IDEAS, NEWS AND RESOURCES | June 2023 |
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The Taos Institute's mission is to bring together scholars and practitioners concerned with the social processes essential for the construction of reason, knowledge, and human value, and their application in relational, collaborative and appreciative practices around the world. |
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The Many Ways to Get Involved! |
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Community In Conversation
We, Marilene (Brasil) and Adela (Argentina), met in the field of Family Therapy around 30 years ago. Since then, we have continued to develop our interests in dialogue, collaboration, and particularly our desire to work with communities. In Integrative Community Therapy (ICT), we found a methodology to support our goals and dreams.
This approach developed by Adalberto Barreto, Brazilian psychiatrist, theologist, anthropologist and family therapist, can be understood as a social and political practice that generates community conversational spaces and the exchange of experiences and knowledge among people, favoring social transformation, inclusion, and respect of differences. ICT has become a successful way of responding to the suffering of people living in extreme social and economic vulnerability, far from mental health centers and with low educational levels. These conversations usually take place in community locations like churches, schools, health centers, etc.
During the pandemic, we offered ICT online. This allowed us to enter people’s homes (virtually) and invite them to be in conversation with others, to share not only their problems, but the creative ways they were facing their social isolation, the fears of the contagion and the pain of losing close friends and relatives. ICT became a messenger of hope, encouraging people to be supportive of one another and to find ways to take care of themselves while navigating troubled times.
Welcoming the polyphony, the community created by ICT provided an enriched and trusting environment that opened possibilities for sharing intimate and even very painful experiences among people in a public setting. For example, in an ICT round facilitated by Marilene, a man in his 60´s shared, for the first time, the abuse he suffered as a child and his wish to put an end to his life as he had no good reason to stay alive. In this meeting he was welcomed by the community and could listen to other ICT participants who also thought death could be a solution to end suffering but who decided to go on and found new meaning to their lives. ICT focuses on possibilities and honors the wisdom of communities. By listening to one another, people find their own possibilities to overcome conflicts, challenges, and crises and at the same time, build social support networks for themselves. ICT, as a collective practice, generates relationships and fosters the activation of the therapeutic ability of the group itself. It helps participants to see their suffering as a human experience, instead of a pathology. ICT is a practice that was proposed in response to the demand from the community; it honors the folk wisdom and cultural values, democratizing the knowledge and favoring inclusion and a sense of belonging.
ICT allowed us to experience, both as participants and as facilitators, the enormous value of witnessing in the voice of all the participants, the human resources always present as a product of the experience of living in relationships. The most fantastic aspect of this conversational process is that, when one shares his/her knowledge in the art of living, rhizomatically, he/she activates the resources of others.
You can read more about our experience with Integrative Community Therapy (ICT) in the recently published book, Collaborative-Dialogic Practice and our chapter, Community In Conversation: Generating Collaborative and Dialogic Conversations in Community Context.
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Dialogue with the Authors |
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A free book discussion with
Taos Institute co-founder and president
Kenneth Gergen
June 21, 11:00am-12:00pm EDT
This fully updated fourth edition of Kenneth Gergen’s An Invitation to Social Construction introduces you to a key theoretical movement in contemporary social science through a wide range of multidisciplinary examples. The fourth edition includes:
- wider consideration of contemporary global challenges,
- increased coverage of media, digital culture, and relevant political issues,
- updated real-world examples of social constructionist theory in action, in research, education, therapy, organizations, and peace building.
This book brings together complex theories that inform and critically build upon social constructionism, such as narratology, deconstruction, dialogism, positivism, and post-structuralism, in a way that is accessible for students and researchers alike. It is a vital resource for those studying social psychology and critical social psychology who are looking for a comprehensive guide to one of the core topics in the field.
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SPECIAL OFFER: Use promo code TAOSINST25 to receive a 25% discount on the book purchase at Sagepub.com. Also available at ebooks.com.
Valid through 2023.
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Keep reading for two more live opportunities to learn about Social Construction and Relational Process Theory & Practice with Ken Gergen... |
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What's Happening in the Commons |
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Join with over 900 members in the Taos Institute Commons online community as we explore social constructionist, relational, and appreciative theory and practices. To make it easier for you to connect with one another, we invite you to attend one of the upcoming events in the Commons: Taos Conversations are informal, interactive, and stimulating conversations on a particular topic. Meet & Greets are offered every two weeks. Stop by to say hello, even if only for a few minutes. Both are free and open to all.
to become a part of our global family.
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June 22, 12:00 pm EDT
Are your colleagues “officers” while you aren’t part of the military? Do you rely on “human resources/capital” instead of human beings? Claudia Gross invites a deeper dive into practical examples of language at work and the influence they have on our mind and behavior, individually and collectively. Register here.
