The original works of both Ellis and Glasser are written in the masculine second person with many sexist, racist (albeit innocent terminology based on the norms of that era) and ageist language. What existed in the early works of both and remain to date is an unparalleled commitment to excellence in the field of psychotherapy. Ellis and Glasser were both reformers and breakaways from the traditional psychotherapy of their day. Both are closer to the nature of human misery in that they have defined what frustrates so many human beings, and that is humans need to be fulfilled with love and feelings of worth that come from success in life. They think and behave in order to become fulfilled and when they are unfulfilled, their thoughts and behaviors are the problem.
While Ellis and Glasser recognized it they understood that many people are not capable of being scientific. To whit: most people routinely think illogically, irrationally and often with emotion based on impulse. What both gentlemen have offered is a rational way to see the world and a simple plan to clarify that view for better navigation within it. They pick up where other therapies fall short by allowing the client to experience the flush of pride and strength that comes from taking responsibility for their behaviors and consequences that come with them as they grow towards personal choice and freedom. Other therapies do a disservice by suggesting that the client is not to blame for responding to the forces of the world and the demands of society. Those psychologists take the responsibility away from clients and deny them the refreshing touch of reality. Both therapies give the client a place in the world and strength to move through it confidently without drugs or denying their place in it. Both are highly productive in a group setting. They do what drugs cannot, that is: change behaviors that weaken nervous and immune systems in the first place. They do have their fundamental differences even though at face value they are inconsequential when comparing the two therapists.
Albert Ellis is fun spirited and takes life not so seriously. It is part of his personal philosophy that there are no “shoulds”, or musts or other absolutes with which to govern ones life by. In fact he revised his writing style to avoid hypocrisy when other colleagues and students noted that his first writings were full of shoulds, musts and other absolutes. He seems to enjoy life because he is not bound by any absolutist credo. He is free to work as hard or as lightly as he pleases. Without such pressure he is absolutely prolific, working sometimes 7 days a week, flying all around the globe giving seminars and maintaining his post as chairman of the Albert Ellis Institute of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.
William Glasser on the other hand is kind but more sedate in his professional comportment. He is warm sensitive and caring but maintains a very dignified composure when working with clients. It is against his nature to ridicule a client, as he is certain that the risk of harming a client through such behavior does not justify the gamble. His view on confrontation is basically to read a client and see what the client is ready for. He likens pushing too much to denying young lovers to see each other only to force them to elope. William Glasser would rather coax a client towards growth with his appeal as a steadfast, competent, caring helper rather than behave in a way to scare or insult the client. He would never “shame” a client, as would Ellis because it is a form of punishment. Glasser does not believe in punishment. Punishment to him is an external control that can seldom be effective because people understand that they have choices and never internalize (when the locus of control is external) the lesson intended by punishment. He was notably successful for not using punishment when he worked at the V.A. hospital, the Ventura school and other institutions in California through the years. Glasser as well is very prolific in his works and is chairman of the William Glasser Institute.
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Ellis, A. (1999) How to make yourself happy: Atascadero, CA Impact Publishers
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Ellis, A. & Velten E. (1998) Optimal aging Peru, IL Carus Publishers,
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Glasser, W. (1984) Control therapy New York, NY Harper and Row
Glasser, W. (1971) The identity society, New York, NY Harper and Row
Glasser, W. (1965) Reality therapy New York, NY Harper and Row