The Social Construction: Theory and Therapeutic Practice offerings include:

1. Social Constructionist Theory: Basic Elements. This unit provides a basic introduction to the intellectual background from which social constructionism emerged, to the reasons for its profound significance, and to some of its chief assumptions and implications.

Gergen, Kenneth J. (1999). An invitation to social construction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Chpts. 1-3.
Ch. 1: Traditions in Trouble
Ch. 2: The Communal Construction of the Real and the Good
Ch. 3: Discourse and Emancipation
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2. Constructionist Theory: Horizons of Inquiry and Practice. The readings will extend the participant's understanding of the kinds of inquiry invited by constructionist theory, the new methodological and conceptual horizons opened by constructionism, and the realization of constructionist ideas in multiple domains of practice.

Gergen, Kenneth J. (1999). An invitation to social construction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Chpts. 4-7.
Ch. 4: Horizons of Human Inquiry
Ch. 5: Toward Relational Selves
Ch. 6: Dialogic Potentials
Ch. 7: A Profusion of Practices
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3. Postmodern Dimensions of Therapy. This unit will focus on creating collaborative language systems, relationships, and processes. The participant will gain an appreciation of how therapeutic practices are philosophical stances.

Anderson, H. (1997). Conversation, language & possibilities: A postmodern approach to therapy. New York: Basic Books. pp. 47-108.
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4. Therapy as Dialogic Construction

Anderson, H. (1997). Conversation, language & possibilities: A postmodern approach to therapy. New York: Basic Books. Chpt. 6
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Gergen, K. and Warhus, L. (2001). Therapy as social construction: Dimensions, deliberations and departures. In Gergen, K.J. (Ed.) Social Construction in Context. London: Sage.
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5. Therapeutic Writing and Co-creating Memory. This unit will furnish more detailed insights into two related domains: the use of writing in generating therapeutic change and ways in which memory is created through language. Both contributions feature the use of Bakhtinian concepts.

Penn, P. & Frankfurt, M. (1994). Creating a participant text: Writing, multiple voices, narrative multiplicity. Family Process, 33, 217-231.

Shotter, J. (1990) The social construction of remembering and forgetting. In Middleton, D. & Edwards D. (Eds.). Collective Remembering. London: Sage.
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6. Narrative Practice. This unit provides a critical understanding of transformational shifts in self, identity, agency, and narratives within a postmodern context.

Anderson, H. (1997). Conversation, language & possibilities: A postmodern approach to therapy. New York: Basic Books. Ch. 10.
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Gergen, K. & Kaye, J. (1992). Beyond narrative in the negotiation of therapeutic meaning. In McNamee, S. & Gergen, K. (Eds.) Therapy as Social Construction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
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7. Beyond Psychopathology. Constructionist thought challenges the presumption of individual deficit, and the way in which deficit is coded in diagnostic categories. These readings will demonstrate why we must seek dialogic alternatives to diagnosis.

McNamee, S. & Gergen, K.J. (1998). Relational responsibility: Resources for sustainable dialogue. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Chpt.6.
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Gergen, K., Hoffman, L. & Anderson, H. (1996) Is diagnosis a disaster? A trialogue. In Kaslow, F. (Ed.). Handbook of relational diagnosis and dysfunctional family patterns. New York: Wiley.
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8. Toward Relational Responsibility. This unit will open a space for understanding responsibility not as an individual attribute, but as inherent in relationships. Resources are also presented for putting relational responsibility into practice.

McNamee, S. & Gergen, K.J. (1998). Relational responsibility: Resources for sustainable dialogue. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Chpts. 1-3.
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