noviembre 24, 2023 Relational and Social Constructionist Consortium of Ecuador (IRYSE) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. We live, organize, and give meaning to our lives through socially constructed narratives. Our stories are not formed in isolation but are relational. The meanings and interpretations that we ascribe to the events and experiences of our lives -including our own personal identity- are created, experienced, and shared by individuals who are in relationship and dialogue with each other. (Harlene Anderson, 2013). “Relational ethics, from the perspective of social constructionism, includes dialogue, collaboration, and a whole range of relational practices. I need other people to coordinate the construction of the…

Relational and Social Constructionist Consortium of Ecuador (IRYSE) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. “Language acquires its capacity for meaning from relationships, from the way it is used when people coordinate with each other and with the world around them… Social constructionist dialogue refers to the processes by which humans generate meaning together… I am the intersection of all my relationships” Kenneth Gergen “We must pay attention to the polyphonies. During the conversation, we can play music that suddenly resonates with another melody that is not ours. They can be rescued for the process whenever they are relevant: what was useful, what could be, what we can…

Relational and Social Constructionist Consortium of Ecuador (IRYSE) Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. and Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. It is known that relationships change over time and many times, we do not realize that we ourselves have changed. Human beings are constantly evolving and that is evident in our interpersonal relationships, especially with our partners. Sometimes both peers can acknowledge some of their responsibility for the state of affairs. However, the tendency is to blame the other or assume that situations like this commonly happen and “will get better” without each person decisively intervening to generate changes. There are habits that we can practice to maintain healthy couple relationships and promote…

Relational and Social Constructionist Consortium of Ecuador (IRYSE) Diego Tapia Figueroa, PhD. & Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. (***) We share our article published this week in Psicología y Mente -Spanish online portal- (Psychology for professionals, students and the curious. Daily articles on mental health, neurosciences, famous quotes and relationships): https://psicologiaymente.com/psicologia/terapia-pareja-construccionismo-social-relacional We trust it will contribute, be useful, and serve you for your reflections, relational transformations, and generative construction of the new possibilities. English translation by Bruno Tapia Naranjo.

septiembre 15, 2023 Consorcio Relacional y Socioconstruccionista del Ecuador (IRYSE) Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. y Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D.  In our psychotherapeutic practice, it is quite common to hear that both women and men indicate that they live in a “toxic” relationship and it is usually a common theme for working in therapy with couples and families. Even in conversations between friends, it is quite common to hear that some people talk about their partner being toxic or that they are part of a relationship that they experience as toxic. In this context, it is interesting to be able to determine what a “toxic relationship” entails and what are some…

September 1, 2023 Relational and Social Constructionist Consortium of Ecuador (IRYSE) Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. y Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D.  “Everywhere I look I find the commandment to respect parents and nowhere a commandment that requires respecting children.” (Alice Miller) Throughout our lives, we will give ourselves and accept -in the different relational contexts in which we participate- the same treatment that we received when we were children. You have to respect the boy/girl, love him deeply, and show it to him. Parents must realize the meaning that things can have for their child, and based on that, do what is most useful for everyone. The fulfillment of fathers and…

agosto 18, 2023 Consorcio Relacional y Socioconstruccionista del Ecuador (IRYSE) Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. y Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D.  As the days go by and the media informs us about the events in the world, it is increasingly evident that our country is immersed in a climate, in a spiral of violence that not only frightens -in many cases- it paralyzes and leaves citizens without hope or answers. In contexts in which dialogue has broken down and in which trust in institutions is lost, people tend to stop seeing the possibilities and positive aspects that could exist in everyday spaces and tend to focus their attention, fear, and thoughts on…

agosto 4, 2023 Consorcio Relacional y Socioconstruccionista del Ecuador (IRYSE) Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. y Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D.  All abuse (sexual, physical, psychological) is sustained in an asymmetrical power relationship, in which the abuser feels or is -for different reasons- above the victim and wants to let them know; it acts in such a way that its power is imposed in an abusive way. Abuse is the result of a social construction in which it is believed that there are “second class” people, generally women and children, who must be “corrected”, “possessed”, “silenced”, “punished”, people who are not people because they are not seen as such, but as objects…