Constructivist Psychotherapy

Abstract

Constructivism represents a profound development within cognitivism, posing challenges to many traditional treatment assumptions. The author addresses the remarkable difference between traditional cognitive therapy and constructivism, including the nature of reality, the nature of knowledge, problem definition, treatment goals, assessment, treatment of emotion, and therapist style of intervention. Constructivist metatheory is briefly discussed along with the conceptual bases of the orientation. Constructivist therapy is contrasted with traditional cognitive therapy, and constructivist intervention methods are identified. The article concludes with several case examples in which constructivist methods are applied to clinical problems.