| Therapy as Social Construction Contributor(s): McNamee, Sheila (Editor), Gergen, Kenneth J. (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0803983034 ISBN-13: 9780803983038 Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd OUR PRICE: $84.55 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: December 1992 Annotation: "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 exhilaratingmix 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 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Psychology | Psychotherapy - General - Psychology | Social Psychology |
| Dewey: 616.891 |
| LCCN: 92-50277 |
| Series: Inquiries in Social Construction |
| Physical Information: 0.49" H x 5.7" W x 8.64" (0.65 lbs) 240 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: An interesting collection of the state of the art of social constructionism and therapy, and a major contribution to reflection on therapeutic theory and practice′ - Changes The chapters are interesting as windows into wider debates beyond therapy to those within the human sciences over the organization of meaning and change in culture... the value of this book is that it makes it possible for the reader to step back and think that therapy may mean different things to different communities, that therapy is not the touchstone but only one of many social constructions′ - British Psychological Society Counselling Psychology Review This volume explores the excitin |
Contributor Bio(s): Gergen, Kenneth J.: - Kenneth J. Gergen is a Senior Research Professor at Swarthmore College, USA, and President of the Taos Institute. He has been the recipient of many awards throughout the world. His major works include Realities and Relationships: Soundings in Social Construction; The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life; and Relational Being: Beyond Self and Community. |