Therapy as Social Construction - Paperback

by Sheila McNamee (Editor), Kenneth J. Gergen (Editor)

"Clearing away the smoke of social construction from the sometimes-confusing mirrors of postmodernism is this rich volume that clarifies theory and offers therapeutic applications. Therapy as Social Construction examines a richer voice of empowerment within and beyond a therapeutic context. . . . Despite its title, this volume will pique the interest of communication educators too because what is said of therapy of social construction is true of a student-teacher contract. . . . It points the way for teachers willing to take a sometimes unpredictable, challenging, but never disempowering risk to apply to the same kind of thinking to their classroom." --Richard P. Long, Columbus College, Georgia This volume explores the new possibilities for the therapeutic process of adopting a social constructionist perspective. The starting point for all the contributors is a concern with socially constructed "texts." On one hand, our senses of self, identity, and life purpose are fundamentally, socially and culturally embedded. On the other, no single cultural script is all powerful. In social constructionist therapy, a key process is the co-creation by therapists and clients of new, more satisfactory "stories," in ways which nevertheless recognize their social, relational character. The first part of the book looks at the theoretical basis for social constructionist therapy, including the implications for client-therapist relationships. Authors then explore various approaches in practice, including "irreverent therapy," "the not-knowing therapist," the creative significance of difference, and the role of reflexivity. A number of case studies are presented. The final section presents an exhilarating mix of overview, self-critique, and an agenda for the future. Therapy as Social Construction will be essential reading for therapists, counselors, clinnical psychologists and all those in the helping professions providing therapeutic services to their clients. "These readings about the application of social constructionism to psychotherapy are unique because the authors reside in a number of different countries and come from a wide range of professional backgrounds. Despite its small size, the book covers a breadth of topics. . .. The chapters focus on an evaluation, overview, and critique of a constructionist approach toward psychotherapy. For scholars and practitioners interested in psychotherapy, the social sciences, and the philosophy of science. Graduate through professional." --C. L.Kleinke, University of Alaska, Anchorage

Author Biography

Sheila McNamee, Ph.D. is Professor Emerita of Communication at the University of New Hampshire and Vice President and Co-Founder of the Taos Institute. She is internationally known for her contributions to social construction theory and practice, focusing on dialogic transformation in psychotherapy, education, healthcare, organizations, and research. She is author of several books and articles, including Research and Social Change: A Relational Constructionist Approach (with D. M. Hosking, Routledge, 2012), Relational Responsibility: Resources for Sustainable Dialogue (with K. Gergen, Sage, 1999), and is co-editor of The Sage Handbook of Social Constructionist Practice (with M. Gergen, E. Rasera, & C. Camargo-Borges, 2020) and Education as Social Construction: Contributions to Theory, Research, and Practice (with T. Dragonas, K. Gergen, E. Tseliou, Taos WorldShare, 2015).

Kenneth J. Gergen is a Senior Research Professor in Psychology at Swarthmore College, and the President of the Taos Institute. He is internationally known for his contributions to social constructionist theory, technology and cultural change, the self, aging, education, and relational theory and practices. His major writings include, Realities and Relationships: Soundings in Social Construction, The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life, and Relational Being: Beyond Self and Community. His most recent work Beyond the Tyranny of Testing: Relational Evaluation in Education (with Scherto Gill) offers a relational constructionist alternative to the destructive practices of testing and grading in education. Gergen lectures throughout the world, and has received numerous awards for his work, including honorary degrees in both the U.S. and Europe.