Feminist Therapy

What is Feminist therapy?  A central concept is the concern for the psychological oppression of women (Corey, 2012, p. 11).  The origins of feminist therapy are connected with the women's movements of the late 1800s and the 1960s, when women united in vocalizing their dissatisfaction over the restrictive nature of traditional female roles (Corey, 2012, p. 384). Feminist therapy generally places direct view on societal, politics, and cultural events and causes to major issues faced in counseling processes. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key Figures:  Jean Baker Miller, MD & Oliva M. Espin, PhD.   However, no one person can be named as the founder of Feminist therapy.

Jean Baker Miller (1928-2006)

Oliva M. Espin, PhD

Both Jean Miller & Oliva Espin helped set the stage of feminist therapy.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Key Concepts:  Several issues inspired feminist therapy to come into play.  Viewing problems in a sociopolitical and cultural context rather than an individual level, viewing women's experiences from an unique perspective, encouraging clients to get involved in social action to address oppressive aspects of the environment (Corey, 2012,p. 384-385).  According to a recent article (Corey, 2012, p.367)"Feminist therapists emphasize that societal gender-role expectations profoundly influence a person's identity from the moment of birth and become deeply ingrained in adult personality (Corey, 2012, p. 367).

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Goals of Theory:  At the individual level feminist therapists work to help females and males recognize, claim, and embrace their personal power (Corey, 2012, p. 370).  Their aim is to depathalogize women's experiencing and to influence society so that female voices are honored and rational qualities are valued (Corey, 2012, p. 371).  The major goal is to replace the current patriarchal system with feminist consciousness and thus create a society that values equality in relationships, values diversity, stress interdependence rather dependence, and encourages both women and men to define themselves rather than being defined by societed demands (Corey, 2012, p. 385). The main goal of Feminist therapy is to empower women to a higher  level of functioning in today's society.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Techniques: In reality there is not a specific style or technique of intervention Feminist therapy.  A therapist may try several different techniques during a therapy session such as empowerment, self-disclosure, gender-role intervention, and power analysis as mentioned in a recent textbook (Corey, 2012, p. 275-277).  Feminist therapy focuses on females in psychological distress to help them over come various obstacles through therapy sessions.  

 Feminist therapy is aimed at both personal and social change (Corey, 2012, p. 385).

Suggested links:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlO-dw7L36c

References

Corey, G. (2012). Theory and Practice of

      Counseling and Psychotherapy (9th edition).

       Belmont, CA:  Brooks/Cole.

SisterMaryAgnus. (2012, February). Mary and 

        Paul Presentation.wmv. Retrieved June

         10, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch  ?v=UlO-dw7L36c