CONSTRUCTIVIST PSYCHOLOGY NETWORK

Constructivist stock market investorseverywhere were downright giddy when it was announced today that the constructivist-oriented Coherence Psychology Instituteis going public. According to multiple press reports, the price per share for the Institute’s upcoming initial public offering (IPO)will be between $12-15. For those not savvy in the workings of the stock market, an IPO marks the first time a company sells stock to the public.
“We are pleased to announce our IPO,” announced Institute director, master psychotherapist, and part-time day trader Dr. Bruce Eckerat a hastily arranged press conference, accompanied by fellow coherence therapist and institute co-director Dr. Sara Bridges. “This is a momentous day for constructivist therapists and Wall Street investors alike.”

“This IPO reflects the ever-growing success and popularity of Coherence Therapy™ and the Emotional Coherence Framework™,” added Dr. Bridges.

But why an IPO?

“Ah, that’s an easy question,” replied Dr. Bridges. “What made us decide to move forward with this IPO is that we have now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, established that Coherence Therapy™ uses the brain’s built-in process for modifying established neural circuits—what we call the Therapeutic Reconsolidation Process™. Who wouldn’t want to invest in that?”

“Besides, we also really want to get ourselves Teslas,” added Dr. Ecker, anticipating the economic windfall an IPO can bring. “They’re really cool cars and good for the environment too.”

Reaction from the constructivist community was swift and, as always, divided.
“Capitalists exploiting constructivism for personal gain!” harrumphed grouchy retired constructivist therapist Dr. Larry Leitner from his retirement villa in rural Iowa. “For goodness sake, I developed experiential personal construct therapy and it never made me a dime! Literally. Can you spare a dime?”

“How do I get me some shares?” asked wayward personal construct psychologist Dr. Greg Neimeyer,now working as the American Psychological Association’s associate executive director for continuing education. “This APA gig ain’t paying the bills. Living in DC is so much more expensive than Gainesville!”

The real question is whether, outside of the 12 documented constructivist therapists who make more than $45,000 per year, there is much of a market for a Coherence Institute IPO.
“Hmm, when did you first notice yourself worrying about whether you could afford shares?” asked Ecker, looking somber and exuding empathy. “Perhaps if I write down the cost per share on this index card, you could consult it thrice daily so that the emotional truth that you can afford it might break through.”
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"Um, yeah, what he said," added Bridges, nodding her head in agreement.
As of press time, the IPO is scheduled for April 15. Mark your calendars.

Dr. Seán Brophy, who worked as a management consultant and author in private practice in Dublin, Ireland, passed away on February 14, at the age of 73. He had been ill for a while and had been in hospital since the day after Christmas. Seán specialised in educating clients to make sense of their lives so that they can be more effective at solving their own problems particularly in the context of personal or organisational change. He was a leading practitioner in the application of Personal Construct Psychology, the psychology of the whole person or the psychology of change to the context of life in organizations. Originally he worked as an engineer and manager in industry for 20 years. For the last 30 years he had acted as a consultant in Personal Construct Psychology to a variety of organi-sations in Ireland, the UK and the United States. He is the author of The Strategic Management of Irish Enterprise and several books of poetry.
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He will be remembered as an eminent member of the worldwide PCP community – and as a poet in his own right.

Volume 29, Number 2 
2 April 2016

Subject Positioning: Gaps and Stability in the Therapeutic Encounter
pp. 123-140(18)
Author: Guilfoyle, Michael

Positioning as Embodied Interaction: Commentary on Guilfoyle 
pp. 141-148(8)
Author: Avdi, Evrinomy

Not So Fast! A Response to Michael Guilfoyle 
pp. 149-153(5)
Author: Winslade, John M.

Critical Distinctions Between Positionless and Positioned Spaces 
pp. 154-164(11)
Author: Guilfoyle, Michael

“I Don't Think Anorexia Is the Way Out”: Reconstruction of Meaning in Women's Narratives of Anorexia Nervosa over 10 Years 
pp. 165-183(19)
Author: Conti, Janet E.

Identity Construction as a Mother: A Comparative Study Between Adopted and Nonadopted Women 
pp. 184-196(13)
Authors: Pérez, Meritxell Pacheco; Sala, Laia Garcia; Ortega, Marta Canal

Coalition and Opposition in Myself? On Integrative and Confrontational Internal Dialogues, Their Functions, and the Types of Inner Interlocutors 
pp. 197-218(22)
Authors: Puchalska-Wasyl, Małgorzata M.

A Brilliant Account of the Legacy of David Campbell 
pp. 219-224(6)
Author: Lorås, Lennart

Pathological Conversations 
pp. 225-229(5)
Author: Koelsch, Lori E.


