(October 2, 2020) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. “Praxis gives meaning to words.” (Ludwig Wittgenstein) John Shotter We continue with John Shotter, Ph.D. (1937, Glasgow, Scotland, in the United Kingdom. Whittlesford-England, December 8, 2016). In 15 days, we will continue with another author. ·        Words are like hands with which we touch people’s faces. And, at the same time, you can see people being touched by their own words. ·        The important thing is dialogue; particularly the dialogue with the other, the dialogue with the diverse; the responsibility in the dialogue, this feeling with the other, choosing to be spontaneously involved. Aware of one’s own corporeality,…

(September 2020) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. “Praxis gives meaning to words.” (Ludwig Wittgenstein) Kenneth Gergen (I) We propose a selection of brief concepts, reflections, ideas, and proposals of some of the main exponents of the position, perspective, theory, and social constructionist practice. To facilitate the reflective reading we have brought specific textual citations without specifying each time the sources; we present at the end the suggested bibliography so that you can check some of the most important readings related to the topic. We invite you to open your curiosity for these exciting contributions. We start with Kenneth Gergen, Ph.D. (December 9, 1934, Rochester, United States).…

(September 6, 2019) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and MaritzaCrespo Balderrama, M.A. “Regretting a past misfortune that now does not exist is the surest way to create another misfortune”. (William Shakespeare) Everyday sadness (like other emotions) occurs in social relationships as part of the complex human condition and often acquires an abusive and cruel power, which tyrannizes, oppresses, and steals people’s lives. It is a challenge to question in an authentic way what builds ethical awareness. From what feeling do I decide to propose and communicate in each relationship: from the complaint, from sadness, from anger, from joy? According to the World Health Organization (WHO): It is estimated that nearly 50…

Construction of relational transformations in an Ecuadorian contextDiego Tapia Figueroa English translation of Bruno Tapia Naranjo.

(August 2019) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on”. (William Shakespeare-The Tempest) The university students with whom we are working at this stage, as well as different colleagues in clinical supervision spaces, often ask us for guidelines that guide their professional practice. It is an invitation to work relationally, socially with this compass: “language constructs reality”. More than ascribing to theories and epistemologies as dogmas of faith, to induce to repeat the way of doing of those who “know”, to apply techniques, protocols or general-universal “truths” and social control, it is about contributing to each professional finding his own style…

(August 2019) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. “It’s not on any map. True places never are.” (Herman Melville, Moby Dick) Reflecting on the need for responsible self-care of therapists, social workers and the whole range of operators and professionals in the social field is always important because when it is given and practiced, the dialogical, generative, and transformative processes are created together and give meaning to meetings and work; when it does not occur, relational noise and mutual abuse are installed. In this blog (Friday, May 4, 2018, “CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER FROM A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONIST STANCE”), we refer to this topic and invite you to…

(June 2020) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. “No one educates anyone -no-one educates himself- men educate each other with the mediation of the world… There is no true word that is not an unbreakable union between action and reflection… Accepting and respecting difference is one of those virtues without which listening cannot be given.” (Paulo Freire) What we have learned from our teachers in the social constructionist field is what we systematize and share with you (our readers) and in the different spaces of learning, dialogue and relationship. We consider that these practices are really useful for gaining experience of training and professional updating through workshops…

(April 19, 2019) Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D. and Maritza Crespo Balderrama, MA. “If we want to protect life on this Earth, we can do so by questioning today’s dangerous blindness wherever it lies first and foremost, in ourselves… Everywhere I look, I find the commandment to respect parents and nowhere a commandment that compels respect for children.” (Alice Miller) Research on sexual abuse of children and adolescents shows that statistics on this crime tend to increase year after year in Ecuador: 4 out of 10 children are sexually abused. 85% of sexual abusers are in the same home as the victim or are very close to their family. They are…