroe, Past President, will also serve on the Executive Committee.
Committee Chairs are: Lynn Alexander, Training; Chris Rehagan, Public Education; Jeff Greshak, Membership. If you are interested in joining a committee contact the chair for more information.
The board has had one meeting and members have begun planning for the Annual Conference in October. There is also preliminary planning taking place to hold a one-day training in the summer.

Don’t forget it is time to renew your membership. If you have not received an application call: (517) 887-2762 or visit the web site.


President’s Award
2000
Recognizing Special People

President’s Award winners, Shirley Boyer and Anne Cailloutte with their supervisor Craig Derror. All three work for Children’s Support Services of North Central Community Mental Health in Cadillac, Michigan.	Ken Visser, pictured here with his wife Nancy, received heartfelt recognition for his dedication to the Home-Based mission. Ken was a recipient of the 2001 President’s Award.

By: Jill Peck

Wednesday evening October 4, 2000 plaques were presented to the winners of the 2000 President’s Award. The presentation took place at the Annual Conference. The Association was pleased to honor three extraordinary individuals.
Craig Derror of North Central Community Mental Health Services, nominated Anne Caillouette and Shirley Boyer for the 2000 President's Award. The pair won the Award based on their collaborative efforts working with agencies in their community. As stated in their nomination letter, "Anne and Shirley each have done an excellent job of developing collaborative relationships with the courts, FIA’s, Schools, Public Health and other public and private agencies in the area. These relationships have benefited the families that are served…"

Ken Visser received a President’s Award for his long-term commitment to Family Preservation Services and for his dedication to the Michigan Home-Based Family Services Association. Ken was a founding officer of the Association and acted as the first Secretary. Ken has dedicated his career to promoting services that support and strengthen families. After Ken retired from a stellar career in social services, he rejoined the MHBFSA becoming a Board member and working with the Public Education Committee. Now a professor at Grand Valley University, Ken is leaving the board to spend more time with his students and family.

If you know a co-worker, agency or family who represents the mission of the MHBFSA it is not too early to submit a nomination for the 2001 Award. This year you have the option of submitting nominations on–line at the MHBFSA web site, www.mihomebased.com or send a letter of recommendation to: