748 Feminist Therapy Flashcards
History and Development
No single individual can be identified as the founder of this approach, reflecting a central theme of feminist collaboration
History and Development
The beginnings of feminism (the first wave) can be traced to the late 1800s
History and Development
The women’s movement of the 1960s (the second wave) laid the foundation for the development of feminist therapy
Key Concepts
Problems are viewed in a sociopolitical and cultural context
Key Concepts
The psychological oppression that women and minorities have experienced is acknowledged
Key Concepts
A feminist perspective considers the roles that women and men with diverse social identities and experiences have been socialized to accept
Key Concepts
The client knows what is best for her life and is the expert on her own life
Key Concepts
Emphasis is on educating clients about the therapy process
Key Concepts
Traditional ways of assessing psychological health are challenged
Key Concepts
It is assumed that individual change will best occur through social change; clients are encouraged to take social action
Personality Development
Societal gender-role expectations profoundly influence a person’s identity from (or even before) birth
Personality Development
Gilligan (1977) recognized that development of women was judged by male norms
Personality Development
Females are raised in a culture grounded in sexism, and understanding internalized oppression is central to this approach
Relational-Cultural Theory
RCT emphasizes the vital role that relationships and connectedness with others play in the lives of women
Relational-Cultural Theory
Therapists adopting this approach aim to:
Lessen the suffering caused by disconnection and isolation
Increase clients’ capacity for relational resilience
Develop mutual empathy and mutual empowerment
Foster social justice
Principles of Feminist Therapy
The personal is political and critical consciousness are central concepts
Principles of Feminist Therapy
Those who practice FT are committed to social change
Principles of Feminist Therapy
Women’s and girls’ voices and ways of knowing, and the voices of others who have been oppressed, are valued
Principles of Feminist Therapy
The counseling relationship is egalitarian
Principles of Feminist Therapy
FT focuses on strengths and offers a reformulated definition of psychological distress
Principles of Feminist Therapy
All types of oppression are recognized along with the connections among them
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Become aware of their own gender-role socialization
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Identify their internalized messages of oppression and replace them with more self-enhancing beliefs
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Understand how sexist and oppressive societal beliefs and practices influence them in negative ways
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Acquire skills to bring about change in the environment
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Develop a wide range of behaviors that are freely chosen
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Restructure institutions to rid them of discriminatory practices
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Evaluate the impact of social factors on their lives
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Develop a sense of personal and social power
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Recognize the power of relationships and connectedness
Feminist Therapy helps clients:
Trust their own experience and their intuition
Role of Assessment and Diagnosis
Diagnoses are based on the dominant culture’s view of normalcy and cannot account for cultural differences
Role of Assessment and Diagnosis
Feminist therapists have been sharply critical of the DSM classification system, including the current DSM-5 edition
Role of Assessment and Diagnosis
Critique is based on research indicating that gender, culture, and race may influence assessment of clients’ symptoms
Techniques and Strategies
Empowerment
Techniques and Strategies
Self-Disclosure
Techniques and Strategies
Gender-Role or Social Identity Analysis
Techniques and Strategies
Gender-Role Intervention
Techniques and Strategies
Power Analysis
Techniques and Strategies
Bibliotherapy
Techniques and Strategies
Assertiveness Training
Techniques and Strategies
Reframing and Relabeling
Techniques and Strategies
Social Action
Techniques and Strategies
Group Work
Role of Men in FT:
Understand and “own” their male privilege
Role of Men in FT:
Confront sexist behavior in themselves and others
Role of Men in FT:
Redefine masculinity and femininity and work toward establishing egalitarian relationships
Role of Men in FT:
Engage in and support women’s efforts to create a just society
Application to Group Work
Group provides an outlet for social support and political action
Application to Group Work
Forms a diverse community where members share the goal of supporting womens’ experiences
Application to Group Work
Group setting decreases feelings of isolation and loneliness
Application to Group Work
Self-disclosure is emphasized for both the leader and members as a means of self-exploration
Application to Group Work
Provides a setting where clients learn to use power appropriately by providing support for each other and taking social/political actions
Strengths From a Diversity Perspective
FT has the most in common with the multicultural and social justice perspectives
Strengths From a Diversity Perspective
Clinicians strive to create an egalitarian relationship and collaborate with clients in setting goals and choosing strategies
Strengths From a Diversity Perspective
Feminist therapists believe psychotherapy is inextricably bound to culture
Limitations From a Diversity Perspective
Advocating for change in the social structure can be problematic when working with women who do not share these beliefs
Limitations From a Diversity Perspective
If therapists do not fully understand and respect the cultural values of clients from diverse groups, they run the risk of imposing their own values
Contributions of Feminist Therapy
Has paved the way for gender-sensitive practice and an awareness of the impact of the cultural context and multiple oppressions
Contributions of Feminist Therapy
Has emphasis on social change, which can lead to a transformation in society
Contributions of Feminist Therapy
Has made significant theoretical and professional advances in counseling practice
Contributions of Feminist Therapy
Called attention to child abuse, incest, rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence
Contributions of Feminist Therapy
Demanded action in cases of sexual misconduct at a time when male therapists misused the trust placed in them by their female clients
Contributions of Feminist Therapy
Can incorporate principles and techniques of FT into many therapy models
Limitations of Feminist Therapy
Therapists do not take a value neutral stance
Limitations of Feminist Therapy
Therapists must be careful not to impose their cultural values on a client
Limitations of Feminist Therapy
Therapists may alienate clients if they challenge societal values that subordinate certain groups without first gaining a clear understanding of the clients’ culture
Limitations of Feminist Therapy
The heavy environmental/sociopolitical focus may detract from exploring a client’s intrapsychic experiences
Limitations of Feminist Therapy
More empirical support is needed for this approach
Limitations of Feminist Therapy
Training in FT is often offered only sporadically in a non-systematic way, and there is a lack of quality control
