1. Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy
MacDonald
Feminist Therapy

2. Questions?
What are the differences in terms of gender-role socialization from this couple?
What kinds of messages do you learn in terms of being a woman or being a man?
How these gender-role expectations could impact you as a therapist?

3. Key Concepts of Feminist Therapy
Problems are viewed in a sociopolitical and cultural context
The client knows what is best for her life and is the expert on her own life
Emphasis is on educating clients about the therapy process
Traditional ways of assessing psychological health are challenged
It is assumed that individual change will best occur through social change
Clients are encouraged to take social action

4. Four Approaches to Feminist Therapy
1. Liberal Feminism
Focus
Helping individual women overcome the limits and constraints of their socialization patterns
Major goals
Personal empowerment of individual women
Dignity
Self-fulfillment
Equality

5. Four Approaches to Feminist Therapy
2. Cultural Feminism
Oppression stems from society’s devaluation of women’s strengths
Emphasize the differences between women and men
Believe the solution to oppression lies in feminization of the culture
Society becomes more nurturing, cooperative, and relational
Major goal of therapy is the infusion of society with values based on cooperation

6. Four Approaches to Feminist Therapy
3. Radical Feminism
Focus
Seek to change society through activism
Therapy is viewed as a political enterprise with the goal of transformation of society
Major goals
Transform gender relationships
Transform societal institutions
Increase women’s sexual and procreative self-determination.

7. Four Approaches to Feminist Therapy
4. Socialist Feminism
Also have goal of societal change
Emphasis on multiple oppressions
Believe solutions to society’s problems must include consideration of:
Class
Race
Other forms of discrimination
Major goal of therapy is to transform social relationships and institutions

8. View of Human Nature Gender-fair Flexible-multicultural Interactionist
Differences between women and men are due to socialization processes
Flexible-multicultural
Apply equally to both individuals and groups regardless of age, race, culture, gender, class, sexual orientation, and ability.
Interactionist
Consider contextual and environmental factors
Life-span-oriented
Human development is a lifelong process and change can occur at any time

9. Principles of Feminist Therapy
The personal is political
Personal and social identities are interdependent
The counseling relationship is egalitarian
Women’s experiences are honored
Definitions of distress and “mental illness” are reformulated
There is an integrated analysis of oppression

10. Goals of Feminist Therapy
Five goals:
1. Equality, 2. Balancing independence and interdependent, 3. Empowerment, 4. Self-nurturance, and 5.Valuing diversity
Two dimensions:
personal transformation (e.g., recognize personal power)
social changes (e..g, value equality relationship, stress interdependence, define themselves instead of defined by societal demands)

11. Therapist’s function and Role
Use gender and power analyses to understand clients and their concerns
monitor their own biases
Understand oppression in all forms
Value being emotionally present for their clients, sharing their experiences, and modeling proactive behaviors
Use techniques from other approaches
Hold beliefs in common with humanistic and person-centered approach
Therapeutic relationship is not sufficient

12. Client’s Experience in Therapy
Clients are active participants
Initially, clients may look to the therapist for advice
Gradually, clients trust more in their own power
After feeling understood, they get in touch with their feelings or “prohibited” emotions
Therapists share their struggles with gender-role oppression and clients realize that they are not alone
Expand support system outside of therapy, engage in social change, and feel empowered.

13. Relationship Between Therapist and Client
The therapeutic relationship is based on empowerment and egalitarianism
The structure of the client-therapist relationship models how to identify and use power responsibly
Counselor self-disclosure to reduce the power differential and
Honor clients’ experiences
Include the client as an active partner in the assessment and treatment process
Help clients to recognize how they define themselves and relate to others are influenced by gender-role expectations.

14. Intervention Techniques in Feminist Therapy
Gender-role analysis and intervention
To help clients understand the impact of gender-role expectations in their lives
Provides clients with insight into the ways social issues affect their problems
Power analysis and power intervention
Emphasis on the power differences between men and women in society
Clients helped to recognize different kinds of power they possess and how they and others exercise power

15. Intervention Techniques in Feminist Therapy
Bibliotherapy
Reading assignments that address issues such as
Coping skills • Gender inequality
Gender-role stereotypes • Ways sexism is promoted
Power differential • Society's obsession
between women and men with thinness
Self-disclosure
To help equalize the therapeutic relationship and provide modeling for the client
Values, beliefs about society, and therapeutic interventions discussed
Allows the client to make an informed choice

16. Intervention Techniques in Feminist Therapy
Assertiveness training
Women become aware of their interpersonal rights
Transcends stereotypical sex roles
Changes negative beliefs
Implement changes in their daily lives
Reframing
Changes the frame of reference for looking at an individual's behavior
Shifting from an intrapersonal to an interpersonal definition of a client’s problem

17. Intervention Techniques in Feminist Therapy
Relabeling
Changes the label or evaluation applied to the client's behavioral characteristics
Generally, the focus is shifted from a negative to a positive evaluation

18. From a multicultural perspective
Contributions
Have the most in common with multicultural perspectives
Direct actions for social change
Recognize sexism, racism, and other levels of oppression and privilege
Limitations
Be cautious when working with clients from culturally different background (e.g., not devaluing the collective cultural values)

19. Summary and Evaluation
Contributions
Gender-sensitive practice and an awareness of the impacts of the contextual factors
Pay attention on gender-role socialization, power issues in relationship, and external environmental factors.
Building community, providing authentic mutual empathic relationships, creating a sense of social awareness, and the emphasis on social change are all strengths of this approach
The principles and techniques of feminist therapy can be incorporated in other therapy models.

20. Summary and Evaluation
Limitations
Avoid imposing their values on their clients
Focus on contextual or environmental factors and move away from exploring the inner factors can be both a strength and a limitation
Is a theory?---is a debate question
Developed by White, middle-class, heterosexual women---may be biased due to this perspective