Originally published in 1986, this was a new and completely updated edition of the book which, since 1970 had introduced a whole generation in English psychology to Kelly's theory of personal constructs. By setting out a broadly designed and experimentally illustrated view of people as self-inventing explorers and interpreters of their world it challenged the 'mechanical man' of orthodox psychology. It proved a source of radically new ideas in psychotherapy, education and industry. This revised edition shows how the theory's professional applications have spread ever wider, while many have realised that personal construct psychology contains, for them, the core of a personal philosophy.

Originally published in 1986, this was a new and completely updated edition of the book which, since 1970 had introduced a whole generation in English psychology to Kelly's theory of personal constructs. By setting out a broadly designed and experimentally illustrated view of people as self-inventing explorers and interpreters of their world it challenged the 'mechanical man' of orthodox psychology. It proved a source of radically new ideas in psychotherapy, education and industry. This revised edition shows how the theory's professional applications have spread ever wider, while many have realised that personal construct psychology contains, for them, the core of a personal philosophy.

George Kelly's personal construct theory, first published in 1955, is as radical today as it was then. Describing how each one of us goes about our daily life trying to make sense of the events around us, it maintains that we are in charge of what we do in the world, that we do not merely react to events. This book reveals that George Kelly was a man of enormous intellect, of many talents and of great complexity. Fay Fransella outlines how his views have influenced the theory and practice of psychotherapy, and illustrates how his training in physics and mathematics influenced his theory and led to the development of one of his methods of measurement - the repertory grid. The book also describes Kelly's philosophy of constructive alternativism, which suggests that we have created and can therefore recreate ourselves, and that what is true for the individual, rather than some external truth, is what matters. This philosophy can be seen as a precursor of the current emphasis on constructivism. Criticisms of Kelly's work and examples of work carried out within this framework since his death are also featured.

The revised and updated edition of this practical, accessible book gives a clear introduction to personal construct counselling for counselling trainees and practitioners alike. Outlining the key principles of the personal construct approach to counselling and relating them to practice, the book carefully explores ways in which counsellors, through credulous listening to everything the client says - and does not say - can build the client's awareness of the manner in which he or she construes problems. The range of methods that can be used to help the counsellor and client learn more about inherent contradictions and their implications, are described and illustrated. The book goes on to show how the counsellor and client in partnership can then devise experiments for change through which the client can try out new and more rewarding ways of construing and acting. A number of approaches to facilitating change are discussed and exemplified. The book includes a detailed case study of the counselling process with one particular client.