1. Writing a Canadian distance course in Feminist Family Therapy: is this really possible? Dr. Deborah Foster & Dr. Karen Nielsen Athabasca University

2. The Context

3. So we begin to write a Canadian course on Feminist Family Therapy We went looking for a Canadian text – NONE Which led us into a conversation about what this means

4. Society & Culture Class, gender, and power are critically relevant dimensions in the field feminist family therapyClass, gender, and power are critically relevant dimensions in the field feminist family therapy Construction of meaning based on our cultural narrativesConstruction of meaning based on our cultural narratives

5. Society and Culture Canada has traditionally been seen as a country that emphasizes universalistic values in social welfare (although it is changing)Canada has traditionally been seen as a country that emphasizes universalistic values in social welfare (although it is changing) USA : more individualistic values with social welfare based on “the market place”USA : more individualistic values with social welfare based on “the market place” Different political and racial/immigrant historyDifferent political and racial/immigrant history

6. IF …… Culture/Cultural narratives is importantCulture/Cultural narratives is important AND … Family is the main source of socializationFamily is the main source of socialization Many families need/want counsellingMany families need/want counselling THEN WHY …. Why is there a dearth of feminist family therapy being published in Canada in recent yearsWhy is there a dearth of feminist family therapy being published in Canada in recent years And what does it say about our ability to prepare new therapists to work from a feminist perspectiveAnd what does it say about our ability to prepare new therapists to work from a feminist perspective

7. SINCE …. If we are not publishing in this area, how do we expect the primary societal messages towards women to changeIf we are not publishing in this area, how do we expect the primary societal messages towards women to change AND … We think it IS important to take culture into account when counselling minorities such as Lesbians, Aboriginals and ImmigrantsWe think it IS important to take culture into account when counselling minorities such as Lesbians, Aboriginals and Immigrants THEN … Why not familiesWhy not families

8. IF … We believe as feminists that the external is a source of troubled families problems, shouldn’t we be providing therapy that looks at our “external”?We believe as feminists that the external is a source of troubled families problems, shouldn’t we be providing therapy that looks at our “external”? AND … Often their ‘external’ is influenced by cable TVOften their ‘external’ is influenced by cable TV For example, many students believe women are equally as physically violent as men. Whose external is this?For example, many students believe women are equally as physically violent as men. Whose external is this?

9. Inclusion and Exclusion Concern over issues of inclusion and exclusion: Family Therapy texts that are written in USA seldom have any content on working with First Nations PeopleConcern over issues of inclusion and exclusion: Family Therapy texts that are written in USA seldom have any content on working with First Nations People In Alberta there are currently about 6000 children in care, of which about 5000 are Aboriginal/Métis AND ‘Family Group Counselling’ is the current buzz wordIn Alberta there are currently about 6000 children in care, of which about 5000 are Aboriginal/Métis AND ‘Family Group Counselling’ is the current buzz word Intersectionality – of race, culture, genderIntersectionality – of race, culture, gender

10. We really wanted to make this a Canadian course but in the end we were forced to go with an American textbook and American articles from American Journals. We have been able to find a few articles that do allow students to see themselvesWe really wanted to make this a Canadian course but in the end we were forced to go with an American textbook and American articles from American Journals. We have been able to find a few articles that do allow students to see themselves So if you or someone you know is doing Feminist Family Therapy then ask them to …. Publish!!Publish!!

11. What do you think