COGNITIVE THERAPY AND THEORIES OF KNOWING - A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONIST VIEW

It is argued that current theory and practice of cognitive therapy are encapsulated by a set of epistemic values that assign causative prima cy for psychological problems to the cognitive processes of the indivi dual knower. Social constructionism represents an alternative to this state of affairs by underscoring the inextricable connection between t he personal and the social, challenging the merit of decontextualized accounts of psychological problems, and identifying empowerment a!ld s ocial change as viable therapeutic options.