Feminist therapy is a set of related therapies arising from the disparity between the origin of most psychological theories and the majority of people seeking counseling being female. It focuses on societal, cultural, and political causes and solutions to issues faced in the counseling process. It openly encourages the client to participate in the world in a more social and political way.
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Basic tenets
Feminist therapy has emerged from the belief that much of human suffering is a result of the unequal distribution of power in society, particularly based upon gender, race and ethnicity, class, dis/ability, sexual orientation, and so forth. These power differentials have been a factor in direct injuries such as sexual assault as well as indirect ones such as limited options. A feminist approach implies a commitment to social change. The practice of feminist therapy is thus politicized in both its theoretical understanding of the causes of injury as well as in its enactment. A collaborative and respectful working relationship is therefore at the foundation of feminist therapy.1
The basic tents of feminist therapy have been summarized by Lenore Walker as follows2:
- Egalitarian relations between the therapist and client,
- Empowerment and independence for women,
- Enhancement of women's strengths rather than attention to their weaknesses,
- Lack of emphasis on pathology and blaming of victims,
- Education for different sex-role patterns, and
- Acceptance and validation of feelings.
Goals of therapy
Five principal goals of therapy exist.3
- Equality
- Balancing independence and interdependence
- Empowerment
- Self-nurturance
- Valuing diversity
Therapeutic strategies
The following strategies are typical of feminist therapy:citation needed
- Empowerment
- Self-disclosure
- Gender-role analysis
- Gender-role intervention
- Power analysis and power intervention
- Bibliotherapy
- Assertiveness training
- Reframing and relabeling
- Group work
- Social action
Contributors
- Judith Worrell
- Pam Remer4
- Sandra Bem
- Laura Brown5
- Jean Baker Miller6
- Carolyn Enns7
- Ellyn Kaschak8
- Bonnie Burstow9
References
- ^ Worell, J. & Remer, P. Feminist perspectives in therapy: Empowering diverse women. Second Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003.
- ^ Sundberg, Norman (2001). Clinical Psychology: Evolving Theory, Practice, and Research. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0130871192.
- ^ Carol Enns, Feminist theories and feminist psychotherapies: Origins, themes, and diversity, Second Ed., Haworth, 2004.
- ^ [1] official website.
- ^ Laura Brown official website.
- ^ Jean Baker Miller on Wellesley College.
- ^ Carolyn Enns on Cornell College.
- ^ Ellyn Kaschak official website.
- ^ Amazon.com: Radical Feminist Therapy: Working in the Context of Violence: Bonnie Burstow: Books
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 16 November 2008, at 08:14.
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