In post-modern, social constructionist therapy, what is the process called when the therapist and client collaboratively develop an alternate viewpoint?

In post-modern, social constructionist therapy, the process of collaboratively developing an alternate viewpoint between the therapist and the client is known as co-construction. This approach emphasizes the relational aspect of therapy, where the therapist and client work together to create new meanings and understandings that empower the client. It focuses on the idea that reality is not fixed but constructed through language and interactions.

Co-construction allows for a flexible exploration of the client's experiences, identifying and reshaping their narratives to foster different perspectives and possibilities. Within this framework, the therapist encourages the client to reflect on their stories and to see them from various angles, promoting a sense of agency and reduced feelings of being trapped by their current narratives.

While terms like externalization, objectification, and narrative re-authoring are associated with post-modern therapies, they pertain to specific techniques or processes rather than the collaborative act of developing alternate viewpoints itself. Externalization involves separating a problem from the person, objectification refers to treating an idea or belief as an object of discussion, and narrative re-authoring focuses on rewriting personal narratives. Co-construction, however, encapsulates the entire collaborative journey of meaning-making that defines the therapeutic relationship in this approach.