Feminist Therapy
Questions?
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What are the differences in terms of genderrole socialization for this couple?
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As a woman or as a man, what kind of
messages do you receive from people?
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How do these gender-role expectations
impact you as a therapist?
Key Concepts
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Problems are viewed in a sociopolitical and cultural
context
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The client is the expert in her/his own life
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Challenge traditional ways of assessing psychological
health
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It is assumed that changes in individuals will best occur
through social change
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Clients are encouraged to take social actions
View of Human Nature
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Gender-fair
 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
Goals of Feminist Therapy
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Be aware of their gender-role socialization process
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Identify negative internalized messages and
replace them with self-enhancing beliefs
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Understand how sexism and oppression influence
them in a negative way
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Help women define themselves instead of defined
by societal standards (e.g., body image)
Goals of Feminist Therapy
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Help women free from the impact of genderrole expectations
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Men and women are equal
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Balance self-nurturance and relationship
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Empowering clients
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Take actions to change society
Therapist’s function and Role
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Use gender and power analyses to understand clients
and their concerns
monitor their own biases
Commit to understanding oppression and its impacts
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 personcentered approach
Therapeutic Relationship
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Therapeutic relationship is not sufficient
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Therapeutic relationship is empowering and egalitarian
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Model how to identify and use power
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Use self-disclosure to reduce the power differential
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Honor clients’ experiences
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Include clients in the assessment and treatment process
Intervention Techniques
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Gender-role analysis
 To help clients understand the impact of
gender-role expectations in their lives
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Gender-role intervention
 Provides clients with insight into ways on
how social issues affect their problems
Intervention Techniques
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Power analysis
 Emphasize on the power differences
between men and women in society
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Power intervention
 Help clients appreciate themselves as they
are and gain self-confidence
Intervention Techniques
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Self-disclosure
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Use therapeutic self-disclosure to equalize the
therapeutic relationship, normalize experience, or
provide modeling for the client
Bibliotherapy
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Self-help books, videos, or films can be used as
bibliotherapy resources.
To increase client’s expertise and decrease power
differential between the therapist and the client
Intervention Techniques
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Reframing
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A shift from blaming oneself to looking at society for
an explanation.
Re-labeling
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Changes the label or evaluation applied to the
client's behavioral characteristics
Re-labeling depression as reactions to external
standard instead of being unattractive
Intervention Techniques
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Assertiveness training
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Increase women’s awareness of their
interpersonal rights
Assertiveness refers to standing up for one’s right
without violating other’s rights.
Research on Feminist Therapy
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Very little research
Feminist group therapy (Johnson, 1976):
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Research indicated that women in feminist therapy are
more likely to
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group cohesiveness, interpersonal learning, and finding that the
therapist is a competent woman are considered the most helpful
factors in improvement
have radical political views
identify themselves as members of the women’s movement
Research indicated that therapists in feminist therapy are
more likely to
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use self-disclosure
create an egalitarian relationship
Summary & Evaluation-contribution
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Have the most in common with multicultural perspectives
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Direct actions for social change
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Recognize sexism, racism, and other forms of oppression
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Pay attentions to gender-role socialization, power issues
in relationship, and external environmental factors.
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The principles and techniques of feminist therapy can be
incorporated into other therapy models
Summary & Evaluation--limitations
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Avoid imposing their values on their clients
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Focus on contextual or environmental factors and
move away from exploring the inner factors (both a
strength and a limitation)
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Is it a theory?---this is a debatable question
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Developed by White, middle-class, heterosexual
women---therefore it may be biased