1. Jean Baker Miller, Carolyn Zerbe Enns, Oliva M Espin, Laura S. Brown
Feminist Therapy
Jean Baker Miller, Carolyn Zerbe Enns,
Oliva M Espin, Laura S. Brown

2. Background
Role of social, political and cultural context in individual’s problems
Power: central aspect in human relations
Perspective of psychological theories: White European middle class men
Male gender role as normative
The dominant group tends to consider what is different from them as deviant or “not as good”

3. Women’s movement of the 1960’s
Reaction against limited female gender roles
Gender socialization affects women’s development and well-being
Cultural conceptions of gender serve as an organizing principle in people’s identity
Traditional therapy: way to maintain the status quo
Need for psychological theories that take into account women’s perspectives and political realities

4. 1970’s and 1980’s Research on gender bias
Self-in relation models: validate relational and cooperative dimensions of women's experience
Research emphasis on body image, eating disorders, abusive relations, sexual abuse
Expanded focus to: multiple oppressions, multicultural competence, and social justice
Incorporate ideas about gender socialization in working with men -- Men’s Movement

5. Gender Roles Theory: Traditional vs. Feminist
Androcentric: male-oriented constructs constitute the norms used to draw conclusions about humans, including female nature
Traditional women’s gender roles and dispositions of connectedness and inter-dependence are devalued & independence and autonomy are exalted
Relational cultural theory- challenges the Androcentric view
Women’s identity and self-concept develop in the context of relationships
Accepts the notion of intrinsic gender differences

6. Gender Roles Theory: Traditional vs. Feminist
Gendercentric: There are two separate innate (biologically rooted) paths of development for women and men.
Socio-cultural and power analyses challenges the Gendercentric view (socialization process)
Traditional women’s gender roles and dispositions have been acquired/learned in the context of women’s subservient position
Rejects the notion of intrinsic gender differences

7. Common Themes in Feminist Philosophies
Gender socialization is central to therapeutic practice for men & women
A socio-political and cultural perspective is essential in understanding people’s problems
Ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, class, age & disabilities
Symptoms may be self-preservation responses to an oppressive environment

8. Goals of Therapy Societal change Empowerment
Help clients free themselves from the internalized constraints of gender role socialization and oppression
Societal change
Social change to eliminate sexism and other forms of oppression

9. Techniques and Strategies
Egalitarian counselor-client relationship
Actively engage client in setting the direction, goals, length and procedures of therapy
Therapist Self-disclosure
To decrease power differential
Gender Role Analyses/Intervention
Emphasize societal as opposed to intra-psychic origin of problems
Examine how internalized societal expectations regarding gender roles are related to client’s issues
Internalized homo-phobia, racial devaluation

10. Techniques and Strategies
Power analysis
Raise awareness of power difference between men and women in society.
Help clients recognize different kinds of power they possess and how they and others exercise power – personal and societal levels
Assertiveness Training

11. Techniques and Strategies
Bibliotherapy
To help educate clients about societal issues
Increases clients’ expertise and decreases power differential in therapy
Social Action
Encourage clients to actively influence social change regarding women/other oppressed groups
Helps empower clients by making the connection between society and personal problems

12.
Social action and protests started at both the K-12 and the Collegiate level. At the time it was not against the law to discriminate again women in funding for athletic programs in educational institutions. In addition women were not allowed to play in the boys/men teams.
The legal argument used was based on parents of girls were discriminated against when their tax dollars for schools did not benefit them.
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance …” — Title IX

13. Contributions
Brought awareness to the impact of the cultural context and multiple oppressions
Gave validity to women’s perspectives
Sexual conduct in therapeutic relations has been recognized and sanctioned
Strengths in women's qualities of nurturance and cooperation (rather than competition) are recognized
Established as proper focus of therapy to change oppressive conditions rather than just expect clients to adapt to them

14. Limitations
Feminist therapy does not take a neutral stance regarding gender roles
May put undue pressure on clients to follow a specific direction
Not all clients may be interested in engaging in social action
Over-emphasis on environmental factors may
Neglect exploration of the intra-psychic world
Motivate clients to forsake responsibility for themselves in the face of an unjust world