Her efforts to infuse Choice Theory® and reality therapy into training for chronic driving offenders has recently earned Kim Olver a 2017 Special Driver Training Award from the National Safety Council (NSC). Olver received the award at the NSC annual meeting held Sept. 23, 2017 in Indianapolis, IN.

NSC President and CEO Debbie Hersman along with Col. James Solomon, NSC subject matter expert, presented Olver with the Commitment to Driver Safety Award for infusing Choice Theory into NSC Defensive Driving Courses.

Solomon explained the NSC has a long history of using Reality Therapy and Choice Theory since the organization worked with Dr. William Glasser to develop the first edition of Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving (ADD) and Alive at 25.

“In the last two years we have redeveloped ADD, Alive at 25, State Courts Against Road Rage, and launched our new Chronic Offender course. The person who worked with us every step of the way, and who will be assisting us with the new 10thedition of the Defensive Driving Course is Kim Olver of Coaching for Excellence and the Executive Director of the William Glasser Institute.”

Olver explained that choice theory and reality therapy is crucial in working with chronic driving offenders. “It is reality therapy that asks them the questions to help them self-evaluate their behavior against what they really want. Choice Theory helps them recognize the motivation behind their behavior. Drivers try to figure out what it is that motivates them so when they are back on the road, they can be responsible. I give them information, help them self-evaluate, which in turn, increases the likelihood they will change their behavior,” she said.

The NSC Driver Safety Training arena has over 6,000 instructors working at more than 1,200 training centers. “Each year we take time to pause and recognize people and groups who have not only stepped up to the plate and knocked the ball out of the park – but have knocked the cover off of the ball,” Solomon said. Olver was one of four national award recipients.

Kim Olver, M.S., LCPC, NCC, BCC, is a certified coach, trainer, counselor, speaker and author. She serves as the Executive Director of The William Glasser Institute and of William Glasser International and is the owner of Coaching for Excellence.

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Photo caption, left to right: Col. James Solomon, Kim Olver, and Debbie Hersman