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June 16, 8:00am EDT
June 27, 2:00pm EDT
We invite you to join these informal gatherings to meet other Taos Institute Commons members and share stories of how you are applying (or hoping to apply) social constructionist, relational and appreciative approaches into your work and life. Stop by to say hello and see what this online community is all about!
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Don't wait for our scheduled events. The Taos Commons is your community.
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Constructionists assume that what we take to be true, just, rational and right emerges from the interactions between people. We focus on inquiring into the many perspectives that shape the issues we confront in our families, communities, organizations, and cultural institutions so that even radically diverse worldviews are no longer threats but can be approached with curiosity and respect.
How do you bring social construction to your work and personal life and develop practices that build understanding, respect, and collaboration rather than conflict, harm, and isolation?
The following online programs are all rooted in social constructionist and relational theory, yet differ in their focus and format, to meet you exactly where you are.
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Sept 11-Oct 16, 2023
A 6-week online course with Celiane Camargo-Borges
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Join us in this journey to explore how aspects of the world that are taken for granted are socially constructed, thereby opening space for alternative ways to engage in practice and with people. In this course you will not just learn about social constructionist theory and practice but also connect it to your own field of research, practice, or life and explore the positive impact that this paradigm shift has on society at large. This course includes weekly live meetings on zoom. More details here.
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November 4 and 11, 2023
Relational Process Theory & Practice
2 online workshops with Kenneth Gergen
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These two workshops explore one of the most celebrated books by Kenneth Gergen, Relational Being: Beyond Self and Community. The first is an introductory workshop (Nov. 4) and explores the fundamentals of Relational Process Theory, its significance, and its realization in practice. A second, more advanced workshop (Nov. 11) includes re-formulations of psychology, the process of communication, and ethics, along with practical implications. Each workshop consists of a 3-hour discussion with Ken Gergen. More details here.
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Coming in early 2024
with Harlene Anderson & Sheila McNamee
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A hands-on workshop for therapists, coaches, consultants, and other practitioners who want to learn more humanizing, non-pathologizing approaches to creating transformative relationships and dialogue with their clients. Participants experience a new way of being: radical presence, practicing pause, enhanced curiosity, non-judgmental understanding... More details here.
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Secure your space on one (or all!) of these life-changing experiences
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"It was an invigorating, thought provoking, and moving experience for me."
- Taos Institute workshop participant
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New Book Translation
written by Kenneth J. Gergen
translated by Loek Schoenmakers
Thanks to the time dedication of Taos Institute Associate, coach and consultant Loek Schoenmakers, we are pleased to announce the availability of the Dutch translation of Kenneth Gergen's recent book, The Relational Imperative: Resources for a World on Edge. This brief introduction to a relational perspective is bountifully illustrated with innovative practices – in education, healthcare, organizational development, peace building and more. All function to enhance well-being through relational process. The Dutch book is free for downloading. Also available in French.
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Podcast
A Podcast of the East Side Institute
The East Side Institute (ESI) was founded in 2003 by late Fred Newman and Taos Institute Associate Lois Holzman. With this podcast series, the institute works to advance social change efforts that reinitiate human and community development. ESI supports, connects and partners with committed activists, scholars, artists, helpers and healers all over the world, such as those you’ll hear from in this series.
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Issue 12 is Available
This free journal brings together members of a growing international community of practitioners, scholars, educators, researchers, and consultants interested in postmodern collaborative practices.
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FREE downloadable books in 12 different languages. Like all of the Taos Institute Publications, WorldShare Books represent significant contributions relevant to social constructionist theory and practice. With over 30 books in English and many more from around the world, you will enjoy reading about education, spirituality, organizational life, community building, group dynamics, leadership and more.
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By focusing on the positive aspects of aging and the availability of resources, skills, and resiliencies, research brings useful insights into the realm of practice, creates hope and empowers action among older people. By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention, to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute more effectively to the societal reconstruction of aging. For 20 years, late Taos Institute co-founder Mary Gergen, Ph.D. has inspired and driven the publication of this free newsletter - also translated in 9 languages!
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Access hundreds of articles and papers on topics such as:
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Collaborative Practices
- Dialogic Practices
- Creativity and Change
- Narrative Practices
- Relational Research
- Relational Learning
- Qualitative Research
- and so much more!
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In the current global context, the work in which we engage is more important than ever. You can make a difference by supporting our mission to create a promising future through social construction. Read more
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In loving memory of Taos Institute co-founder and board member Mary Gergen, Ph.D.. Mary was an innovator in feminist theory, social constructionism, and qualitative methods. She was an inspiration and mentor to thousands of people around the world. She deeply cared about making the world a better place and her contributions will be felt for generations. Read more
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