Constructivist Psychotherapy ─ A Narrative Hermeneutic Approach

Psychotherapy has undergone major changes in recent years, with a variety of new approaches including cognitive-behavioural therapy joining the more traditional and widespread schools of thought. These new approaches all share the epistemological assumption of constructivism, which states that there are alternative ways of looking at events and that we interpret events according to how we see the world.

Constructivist Psychotherapy reviews the constructivist trends in psychotherapy which link these new approaches, allowing the reader to enter an entirely new dialogue. The book traces constructivist thought, elaborating on Kelly’s personal construct theory and the implications for psychotherapeutic theory and practice.

Areas of discussion include:



the therapist’s understanding of the client’s narrative
a constructivist understanding of the person
psychological constructivism and constructivist trends in psychotherapy


Setting constructivist psychotherapy within its therapeutic, social and philosophical context and using case studies throughout, the book revisits 'Kellian' ideas and theories, bringing them up to date, to explore what it is to be a constructivist psychotherapist today. As such this book will be of interest to all psychotherapists, as well as anyone with an interest in the psychotherapeutic field.

Gabriele Chiari is Professor at the Centre for Studies in Constructivist-oriented Cognitive Psychotherapy in Florence, and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Florence. He is an editorial board member of The Journal of Constructivist Psychology.
Maria Laura Nuzzo (1946-2005) was a clinical psychologist and chartered psychotherapist and President of the Italian Association of Constructivist Psychology and Psychotherapy (AIPPC).

Preface. Personal Construct Psychotherapy: Forerunner of Constructivist Psychotherapies. Psychological Constructivism and Constructivist Trends in Psychotherapy. A Constructivist Understanding of the Person. The Therapist’s Understanding of the Client’s Narrative. The Therapist’s Construction of the Client’s Narrative. An Ontological Venture: The Psychotherapy Process.