Personal Construct Theory and Systemic Therapies: Parallel or Convergent Trends?

Since the constructivist position is progressively being adopted by most of systemic therapies, more attention is being paid to personal meanings. However, an integrative framework is needed to include both systemic and individual phenomena. Kell's Personal Construct Theory (PCT) can provide a significant contribution in this integration. Although PCT and the systemic therapies traditionally have had a different evolution and focus of attention (the individual and the family, respectively), they have profound similarities. First, they share a common epistemological stance‐constructivism‐in considering that reality is not revealed to us in only one true way but is constructed by the knower. Second, personal construct systems possess the properties described for open systems. Finally, PCT and the systemic therapies hold similar positions on relevant theoretical and clinical issues. From the exploration of these similarities, and from other confluent trends, arise patterns of convergence which can become central for an integrative approach to both individual and family (and larger) systems.