Therapeutic Realities: Collaboration, Oppression and Relational Flow

by Kenneth J. Gergen

Social constructionist thought transforms psychotherapy, opening new vistas in understanding and practice. This work provides a brief introduction to social construction, and then illuminates the landscape of change. Special emphasis is given to topics of therapeutic communication, narrative, and therapeutic practices both traditional and contemporary. Critical chapters focus on the oppression of psychodiagnostic categories and the neuro/biological and pharmaceutical investments that support them. Additional chapters provide a range of insights into the poetics of therapy, collaborative practices with clients, and the broader flow of relationships in which therapy takes place. Lively discussions with therapy doyens, Mony Elkaim and Michael Hoyt, conclude the work. This book contains Kenneth Gergen's major contributions to therapeutic thought and practice. Earlier writings are updated and orchestrated, and original chapters added to reflect his most recent thinking on therapy as a process of collaborative construction. "Kenneth Gergen has had a sustained and dedicated interest in the therapeutic world for over three decades. He has joined with therapists and other scholars around the world to explore the 'consequences of intellectual work for societal practices.' Written in a personal tone that is warm, inviting and positive, Therapeutic Realities is a must-read and a rich resource for those well-versed in social construction therapy practices and those newly exploring it." Harlene Anderson Houston Galveston Institute Author of Conversation, Language and A Postmodern Approach to Therapy "With Therapeutic Realities, Ken Gergen once again shares his astounding gift for surveying the landscape of contemporary social practice with a balance of rigorous scholarship, innovative thinking, and compassionate common sense. If you're interested in deeply considered reflections on where the therapy field has traveled, along with visionary proposals for its future, this book belongs in your library." David Paré, University of Ottawa. Co-editor of Collaborative Practice in Psychology and Therapy Co-director of The Glebe Institute, A Centre for Constructive and Collaborative Practice

Genres: Psychology

279 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2006

Reviews

[Anna Tsagkareli · Rating 1 out of 5]

That's the worst thing I've had the misfortune to read in a long time. I won't even comment much on the atrocious writing, Gergen's patronising ways or even about how this book could've been 8 pages long if the man grasped how writing without repeating one's self works, I'll go straight for the stupidity.

The basic idea of social constructionism has merit. That's just about everything that has merit in this book though. Any thesis, regardless or not if it makes sense is "supported" by outrageously arbitrary claims the author makes that come STRAIGHT OUT OF HIS HEAD and only support his worldview. The opposite side is never presented.

The hatred of science in this book is laughable, mostly because the man has no understanding of how some sciences work. Indeed, history does have a social construct but, and I hate to burst your bubble, 1+1 is always two, whether societies and language games exist or not. In some level the author knows that too; the example he uses to support that "physics and chemistry come up with useful truths inside their traditions" is, suspiciously, medicine.

This review is obviously a rant and not a coherent critique. It's not the lack of understanding how basic science works that has me this riled though. Gergen takes a massive leap from talking about the nonexistense/no consequence of absolute truths to absolutely preaching some of his own very personal, very harmful opinions about mental health.

He absolutely denies any biological reasons for mental health illness, implies that people with eating disorders "act like that" because that's what society teaches them (that one rings like the racist uncle saying that spongebob makes kids gay) and obviously has never had depression because to him that's just the feeling of sadness after you don't succeed at something.
He definitely has a thing with depression.

He also has the audacity to say that we didn't have depression years ago because the term wasn't used and then ask what happened to melancholia in the next page. I said it was stupid.

Yes to talking about the ideas of social constructionism, with many grains of salt, hell no to this self righteous, narcissistic book that can't tell the difference between being depressed and feeling a little sad because it's author doesn't like the DSM.