Feminist Therapy

(kristen-adayinthelifeofme.blogspot.com, 2013)

 

Founders: Jean Baker Miller (1928-2006), Carolyn Zerbe Enns, Oliva M. Espin, Laura S. Brown

 

 

Principles of Feminist Therapy-

•  The personal is political
• Commitment to social change
• Women's and girl's voices and ways of knowing are valued and their experiences and honored.
• The counseling relationship is egalitarian
• A focus on strengths and a reformulated definition of psychological distress
• All types of oppression are recognized       

 

 

Therapeutic Goals: According to Worell and Remer 2003 (as cited by Corey, 2013), feminist therapists help clients:

• Become aware of their own gender-role socialization
• Identify their internalized messages and replace them with more self-enhancing beliefs
• Understand how sexist and oppressive societal beliefs and practices influence them in negative ways
• Acquire skills to bring about change in the environment
• Restructure institutions to rid them of discriminatory practices
• Develop a wide range of behaviors that are freely chosen
• Evaluate the impact of social factors on their lives
• Develop a sense of personal and social power
• Recognize the power of relationships and connectedness
• Trust their own experience and their intuition

Feminist therapy's ultimate goal is to exterminate sexism, discrimination and oppression not only individually but as a whole society (Corey, 2013).  Corey 2013, also says "empowerment to create a world of equality that is reflected at individual, interpersonal, institutional, national, and global levels". Feminist share a common ground with Adlerian therapists in their emphasis on social equality and social interest, and with existential therapist who emphasize therapy as a shared journey, one that is life changing for both client and therapist, and with there basic trust in the client's ability to move forward in a positive and constructive manner (Bitter, Robertson, Healey, & Cole, 2009 as cited by Corey, 2013). 

Techniques and Strategies: The next important consciousness-raising techniques explained by Corey 2013 help woman to differentiate between what they have been taught is socially acceptable or desirable and what is actually healthy for them:

• Empowerment strategies- informed consent issues, discussing ways to get the most out of therapy clarifying expectations, identifying goals, and working toward a contract that will guide the therapeutic process.
• Self-Disclosure- to equalize the client-therapist relationship, to provide modeling, to normalize women's collective experiences, to empower clients, and to establish informed consent.
• Gender-Role Analysis- explores the impact of gender-role expectations on the client's psychological well-being and draws upon this information to make decisions about future gender-role behaviors.
• Gender-Role Intervention- aims at the context the client is placing on social issues and how they effect them. 
• Power Analysis-refers to the range of methods aimed at helping clients understand how unequal access to power and resources can influence personal realities.
• Bibliotherapy- non-fiction books, psychology and counseling textbooks, autobiographies, self-help books, educational videos, films, and even novels can all be used as bibliotherapy resources.
• Assertiveness Training- teaching and promoting assertive behavior women become aware of their interpersonal rights, transcend stereotypical gender roles, change negative beliefs, and implement changes in their daily lives.
• Reframing and relabeling- includes a shift from "blaming the victim" to a consideration of social factors in the environment that contribute to a client's problem.
• Social action- is an essential quality of feminist therapy, getting involved in activities such as volunteering at a rape crisis center, lobbying lawmakers, or providing community education about gender issues. 
• Group work- Consciousness-raising groups initially provided an avenue for woman to share their experiences of oppression and powerlessness. 

The following youtube video is a great example of the feminist approach...

(Youtube, 2012)

 

Resources

 

Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. (9 ed., pp. 363-388). Belmont, CA: BROOKS/COLE CENGAGE Learning.

 

 



(2013). We can do it. (2013). [Graphic image]. Retrieved from http://kristen-adayinthelifeofme.blogspot.com/

Feminist therapy [Web]. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H--szd0afmQ