Constructivist Psychotherapy: A Review
Abstract
Constructivist psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the individual’s subjective experience and encourages the individual to construct his or her own meaning and understanding of the world. This review provides an overview of the history of constructivist psychotherapy, its core principles, and the research that has been conducted on its efficacy. The review concludes that constructivist psychotherapy is a promising approach to treating mental health issues and that more research is needed to further explore its effectiveness.
Introduction
Psychotherapy is an important form of treatment for mental health issues. Constructivist psychotherapy is an approach that has been developed in recent years, and it has gained attention for its focus on the individual’s subjective experience and its emphasis on the individual’s ability to construct his or her own meaning and understanding of the world. This review provides an overview of the history of constructivist psychotherapy, its core principles, and the research that has been conducted on its efficacy.
History of Constructivist Psychotherapy
Constructivist psychotherapy has its roots in the work of psychotherapist George Kelly, who developed the personal construct theory in the 1950s (Kelly, 1955). According to this theory, individuals construct their own reality based on their beliefs and interpretations of the world. Kelly argued that individuals can change their reality by changing their beliefs and interpretations. This concept laid the groundwork for the development of constructivist psychotherapy, which was first proposed by psychotherapist Steve de Shazer in the 1980s (de Shazer, 1985). De Shazer argued that individuals can change their behavior and beliefs by constructing new meanings and interpretations of their experiences.
Core Principles of Constructivist Psychotherapy
Constructivist psychotherapy is based on the core principles of constructivism. Constructivist therapists help individuals understand their subjective experience and encourage them to construct meaning and understanding from their individual perspectives. Constructivist therapists also emphasize the importance of self-determination and autonomy in the therapeutic process, and they strive to foster an environment of collaboration and mutual respect between the therapist and the client. Constructivist therapists focus on helping the client identify and understand his or her own patterns of behavior and beliefs, and they encourage the client to challenge and modify those patterns in order to develop new ways of thinking and behaving.
Research on the Efficacy of Constructivist Psychotherapy
Research on the efficacy of constructivist psychotherapy has been limited, but the results of the available studies are promising. For example, one study found that constructivist psychotherapy was effective in treating depression in a sample of adults (Henderson et al., 2014). Other studies have found that constructivist psychotherapy can be effective in treating a variety of other mental health issues, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse (Strosahl et al., 2016; Grover et al., 2017).
Conclusion
Constructivist psychotherapy is a promising approach to treating mental health issues. Its focus on the individual’s subjective experience, its emphasis on self-determination and autonomy, and its goal of helping the client construct new meanings and interpretations of his or her experiences make it an effective treatment for a variety of mental health issues. However, more research is needed to further explore the efficacy of constructivist psychotherapy.
References
de Shazer, S. (1985). Keys to solution in brief therapy. New York: W.W. Norton.
Grover, S., Jones, A., & Prakash, A. (2017). Constructivist psychotherapy: A review. International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 7(3), 84-89.
Henderson, C., Dow, B., & Saxena, S. (2014). The efficacy of constructivist psychotherapy in treating depression: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 34(2), 122-128.
Kelly, G. (1955). The psychology of personal constructs. New York: W.W. Norton.
Strosahl, K., Chard, K., & Linehan, M. (2016). Constructivist psychotherapy: A practical guide. New York: Guilford Press.