PCP News Blog

Last update: 7 Febr 2010	Any PCP news to share? Please contact the editor!


7 Febr 2010 Dennis Hinkle's thesis available	Nick Reed of the Centre for Personal Construct Psychology at Hertfordshire University, UK, writes in the "Constructivist Interventionist", the Centre's newsletter: "For the first time since 1965, Dennis Hinkle’s PhD dissertation is now available to whoever would like to read it. All you need to do is email Fay Fransella and she will email you a copy." Dennis Hinkle's is one of the most famous (and most quoted) unpublished PhD theses in the realm of constructivism. contact Fay Fransella at ffransella@lambslane.eclipse.co.uk



24 Jan 2010 Deadline extended	Amberly Panepinto writes: Hello! We have decided to extend the proposal deadline for the Constructivist Psychology Conference in Niagara Falls in July 2010 to April 1. Our hope is that this will allow time to generate interest in the conference. Please share conference information with anyone who may be interested. We welcome anyone interested in constructivist, social constructionist, and narrative theories. Miller Mair will be our keynote speaker. Jack Adams-Webber and Larry Leitner will give invited addresses. Pre-conference workshops will be presented by Miller Mair and Lynne Angus. see conference website for more information: http://www.constructivistpsych.org/2010/index.html	Photo: Website



22 Jan 2010 Deadline extended	The deadline for submitting proposals for the 10th European Conference on Personal Construct Psychology in Belgrade/Serbia in April 2010 has been extended to February 15th, 2010. see Conference web site



16 Dec 2009 LinkedIn	"LinkedIn" is a worldwide network of professionals working in all sorts of areas. It's easy to join, without fee, by simply registering. A few PCP people are members, and Kieran Duignan has now set up a PCP group within "LinkedIn": Kieran Duignan writes: "LinkedIn is free, and it's here to stay. Signs are that this component of Web 2.0 has become a component of the world in which there are diverse opportunities to apply the psychology of personal constructs. Obviously, using LinkedIn is one of the ways in which seasoned practitioners can take an appropriate lead. That's why your participation would be valued. This group is designed to share good practice and dilemmas amongst practitioners of the psychology of personal constructs and otherse inclined to become one. It will also serve as a source of information to anyone interested in learning about this area of psychology or in training to apply it in psychotherapeutic, counselling, training, educational, business and other contexts. You can reach it at: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2584127&trk=hb_side_g or by typing Personal Construct Psychology Practitioners into the index for Groups within LinkedIn. Hope to 'meet' you through this medium Kieran Duignan" see http://www.linkedin.com/	Kieran Duignan



12 Nov 2009 New issue of "Constructivist Foundations"	The latest issue of "Constructivist Foundations" has been published. It can be accessed at http://www.univie.ac.at/constructivism/journal/5/1 A free password can be obtained from the editor-in-chief Alexander Riegler (ariegler@vub.ac.be) Constructivist Foundations Volume 5 Number 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Galuszka F. R.: TOWARDS A CYBERNETIC-CONSTRUCTIVIST UNDERSTANDING OF PAINTING Brier S.: CYBERSEMIOTIC PRAGMATICISM AND CONSTRUCTIVISM Hennig C. : A CONSTRUCTIVIST VIEW OF THE STATISTICAL QUANTIFICATION OF EVIDENCE Glasersfeld E. von: SKETCHES FROM PARTIAL MEMORIES Gash H.: WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CONSTRUCTIVIST EDUCATION... Review of "Constructivist Instruction: Success or Failure?" edited by Sigmund Tobias & Thomas M. Duffy Bolognesi I. P.: "NATURAL CONSTRUCTIVISM": OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE? Review of "Human Language and Objective Reality" by William Cameron Kenny V.: "I HERD IT THROUGH THE APEVINE" Review of "The Origin of Humanness in the Biology of Love" by Humberto Maturana Romesin and Gerda Verden-Zoller PUBLICATION REVIEW. RECENT BOOKS AND ARTICLES RELATED TO CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACHES http://www.univie.ac.at/constructivism/journal/5/1



8 November 2009 New name	The European Constructivist Therapy Network has adopted a new name: European Constructivist Training Network, to acknowledge the fact that its focus extends beyond (psycho-) therapy and includes training in areas such as education or organisations. Obviously, the acronym and the logo can stay the same: ectn. see ectn web site



