The group as social construction

from the clinical setting to the community

Authors

Keywords:

social constructionism, groups, therapy, community, politics

Abstract

In the field of constructionist practices, the understanding of the «group as a social construction » offers a non-essentialist perspective focused on conversation, collaboration between therapist and client and ethical-political sensitivity to group intervention. In this essay, we present experiences of its use in clinical, institutional and community contexts, specifically short-term mental health groups, the establishment of an AIDS NGO, and engagement with the transvestite community. The analysis of these experiences shows, on the one hand, the richness, flexibility and usefulness of constructionist tools. On the other hand, the challenges faced question the group practice institutional location and the set of actions, identities and expectations that delimit its possibilities. Transitioning from clinical to community settings invites us to reflect on the commitments of our practices to the society we live in, in other words, to think about the politics of group practice.

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Author Biography

Emerson Fernando Rasera, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia/MG

Professor Titular da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia e Docente do Programa de
Pós-Graduação em Psicologia.

Published

2024-08-01

How to Cite

Rasera, E. F. (2024). The group as social construction: from the clinical setting to the community. Nova Perspectiva Sistêmica, 33(79), 8–16. Retrieved from https://revistanps.com.br/nps/article/view/787

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Section

Fronteiras