Volume 29, Number 3, 2
July 2016
Special Issue: Psychotherapy Process and Outcome
Change in Symptoms and Personal Construct Structure in Anxiety Disorders: A Preliminary Study on the Effects of Constructivist Therapy 
pp. 231-247(17)
Authors: Paz, Clara; Pucurull, Olga; Feixas, Guillem

Constructions of Agency in Accounts of Drunk Driving at the Outset of Semi-Mandatory Counseling 
pp. 248-268(21)
Authors: Seilonen, Minna-Leena; Wahlström, Jarl

Innovative Moments in Humanistic Therapy I: Process and Outcome of Eminent Psychotherapists Working with Bereaved Clients 
pp. 269-297(29)
Authors: Piazza-Bonin, Elizabeth; Neimeyer, Robert A.; Alves, Daniela; Smigelsky, Melissa; Crunk, Elizabeth

Innovative Moments in Humanistic Therapy II: Analysis of Change Processes Across the Course of Three Cases of Grief Therapy 
pp. 298-317(20)
Authors: Piazza-Bonin, Elizabeth; Neimeyer, Robert A.; Alves, Daniela; Smigelsky, Melissa

Counseling in a Complex World: Advancing Relational Well-Being 
pp. 318-330(13)
Author: Schuhmann, Carmen

A Profound Quest for Personal Knowing 
pp. 331-334(4)
Author: A. McWilliams, Spencer
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Thriving in a Stressful World 
pp. 335-337(3)
Author: Root, Michael J.

A plenary session séance intended to communicate with the late George Kelly, founder of personal construct psychology, will be a highlight of the European Personal Construct Association's 2016 conference, its organizers have announced.

"What better way to mark the occasion than to contact Kelly himself in an effort to update him on the latest in personal construct theory development, rep grid methodology, and practical applications in both clinical and organizational settings?" remarked Professor David Winter, who looks forward to communing with Kelly directly for the first time in his long and highly accomplished career as a personal construct psychologist. "I think Dr. Kelly will be quite pleased with all we have been able to do with his theory since his premature passing in 1966."

"What a splendid idea! I am absolutely gobsmacked!" exclaimed Dr. Harry Procter, who not only will attend the séance but has been charged with serving as its convener and chief medium. "What a remarkable opportunity. I have every intention of getting right down to business and asking Kelly flat out: What do you think of my innovative work on relational grids?"

The conference, to be held in Galzignano Terme in the province of Padua in Italy, will occur from July 7-10. In the run up to the conference, its organizers are busily researching the nuances of effective séance procedure. "We don't want to be caught off guard," said one unnamed conference organizer. "Analyzing a rep grid is one thing; conducting a séance is quite another."

Admittedly, the idea of holding a séance is not universally popular within the personal construct psychology community. To many people's great surprise, even though the conference will be held in Padua, prominent Italian personal construct psychologists sharply disagree about the wisdom of summoning Kelly from the Great Beyond.
"I am not sure about the appropriateness of such an activity," sniffed Professor Gabriele Chiari. "Kelly never spoke of such things anywhere in his published canon, thus I am not certain that we should be soiling his work by associating it with the unscientific channeling of ghostly spirits. I'm all for hermeneutic approaches to constructivism, but this is ridiculous."

"I disagree firmly," countered Professor Massimo Giliberto. "As long as we don't resort to bringing out Beverly Walker's ouija board, I believe we can maintain our professional dignity and learn Kelly's thoughts about the broader constructivist movement that has arisen since his untimely death. Despite all our hand wringing about it over the years, Kelly might really dig things we never could have predicted--you know, things like Twitter and social constructionism."
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Personal feelings about including a séance at the conference notwithstanding, the event surely promises to increase attendance. Pending completion of relevant paperwork, conference goers will be eligible for 3 continuing education credits for participating in the séance; 4 if Dr. Kelly ultimately communicates with the group from the hereafter.

Access this issue via the publisher's website

Freedom, Goodness, Power, and Belonging: The Semantics of Phobic, Obsessive-Compulsive, Eating, and Mood Disorders 
pp. 293-315(23)
Authors: Ugazio, Valeria; Negri, Attà; Fellin, Lisa

Deconstructing Pathology: A Narrative View of the Intake Process 
pp. 316-328(13)
Author: Timm, Maria

Dialogical Features, Therapist Responsiveness, and Agency in a Therapy for Psychosis 
pp. 329-341(13)
Authors: Avdi, Evrinomy; Lerou, Vasileia; Seikkula, Jaakko

Integrating the Differentiated: A Review of the Personal Construct Approach to Cognitive Complexity 
pp. 342-366(25)
Authors: Kovářová, Marie; Filip, Miroslav

Bridging Psychoanalysis and Constructivism 
pp. 367-369(3)
Author: Gissinger, Danielle
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Editorial Board EOV ​

Access this issue via the publisher's website

Therapeutic Relationships in Child-Centered Personal Construct Psychotherapy: Experiments in Constructions of Self 
pp. 195-208(14)
Authors: Truneckova, Deborah; Viney, Linda L.