25 October 2009 New articles	There are three new articles online in the e-journal "Personal Construct Theory & Practice". David Lester: Emotions in personal construct theory: A review. Personal Construct Theory & Practice, 6, 90-98, 2009 Peter Farrell: Cultural and symbolic leadership - What does it look like? Personal reflection and the effective management and leadership of a small rural school. Personal Construct Theory & Practice, 6, 99-108, 2009. Spencer McWilliams: William James' pragmatism and PCP. Personal Construct Theory & Practice, 6, 109-119, 2009. Subscription to the journal is free, but to access the current issue a password is needed. Personal Construct Theory & Practice. Free password for 2009 available from Jörn Scheer. If, as a subscriber, you haven't been notified by email, it is maybe because your email address has changed. If so, please inform Jörn Scheer to make sure messages will reach you	David Lester Photo: Home Page Peter Farrell Photo: supplied Spencer McWilliams Photo: Home Page



13 October 2009 New book	A new book on constructivist psychotherapy has been published by Gabriele Chiari and the late Maria Laura Nuzzo: Gabriele Chiari & Maria Laura Nuzzo Constructivist Psychotherapy - A narrative hermeneutic approach London, New York: Routledge Paperback, 214 pp. Price: $ 35.25 / £ 20.99 Publishers info: 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. More info	Gabriele Chiari Photo: JS Maria Laura Nuzzo



11 October 2009 New book	A book with papers from the International Congress on PCP in Columbus, Ohio in 2005 has been published by Larry Leitner and Jill Thomas, with contributions by Walter Katkovsky; Franz Epting; Fay Fransella; Tom Schweitzer & John Benjafield; Richard Butler; Devorah Kalekin-Fishman; Desley Hennessy & Beverly Walker; Bill Warren; David Winter, Sarah Patient & Josefin Sundin; Larry Leitner; Valerie Domenici; Amberly Panepinto; Jill Thomas; Heather Foster & Linda Viney; William Rhodes, Kathy Piechura-Couture & Elizabeth Doone; Paul Dokecki, Spencer McWilliams; Darren Del Castillo, Matt Allen & Anthony Pavlo; Naoimh O'Connor, Emma Baird & Sinead Ahern. Larry Leitner & Jill Thomas Personal Constructivism: Theory and Applications New York: Pace University Press Paperback, 431 pp, Price: 40$ More info	Larry Leitner Photo: CPN Jill Thomas Photo: Homepage



9 October 2009 10th EPCA conference	The 10th Biennial conference of the European Personal Construct Association (EPCA) will be held in Belgrade, Serbia, from 9th to 12th April, 2010. The conference theme is "Keeping up with the future: PCP in an accelerating wold". The conference is organised by Dušan Stojnov and his group, the Serbian Constructivist Association (SCA) on behalf of the EPCA. Proposals for presentations for the 10th EPCA Conference are being accepted now. Please be so kind to submit your papers (45 minutes); workshops (90 minutes) and round table discussions (90 minutes). You can submit your proposals through the conference websites: http://epca-net.org/epcacongress10 or http://www.ukons.org.rs/index10_e.htm Deadline for submitting proposals is 18 January, 2010. See Call for Proposals. Early birds register before 18 January, 2010. Call for Proposals. Conference Website: http://epca-net.org/epcacongress10 also at: http://www.ukons.org.rs/index10_e.htm	click on pic to enlarge Dušan Stojnov Photo: JS



9 October 2009 JCP Articles 4/2009	Vol 22, Number 4 (October-December 2009) of the Journal of Constructivist Psychology contains the following articles: Brittany Brucato, Greg Neimeyer: Epistemology as a predictor of psychotherapists' self-care and coping. Thomas Mackrill: A cross-contextual construction of clients' therapeutic practice. Christis Sermpezis, David A. Winter: Is trauma the product of over- or under-elaboration? A critique of the personal construct model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Tom Strong, Nathan R. Pyle: Constructing a conversational "miracle": Examining the "miracle question" as it is used in therapeutic dialogue. see: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/tf/10720537.html



