UNDERSTANDING CONSTRUCTIVISM

Constructivist theory does not lend itself to one particular type of therapy  but has instead had

significant impact on the field of psychology  in general. According to proponents of

constructivism, the model is not a new or different approach but is simply one perspective on

how different modalities are connected and how they relate to the knowledge of what it means

to be human. In particular, constructivism seeks to explore the search for meaning and the

ways people relate to the world. 

The idea that reality is constructed, not discovered, is a main tenet of this theory. There is no

one objective view of the world, constructivism theory suggests. Instead, every person creates

their own version of reality, a perspective built out of each individual's unique life experiences.

Important themes in constructivism include order, sense of self , and active agency . 

 People, out of a need for order, find patterns and create meanings to organize the world

in an easily understandable way.

 One's relationship with the self is important, but fluid, as it is impacted by personal

experience and interactions with other people.

 People are active agents in their own lives. Though some things are beyond a person's

control, it is up to each person to increase personal understanding of the world and,

ultimately, make choices beneficial to well-being. 

THE INFLUENCE OF CONSTRUCTIVISM

Approaches to therapy that incorporate constructivist ideas typically involve an exploration of

the meaning people assign to experiences, an acknowledgment that thoughts and beliefs affect

feelings, and encouragement (on the part of the therapist) of people in therapy to be active

participants in the change process. These therapies value a collaborative approach to therapy

—one where the therapist and person in treatment are equals who work together to help the

person make positive changes.     

The influences of constructivism can be seen in several different modalities,

including humanistic , person-centered, cognitive behavioral , dialectical,

and existential  approaches to therapy. George Kelly's personal construct psychology was one

of the first approaches to integrate constructivist theory. This approach, pioneered in the mid-
1950s, is a person-as-scientist approach grounded in the idea that people use  personal

constructs (akin to hypothesis or theories) to predict the behavior of others. Because the

individual acts as the scientist, these constructions may be continually tested and altered  when

individuals attempt new behaviors and consider new perspectives, whether this occurs in a

therapy session or in daily life. 

THE ROLE OF THE CONSTRUCTIVIST THERAPIST
Constructivism, which views the person in treatment as the agent of change, can be considered

more of a philosophy than a set of therapeutic techniques. In order to organize and make sense

of the world, people tend to create meaning out of events. This often leads to the emergence of

patterns, which can impact emotions , thoughts, and behaviors and may be difficult to transform.

Constructivist therapists, who act as facilitators of change rather than leaders, can help those in
treatment recognize these patterns and break free of them in order to create change.  The idea

that reality is constructed, not discovered, is a main tenet of this theory.

Constructivist therapists, who often have a great deal of faith in the resilience  of all individuals as

well as the human capacity for self-reorganization. typically pay close attention to exactly how a

person has used life experiences to relate to current circumstances. Frequently they work with

the person in treatment to create a chain of events (action-thought-reaction) in order to uncover

how these patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior have affected the person's life thus far

and how they might continue to do so in the future. 

Practitioners of constructivism may utilize techniques such as journaling,  guided imagery , and

sensory awareness exercises. They may also help people in treatment externalize problems, a
technique often used in narrative therapy . 
WHAT ISSUES CAN CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACHES ADDRESS?
Therapies that are influenced by constructivism can be beneficial in the treatment of  a wide

range of issues. Constructivist methodologies can be particularly helpful in the treatment

of grief , as the reconstruction of meaning is often integral to the process of grieving. A person

who has experienced loss is often faced with the challenge of reorganizing and reconstructing

reality in the absence of the person they have lost. This may involve the development of new routines

and relationships  and may lead some to adopt a new form of identity in the process.

People who are finding it difficult to make sense of trauma  they have experienced may also find

constructivist approaches helpful, as may individuals who have concerns and/or questions
related to their own sense of identity . Constructivist approaches can also help some people

better understand existential concepts and questions. 

CONCERNS AND LIMITATIONS 
The theory of constructivism has been criticized for the idea that there is no one truth because

all truths are equally valid. Constructivism has been considered to be somewhat at odds with

the concept of the self as it is typically understood in psychology. Traditionally, psychology has

focused on the individual, often minimizing the role of context and culture, but constructivism

looks at the context in which the self exists and considers the self to be fluid and changing.  

References: 
1. Granvold, D.K. (1996). Constructivist psychotherapy. Families in society, 77(6), 345-359. 

2. Liu, C.H., & Matthews, R. (2005). Vygotsky’s philosophy: Constructivism and its criticisms
explained.  International Education Journal, 6(3), 386-399. 

3. Mahoney, M.J., & Granvold, D.K. (2005). Constructivism and psychotherapy.  World

Psychiatry, 4(2). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1414735

4. Neimeyer, R.A., & Bridges, S. (2004, February 15). Personal construct theory.  The internet

encyclopedia of personal construct psychology.  Retrieved

from http://www.pcp-net.org/encyclopaedia/pc-theory.html

5. Raskin, J.D. (2002). Constructivism in psychology: Personal construct psychology, radical

constructivism, and social constructionism. American Communication Journal, 5(3). Retrieved

from https://faculty.newpaltz.edu/jonathanraskin/files/Raskin-2002-ACJ-reprint-updated-
appendix.pdf