Constructivist Psychotherapy

Constructivist psychotherapy focuses on the meaning that clients attribute to their world, and the way that this shapes their life and contributes to their difficulties. In this book, Robert A. Neimeyer, a leading figure in the field, provides a clear and accessible explanation of the key features of this approach.

Constructivist Psychotherapy: Distinctive Features concentrates on the 30 key commitments that distinguish constructivism from other cognitive behavioural perspectives. Divided into two sections - Theory and Practice - this straightforward book is illustrated throughout with case material and recent research findings.

Neimeyer provides us with a fresh perspective on familiar material, together with a clear, concise introduction to material that the reader may be less familiar with, making this book a valuable text for professionals in training as well as a source of new ideas for practising therapists of constructivist psychotherapy.

Part I: Theory. Constructing a World. The Function of Fiction. Personal Knowledge. Living on the Frontier. Redefining Reality. Living in Language. Deconstructing the Self. Systems Within Systems: The Epigenetic Model. Contextualizing Disorder. Part II: Practice. Laddering Toward Core Concerns. Mapping Social Ecologies of Meaning with the Bowtie Interview. Charting Networks of Constructs Using Repertory Grids. Assessing Emotional and Relational Themes Using Self-confrontation. Reflecting on the Self Via Mirror Time. Attending from Self to Other. Setting Goals. Privileging Experience Over Explanation. Catching the Wave. Harnessing the Power of the Poetic. Seeking Sufficient Structure. Tracking Evolving Goals. Fostering Client Reflexivity. Befriending the Resistance. Considering Homework. Articulating the Pro-symptom Position. Re-authoring the Self-narrative. Celebrating Termination. Evaluating Whether Psychotropic Medication is Part of the Solution, or Part of the Problem. Situating Constructivist Therapy in the Wider World. Constructing an Integrative Practice.