26 Sept 2009 "Studies in Meaning 4" Pre-publication orders	The forth volume of Jon Raskin's and Sara Bridges' "Studies in meaning", with third editor Robert Neimeyer, is scheduled to appear in January 2010, titled CONSTRUCTIVIST PERSPECTIVES ON THEORY, PRACTICE, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, at $ 40. Pre-publication price is $ 32 when ordered before December 15. More info and table of contents in the flyer: s. here



8 August 2009 Rep 5 and WebGrid 5 are available	Brian Gaines and Mildred Shaw wrote to the PCP network: We are pleased to announce that Rep 5 and WebGrid 5 are now released and available. Details at: http://repgrid.com which has links to the manuals on the web and in PDF format, and to the WebGrid 5 server at the University of Calgary which are freely available. The old WebGrid III server has has now retired (the WebGrid 5 web site notes how to convert files from WebGrid III for use with WebGrid 5). Some major new features in Rep 5 are:- 1 The RepServe web server is now part of Rep 5 enabling WebGrid to be offered on the local machine, on private networks and across the Internet. In particular, this supports grid elicitation through web clients taking full advantage of the widespread experience of using web browsers, their multimedia capabilities, and their support for remote data collection across the web. The grid files saved from WebGrid are compatible with all the Rep 5 editing and analysis tools. The web server is scriptable in the RepScript programming language, and users can modify the supplied WebGrid scripts, translating them into other languages and customizing them for their own purposes. 2 The RepScript scripting language used in previous versions to support interactive grid elicitation has been standardized and documented to provide an open-architecture application program interface to Rep 5s. RepScript is a powerful object-oriented programming language with specialist libraries for creating and analyzing grids and nets. It also includes string-processing, graphics, XML and statistical libraries. 3 Three-dimensional plotting capabilities have been added for the graphic output of the PrinGrid principal components analysis and the CrossPlot presentation tool. 4 The capability has been added to collect additional data items and store them in grid files. This is particularly useful in geographically distributed studies where additional data needs to be collected that complements that in the grid. 5 Additional data types are supported in grids, including labeled categories, integers and numbers providing richer capabilities for knowledge representation, modeling and management. 6 The RepNet visual language component has been substantially enhanced with additional link types, the ability to represent a node's state with visual markers, and a scripting language enabling interaction with nets of nodes and links to be programmed. A sample script implementing Kelly's theoretical psychology and modeling anticipatory processes in construct net conceptual models is provided. The single manual for Rep IV has now exploded to six manuals for Rep 5, providing the documentation needed by others to take advantage of the open-architecture design and customize and extend Rep 5 for their own purposes. The Personal version of Rep IV remains freely available and we hope there will be a similar version of Rep 5 available by the end of the year. This release has been a long time coming because of the extensive coding, documentation and testing required. Making something as complex as WebGrid generally available on many machines was a daunting task, and one that we never dreamt of when we developed WebGrid I back in 1994. That was prior to the commercialization of the web, and WebGrid seems to have become the longest continuously available web service over the past 15 years. However, it is a big step from being able to keep one server going through personal attention, to releasing the server and code for others to customize and enhance. We look forward to seeing what is done with it, as we complete the first decade of our thoroughly enjoyable retirement. kindest regards, Brian & Mildred	Brian Gaines Mildred Shaw



30 July 2009 YouTube videos	The YouTube web site offers the opportunity to upload not only music and fun videos but also "educational" ones --- here are a few with relation to PCP: Steve Schepman, U Washington A condensed lecture on George Kelly's Personal Construct Theory and instructions on how to use the Role Construct Repertory Test to measure the constructs you use to anticipate the future (10:06). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53DHIKenUqs Robert Neimeyer, U Memphis Lessons of Loss (6:23) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YlOpcexLXU Robert Neimeyer, U Memphis Poems (7:48) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRXBSewlaJI



30 July 2009 International PCP Congress 2011	Pre-announcement The next International PCP Congress will be held in Boston, Mass., USA, in the 2nd half of July, 2011.	Photo: Curry Web site



