Constructed Awareness: Integrating the Theory of Constructed Emotion Into Counseling Practice

This conceptual article explores the theory of constructed emotion (TCE) and its intersection with Constructed Awareness (CA), an emerging humanistic approach to trauma counseling. The aim is to address the gap in counseling literature regarding TCE and introduce TCE as a paradigm shift within the counseling field. Additionally, the article outlines the three principles of CA, examines how CA employs TCE to establish a framework for client awareness, and illustrates the application of CA through a case example spanning 11 counseling sessions with a client diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic symptom disorder (SSD). Finally, the clinical implications of integrating CA's understanding of emotion construction are discussed, along with suggestions for future research on CA and TCE.