Reality exists O.K.? An argument against constructivism and social constructionism

This paper reviews the way in which realism and constructivism have implicitly and explicitly underlain assumptions made by people in the helping professions about what can be known. Constructivism and the more recently rediscovered social constructionism have been appropriately influential in what is counted as knowledge in family therapy, but it is argued that they have gone too far in their assumption that a structured reality makes no contribution to what can be known. An alternative position is advocated, one which takes into account a relationship between the knower and the known. Some of the implications of such a co‐constructivist position for family therapy are outlined.