30 July 2009 International PCP Congress 2009	The International PCP Congress was held on the beautiful little island of San Servolo, 10 minutes from San Marco in the lagoon of Venice, a former monastery, military hospital and mental institution and now a conference centre, from July 20-24, 2009. This most successful event was organised by Massimo Giliberto, Francesco Velicogna, Carla Trincas, and Carmen Dell'Aversano. Plenary presentations were given by Harry Procter, Trevor Butt, Viv Burr, Jörn Scheer, Bill Warren, Liz Thomson, David Winter, Malcolm Cross, Carmen Dell'Aversano, Kenneth Sewell, Dusan Stojnov, Sue Watson, and Mary Frances. Several workshops and symposia were held, as well as a number of non-aligned papers given - altogether about 90 presentations, plus numerous posters. Especially impressive (and inducing hope for the future of the trade) was the presence of numerous young colleagues from, among others, Italy, Serbia, Germany and Russia. For the third time at an international PCP conference, an "Evening of Creative Construing" was celebrated, prepared by Viv Burr and Jörn Scheer. Participants sang, played piano, clarinet, and guitar, recited (own) poems, and formed even a jazz group, consisting of saxophones, clarinet, e-bass and (electronic) rhythm. The congress web site is still accessible at http://www.icp-italia.it/pcp2009/ Following an established tradition, the next congress in 2011 will be held in North America while the 2007 one was in Brisbane, Australia.	click on pics to enlarge



2 July 2009 PCPA workshops in London	Mary Frances writes on behalf of the (British) Personal Construct Psychology Association (PCPA): The Personal Construct Psychology Association are pleased to invite you to their London-based workshops this autumn. PCPA Workshops - autumn 2009 Thursday 10^th September Power and Politics in Organisations – constructivist perspectives led by Mary Frances Friday 11^th September Beyond Words – non-verbal construing led by Peggy Dalton & Laurena Chamlee-Cole Tuesday 29^th September Dreams, Images and Metaphor led by Mary Frances Tuesday 6^th October Working With Larger Systems led by Fiona Duggan, Mary Frances & Robin Stoker Friday 11^th December PCP and Social Constructionism led by Viv Burr All workshops held in central London, 10.00 – 16.00, £80 (£70 PCPA members) Further information can be found on the PCPA website www.pcpassociation.net To book a place on any event, please email pcp.contact@virgin.net	Mary Frances



21 April 2009 New website of the Centre for PCP in the UK	Fay Fransella writes: Nick Reed and I are delighted to be able to announce that the totally new Centre for Personal Construct Psychology's website is now up and running. It is under the same name: www.centrepcp.co.uk. We would like anyone who has comments to make on the site or difficulties with using it or the links on it to contact one of us (fay@centrepcp.co.uk, nick@centrepcp.co.uk). Nick Reed Photo: Centre Fay Fransella founded the Centre for Personal Construct Psychology in London in 1981 as the first international focus for the study and practice of George Kelly's Personal Construct Psychology. It is now part of the School of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK, with Nick Reed as its director. From the Centre website: At the launch of the Centre from left to right: Gavin Dunnett, Cassie Cooper, Peggy Dalton, Fay Fransella, Don Bannister and Helen Jones. see: Centre for PCP	Fay Fransella Photo: Centre



