1. Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy TENTH EDITION
Gerald Corey
Cengage Learning

2. Chapter 12
Feminist Therapy

3. History and Development
No single individual can be identified as the founder of this approach, reflecting a central theme of feminist collaboration
The beginnings of feminism (the first wave) can be traced to the late 1800s
The women’s movement of the 1960s (the second wave) laid the foundation for the development of feminist therapy
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (1)

4. Key Concepts (slide 1 of 2)
Problems are viewed in a sociopolitical and cultural context
The psychological oppression that women and minorities have experienced is acknowledged
A feminist perspective considers the roles that women and men with diverse social identities and experiences have been socialized to accept
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (2)

5. Key Concepts (slide 2 of 2)
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
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (3)

6. Personality Development
Societal gender-role expectations profoundly influence a person’s identity from (or even before) birth
Gilligan (1977) recognized that development of women was judged by male norms
Females are raised in a culture grounded in sexism, and understanding internalized oppression is central to this approach
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (4)

7. Relational-Cultural Theory
RCT emphasizes the vital role that relationships and connectedness with others play in the lives of women
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
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (5)

8. Principles of Feminist Therapy (slide 1 of 2)
The personal is political and critical consciousness are central concepts
Those who practice FT are committed to social change
Women’s and girls’ voices and ways of knowing, and the voices of others who have been oppressed, are valued
The counseling relationship is egalitarian
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (6)

9. Principles of Feminist Therapy (slide 2 of 2)
FT focuses on strengths and offers a reformulated definition of psychological distress
All types of oppression are recognized along with the connections among them
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (7)

10. Goals of Feminist Therapy (slide 1 of 3)
Feminist therapists help clients:
Become aware of their own gender-role socialization
Identify their internalized messages of oppression and replace them with more self-enhancing beliefs
Understand how sexist and oppressive societal beliefs and practices influence them in negative ways
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (8)

11. Goals of Feminist Therapy (slide 2 of 3)
Acquire skills to bring about change in the environment
Develop a wide range of behaviors that are freely chosen
Restructure institutions to rid them of discriminatory practices
Evaluate the impact of social factors on their lives
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (9)

12. Goals of Feminist Therapy (slide 3 of 3)
Develop a sense of personal and social power
Recognize the power of relationships and connectedness
Trust their own experience and their intuition
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (10)

13. Role of Assessment and Diagnosis
Diagnoses are based on the dominant culture’s view of normalcy and cannot account for cultural differences
Feminist therapists have been sharply critical of the DSM classification system, including the current DSM-5 edition
Critique is based on research indicating that gender, culture, and race may influence assessment of clients’ symptoms
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (11)

14. Techniques and Strategies
Empowerment
Self-Disclosure
Gender-Role or Social Identity Analysis
Gender-Role Intervention
Power Analysis
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (12)

15. Techniques and Strategies
Bibliotherapy
Assertiveness Training
Reframing and Relabeling
Social Action
Group Work
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (13)

16. Role of Men in FT Male feminist therapists are willing to:
Understand and “own” their male privilege
Confront sexist behavior in themselves and others
Redefine masculinity and femininity and work toward establishing egalitarian relationships
Engage in and support women’s efforts to create a just society
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (14)

17. Application to Group Work
Group provides an outlet for social support and political action
Forms a diverse community where members share the goal of supporting womens’ experiences
Group setting decreases feelings of isolation and loneliness
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (15)

18. Application to Group Work
Self-disclosure is emphasized for both the leader and members as a means of self-exploration
Provides a setting where clients learn to use power appropriately by providing support for each other and taking social/political actions
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (16)

19. Strengths From a Diversity Perspective
FT has the most in common with the multicultural and social justice perspectives
Clinicians strive to create an egalitarian relationship and collaborate with clients in setting goals and choosing strategies
Feminist therapists believe psychotherapy is inextricably bound to culture
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (17)

20. 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
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
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (18)

21. Contributions of Feminist Therapy (slide 1 of 2)
Has paved the way for gender-sensitive practice and an awareness of the impact of the cultural context and multiple oppressions
Has emphasis on social change, which can lead to a transformation in society
Has made significant theoretical and professional advances in counseling practice
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (19)

22. Contributions of Feminist Therapy (slide 2 of 2)
Called attention to child abuse, incest, rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence
Demanded action in cases of sexual misconduct at a time when male therapists misused the trust placed in them by their female clients
Can incorporate principles and techniques of FT into many therapy models
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (20)

23. Limitations of Feminist Therapy (slide 1 of 2)
Therapists do not take a value neutral stance
Therapists must be careful not to impose their cultural values on a client
Therapists may alienate clients if they challenge societal values that subordinate certain groups without first gaining a clear understanding of the clients’ culture
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (21)

24. Limitations of Feminist Therapy (slide 2 of 2)
The heavy environmental/sociopolitical focus may detract from exploring a client’s intrapsychic experiences
More empirical support is needed for this approach
Training in FT is often offered only sporadically in a non-systematic way, and there is a lack of quality control
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 12 (22)