Constructivist Therapy

Prarthita Biswas
Q2-PTY02-V058
 What is Constructivism?
• “Constructivism is a philosophy of learning
founded on the premise that, by reflecting on
our experiences, we construct our own
understanding of the world we live in” (Brooks
& Brooks)
• It is “based on a type of learning in which the
learner forms, or constructs, much of what
she learns or comprehends” (Cashman et al
390)
 Who Contributed to Constructivism?
• Jerome Bruner
• Jean Piaget
• Lev Vygotsky
• John Dewey
 Views of Bruner and Piaget
• Jerome Bruner : His concern with cognitive psychology “led to a
particular interest in the cognitive development of children… and
just what the appropriate forms of education might be” (Smith)
• Jean Piaget developed the cognitive learning theory. He felt
children were “active learners” who constructed new knowledge
“as they moved through different cognitive stages, building on what
they already knew” (Cushman et al 392)
• Piaget’s Four Cognitive Stages
• Sensorimotor : “learning takes place primarily through the child’s
senses and motor actions” (Cushman et al 393)
• Preoperational : “children begin to use symbols and images”
(Cushman et al 393)
• Concrete Operational : “children begin to think logically” (Cushman
et al 393)
• Formal Operational:Children begin to think in an abstract way
 Views of Vygotsky and Dewey
• Lev Vygotsky: Developed the social cognition theory which “asserts
that culture is the prime determinant of individual development”
because humans are the only creatures to have created cultures
and therefore it effects our learning development.
• “Vygotsky and Social Cognition” : Vygotsky theorized that a child’s
cultural upbringing greatly effects their learning development.
• John Dewey : He believed that learning should be engaging to the
students… they will learn better if they are interested.
• Was a huge influence on our education system
• Believed in “educating the whole child, physically, mentally, and
socially, and not just on the dispensation of facts and information”
(Cushman et al 395)
What Is Constructivism and What Is Social Constructionism?
• Constructivism, as represented by the man in the forest, includes
people who believe knowledge and reality are constructed within
individuals. In contrast, social constructionism, as represented by
the woman in the forest, includes people who believe knowledge
and reality are constructed through discourse or conversation.
Constructivists focus on what’s happening within the minds or
brains of individuals; social constructionists focus on what’s
happening between people as they join together to create
realities. Guterman (2006) described these two perspectives:
• Although both constructivism and social constructionism endorse
a subjectivist view of knowledge, the former emphasizes
individuals’ biological and cognitive processes, whereas the latter
places knowledge in the domain of social interchange. (p. 13)
Conceptualization of Constructivism Therapy
• Constructive therapies are approaches that begin with the
recognition that humans are meaning makers who
construct, not simply uncover, their psychological realities.
They are based on “the construction that we are
constructive.”
• —Michael F. Hoyt, The Handbook of Constructive Therapies
(1998, p. 3)
• A powerful conceptualization of constructive therapy
comes from Michael White (1993), who described
therapists as not just “taking history” but “making history.”
Certainly, in their own particular and sometimes peculiar
way, constructive theorists and therapists are currently
making history in counseling and psychotherapy.
Constructivist Therapy Is a Collaborative, Cooperative,
Co-constructive Conversation
• Constructive therapists establish collaborative relationships with
clients. Guterman (2013) noted: “Borrowing from the field of
anthropology, some social constructionists have described their
role as a participant–observer” (p. 15). This idea implies an
interconnection between client and therapist and leads to a process
wherein therapists “act with” their clients collaboratively rather
than “acting on” their clients as an outside modernist influencer.
Constructive therapists denounce the concept of resistance. If you
recall, much of the old modernist psychoanalytic model was based
on the therapist as an authority who interpreted reality to clients
and then helped clients work through their resistance to
psychoanalytic reality. In contrast, constructive therapists view
resistance as natural and as the responsibility of the therapist—and
not the fault of the client
 Sources and Forms of Constructivist
Theory and Therapy
 Milton Erickson
•–Strategic hypnotherapy
• –Solution-based
 Palo Alto and Italy
• –DBCP
•–MRI
•–Milan Center
 Solutions and Narratives
•  Solution-focused brief therapy
•  Narrative therapy
 Theoretical Principles of Constructivist
Theory and Therapy
•  Postmoderism
•  Language and languaging
•  Change as constant and inevitable
•  Therapy is collaborative
•  Focus on positive, strengths, solutions
 Theory of Psychopathology and The
Practice of Constructivist Therapy
• Theory of Psychopathology
•  Ineffective solutions
•  Belief in unhealthy narrative

• The Practice of Constructivist Therapy

•  Preparing yourself
•  Preparing your client
•  Assessment Issues and Procedures
 Specific Assessment Techniques
•  Opening session
•  Scaling questions
•  Percentage questions
•  Assessing client motivation
 Specific Therapy Techniques
•  Pretreatment change question
•  Externalizing conversations
•  Carl Rogers with a twist
•  Relabeling
•  Presuppositional questions
•  Formula tasks
•  Letter writing
•  Reflecting teams/therapeutic breaks
 Therapy Outcomes Research
•  Solution-based: Brief therapy has been
shown to be effective, and solution-based is
brief.
•  Narrative: Symptom based assessment is
too narrow to address changes.
 Multicultural Perspectives
•  Respect for the individual
•  Respect for the context
•  Respect for diversity
 Conclusion
• Constructivists are a diverse group.
• Can be seen as unfeeling and shallow
• However, many techniques can be deeply
involving and effective