Constructivist and Existential College

What we do, what we believe, what we feel is largely dictated by the picture or model we have created. We constantly modify our models in the light of experience. So, constructivists believe that a person can change their experience by making sense of the world in different ways. They also believe that the way that we live in each moment is always ethical.

One of the advantages of this approach is that it tells us not what to think but rather how to explore and understand why we think and experience the way we do.

Constructivist therapists help individuals, couples, families or organisations understand and take ownership of the ways in which they create the ‘reality’ they experience. They try to empower people to increase their sense of freedom and choice in the way they live their lives.

The process of therapy is conversational and experimental. The first task is to help the client to see how they represent the world to themselves, whether they do this consciously or not.  The client is encouraged to explore and try out different ways of seeing the world and living within it, with no suggestion that any particular way is the ‘correct’ one.  This may lead to the client making small changes in their behaviour or it might mean that they completely rethink their values, beliefs and identity.

College Chair

Sharon Rooke

CECchair@ukcp.org.uk