11 April 2009 New book	Richard Butler has edited a collection of - aptly named - Reflections in Personal Construct Theory (Wiley, 2009). Editor's info: The book aims to discuss different aspects of reflexivity by inviting well known practitioners to reflect on how reflexivity has impacted on their work. Each chapter will cover an aspect of personal construct theory which the author has found helpful in their work, its relation to reflexivity, how they have incorporated this in practice and how it has enhanced their understanding of their own self construing. Around 20 authors will be invited to contribute. Content: Section I Exploring Personal Construct Theory. Coming to terms with personal construct theory (Richard Butler). The construct (Harry Procter). Section II The Men behind the Theory. The George Kelly I knew (Jay S. Efran). Don Bannister through the looking glass (Fay Fransella). Section III Construct Theory as a Meaningful Alternative. Individuality, community and criminal behaviour (James Horley). Shaking hands with a serial killer (David A. Winter). Encounters of the puzzling kind: the organisational corollary in relation to self-construing (Richard Butler). Sauce for the gander (Sally Robbins). Griddled with angst: a roller-coaster ride on the repertory grid (Richard Bell). Section IV Construct Theory as an Elaborative Choice. Living aggressively (Jonathan D. Raskin). The guilty choice: reflections on dislodgement, extension and definition (Peter Cummins). Different readings of personal construct theory (Trevor Butt). The teacher, the singer and the personal construct theorist: an unlikely but fruitful dialogue (Vivien Burr). Reflexivity: what in the "GAK" is that? (Desley Hennessy). Section V No One Need be a Victim of Their Biography. Differentiating the I from the ME (Jerald R. Forster). Mirror man (David Green). Landmarks on a personal odyssey (Finn Tschudi). Reconstruing after a change in health status (Jörn Scheer). Constructions of death and loss: a personal and professional evolution (Robert A. Neimeyer). Reflections on the creation of a dissertation (Dennis Hinkle). Section VI The Client as an Active Participant. Enculturing refl exivity across cultures: non-PC lessons from study abroad (Naoimh O'Connor). The icing on the sausage: The emancipation of constructive alternativism (Dina Pekkala). Theory, therapy and life: experiential personal construct psychology and the "desert places" of a therapist (Larry M. Leitner). Reflexivity, research and practice: explorations in experiential personal construct psychology (Alexandra L. Adame, Anthony J. Pavlo, Brendon M. Smith, Hugo J. Schielke & Larry M. Leitner). The joint experiment of research supervision (Beverly M. Walker). Section VII And Finally . . . Reflections on Reflexivity. Critical consciousness in action: reflections on reflection in, from and beyond personal construct psychology (Bill Warren). see Details	Photo: JS



31 March 2009 Brendan Maher died	Brendan A. Maher, known to PCP people as the editor of "Clinical psychology and personality - the selected papers of George Kelly", published posthumously in 1969, died, aged 84. He was a retired professor of personality psychology at Harvard University (Information forwarded by Rue Cromwell).	Photo: CPN web site



2 March 2009 New book on psychotherapy	There is a new compact book by Bob Neimeyer which was designed specifically to sell at an inexpensive price affordable for students as well as professionals, at least in its paperback edition. Neimeyer, R. A. (2009): Constructivist psychotherapy: Distinctive features. London: Routledge, 186 p, £ 9.99 or $ 17 Publishers info: Constructivist psychotherapy focuses on the meaning that clients attribute to their world, and the way that this shapes their life and contributes to their difficulties. In this book, Robert A. Neimeyer, a leading figure in the field, provides a clear and accessible explanation of the key features of this approach. Constructivist Psychotherapy: Distinctive Features concentrates on the 30 key commitments that distinguish constructivism from other cognitive behavioural perspectives. Divided into two sections – Theory and Practice – this straightforward book is illustrated throughout with case material and recent research findings. Neimeyer provides us with a fresh perspective on familiar material, together with a clear, concise introduction to material that the reader may be less familiar with, making this book a valuable text for professionals in training as well as a source of new ideas for practising therapists of constructivist psychotherapy. see: Publishers' details	Photo: Home Page



13 Jan 2009 APA Abraham Maslow Award for Franz Epting	At the 2008 convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Boston, Franz R. Epting, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA received The Abraham Maslow Award from the American Psychological Association Society for Humanistic Psychology. He was recognized for making an outstanding and lasting contribution to the exploration of the farther reaches of the human spirit.	Photo: JS



7 Jan 2009 New Book Chris Laming Photo: Home Page	Chris Laming's thesis has now appeared as a book: Laming, C. (2008). Challenging Men’s Violence Against Women: A Constructivist Approach. Saarbrucken: VDM Verlag. Synopsis This timely book presents a new way of working with abusive men, to challenge and support them to take responsibility for behaviour they use against women and children. This book clearly outlines a model of engaging in men's behaviour change, together with an explanation of the principles underpinning it. A constructivist approach is used, challenging men's violence against women. It was developed in rural Australia and called the Men's SHED (Self Help Ending Domestics) Project. Personal Construct Theory provides the foundation for this approach, at an individual, group and community level. This example of practice research enables an exploration of constructive alternatives for challenging men's abuse and violence. It engenders hope that men can learn to take responsibility for their own abusive behaviour and challenge other men to do like wise. The greater safety and happiness of women, children and men, is the ultimate aim of this easy to read practice research. New Books Also new, the related "toolkit": Laming, C. & Fontana, M. (2008) Family Safety - A Toolkit for Men (available at $A 10 + postage) (see order form) info & order form


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