The primary aim of reality therapy is to help clients

• A. Uncover unconscious motives
• B. Understand their past
• C. Improve memory
• D. Take responsibility for their choices

Answer: (D)

Reality therapy centers on the here and now and on helping people take control of their behavior. Its aim is to help clients take responsibility for their choices and to act in ways that meet their needs within acceptable social limits. Rather than digging into unconscious motives or past experiences, this approach asks clients to examine what they want, what they are doing to get it, whether those actions are working, and what plan they will commit to for better results. This is often guided through the WDEP process—Worth or Wants, Doing, Evaluation, and Plan—which makes responsibility for actions concrete. For example, a student who disrupts class would be guided to identify their true wants, assess whether their current behavior achieves those wants, evaluate its effectiveness, and devise a responsible, constructive plan to meet their needs. Thus, the primary aim is to foster taking responsibility for one's choices.