The Social Construction of Loneliness: An Integrative Conceptualization 
pp. 210-227(18)
Authors: Stein, Jacob Y.; Tuval-Mashiach, Rivka

The Redemptive Story: A Requisite for Sustaining Prosocial Behavioral Patterns Following Traumatic Experiences 
pp. 228-242(15)
Authors: Dunlop, William L.; Walker, Lawrence J.; Wiens, Thomas K.

Judicial Wisdom: The Process of Constructing Wise Decisions 
pp. 243-263(21)
Authors: Levitt, Heidi M.; Dunnavant, Bridget R.

Auditory Verbal Hallucinations as Dialogical Experiences 
pp. 264-280(17)
Authors: Perona-Garcelán, Salvador; Pérez-Álvarez, Marino; García-Montes, José M.; Cangas, Adolfo J.

Bringing Social Constructionism to the Forefront of Vocational Psychology and Career Development 
pp. 281-285(5)
Author: Williams, Christine M.
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Linda L. Viney, 1942–2014 
pp. 286-291(6)
Author: Truneckova, Deborah

Trevor Butt passed away late last week from stomach cancer. Trevor's work in personal construct psychology made a tremendous impact on the field and extended Kelly's theory in new and exciting directions. His efforts to relate PCP to social constructionism, phenomenology, and pragmatism has been highly influential.

A list of Trevor's writings can be found on academia.edu.

He will be greatly missed.

Oklahoma State University has named CPN President-Elect Dr. Kenneth Sewell vice president for research to lead the planning, coordination and growth of research programs and funding university-wide.

Following a national search and campus visits by four finalists, Sewell was named OSU’s new chief research leader subject to approval by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents at its next regularly scheduled meetingApril 24.  He will start July 1.
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“He has experience as a vice president and associate vice president of research at two institutions,” said Dr. Gary Sandefur, OSU Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Personally, I was impressed with his reflections about the challenges and opportunities that research universities face.”

Sewell is currently the vice president for research and economic development and the executive director of the Graduate School at the University of New Orleans. He has spent a majority of his career as a clinical psychologist, a teacher and a researcher in behavioral sciences.

Previously, Sewell served as director of the nationally accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology at the University of North Texas. In 2008 he was named the associate vice president for research and then interim VPR at North Texas before he joined the faculty and administrative staff at the University of New Orleans as vice president of research in 2013.

Sewell received his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Kansas State University and Master of Science and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas. Sewell played on the Kansas Statefootball team in the early 1980s. An Oklahoma native, Sewell graduated fromCoweta High School.

In his new position, Sewell will work on a number of issues involving the research program at OSU, including a need to enhance the university’s research infrastructure, according to Sandefur.

“We have some things we want him to work on, but he’ll have his own opportunity to think about directions he would like to go and what he might want to do with research here at OSU,” Sandefur said.

Sewell takes over from Interim VPR Dr. Sheryl Tucker, who returns to her position as dean of the OSU Graduate College fulltime. Tucker was appointed interim vice president in 2013 and served as both VPR and Graduate College dean.

“We appreciate Dr. Tucker’s leadership and commitment to OSU research and the Graduate College as we filled this vital position. I have really enjoyed working with her in both of her roles,” Sandefur said.

Sewell takes over administration of a research program that in FY2013 recorded expenditures of more than $134 million according to the latest National Science Foundation report on research expenditures at higher education institutions.  OSU is in the top 20 percent of institutions ranked by the NSF. As one of the three essential roles of a land-grant university, research provides a key foundation for OSU’s teaching and outreach missions.
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This article adapted and reproduced from https://news.okstate.edu/articles/oklahoma-state-university-names-sewell-lead-research

Click here to access articles from this issue via the publisher's website

Psychopathology as Social Construction: The Case of Anorexia Nervosa 
pp. 105-125(21)
Authors: Gelo, Omar Carlo Gioacchino; Vilei, Alessia; Maddux, James E.; Gennaro, Alessandro

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Repertory Grid Exploration of Anger in Young Offenders 
pp. 126-138(13)
Authors: Yorke, Louise; Dallos, Rudi

Construing a “Perfect Knight”: A Personal Construct Investigation of Mass Murder 
pp. 139-151(13)
Authors: Winter, David A.; Tschudi, Finn

Has Average Joe Got Inner Conflicts? Positioning the Self and the Meaning of Mid-Range Scores on the Big Five Traits 
pp. 152-165(14)
Authors: Raggatt, Peter T. F.; Weatherly, Theresa

What Self-Aspects Appear Significant When Identity Is in Danger? Motives Crucial Under Identity Threat 
pp. 166-180(15)
Author: Batory, Anna Maria

Dewey Between the Lines: George Kelly and the Pragmatist Tradition 
pp. 181-189(9)
Authors: Paris, Mark Eliot; Epting, Franz R.
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A Portrait of PCP in 21st-Century Europe 
pp. 190-193(4)
Author: Rarey, Eli B.