Theory and Practice of
Counseling and Psychotherapy
Psych422
Chapter12: Feminist Therapy
Questions?
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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?
Key Concepts of Feminist Therapy
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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
Four Approaches to Feminist Therapy
1. Liberal Feminism
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Focus
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Helping individual women overcome the limits
and constraints of their socialization patterns
Major goals
Personal empowerment of individual women
 Dignity
 Self-fulfillment
 Equality
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Four Approaches to Feminist Therapy
2. Cultural Feminism
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Oppression stems from society’s devaluation of
women’s strengths
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Emphasize the differences between women and men
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Believe the solution to oppression lies in
feminization of the culture
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Society becomes more nurturing, cooperative, and relational
Major goal of therapy is the infusion of society with
values based on cooperation
Four Approaches to Feminist Therapy
3. Radical Feminism
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Focus
Seek to change society through activism
 Therapy is viewed as a political enterprise with
the goal of transformation of society
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Major goals
Transform gender relationships
 Transform societal institutions
 Increase women’s sexual and procreative selfdetermination.
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Four Approaches to Feminist Therapy
4. Socialist Feminism
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Also have goal of societal change
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Emphasis on multiple oppressions
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Believe solutions to society’s problems must
include consideration of:
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Class
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Race
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Other forms of discrimination
Major goal of therapy is to transform social
relationships and institutions
View of Human Nature
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Gender-fair
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Flexible-multicultural
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Apply equally to both individuals and groups
regardless of age, race, culture, gender, class, sexual
orientation, and ability.
Interactionist
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Differences between women and men are due to
socialization processes
Consider contextual and environmental factors
Life-span-oriented
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Human development is a lifelong process and change
can occur at any time
Principles of Feminist Therapy
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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
Goals of Feminist Therapy
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Five goals:
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1. Equality, 2. Balancing independence and
interdependent, 3. Empowerment, 4. Self-nurturance,
and 5.Valuing diversity
Two dimensions:
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personal transformation (e.g., recognize personal
power)
social changes (e..g, value equality relationship,
stress interdependence, define themselves instead of
defined by societal demands)
Therapist’s function and Role
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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 personcentered approach
Therapeutic relationship is not sufficient
Client’s Experience in Therapy
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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.
Relationship Between Therapist and Client
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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.
Intervention Techniques in Feminist Therapy
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Gender-role analysis and intervention
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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
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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
Intervention Techniques in Feminist Therapy
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Bibliotherapy
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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
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Self-disclosure
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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
Intervention Techniques in Feminist Therapy
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Assertiveness training
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Women become aware of their interpersonal rights
Transcends stereotypical sex roles
Changes negative beliefs
Implement changes in their daily lives
Reframing
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Changes the frame of reference for looking at an
individual's behavior
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Shifting from an intrapersonal to an interpersonal definition
of a client’s problem
Intervention Techniques in Feminist Therapy
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Relabeling
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Changes the label or evaluation applied to the
client's behavioral characteristics
Generally, the focus is shifted from a negative
to a positive evaluation
From a multicultural perspective
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Contributions
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Have the most in common with multicultural
perspectives
Direct actions for social change
Recognize sexism, racism, and other levels of
oppression and privilege
Limitations
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Be cautious when working with clients from
culturally different background (e.g., not devaluing
the collective cultural values)
Summary and Evaluation
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Contributions
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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.
Summary and Evaluation
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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 can be
both a strength and a limitation
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Is a theory?---is a debate question
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Developed by White, middle-class, heterosexual
women---may be biased due to this perspective