Feminist therapy
Encyclopedia
Feminist therapy is a set of related therapies
arising from what proponents see as a disparity between the origin of most psychological theories and the majority of people seeking counseling being female. It focuses on societal
, cultural
, and political
causes and solutions to issues faced in the counseling process. It openly encourages the client to participate in the world in a more social and political way.
Feminist therapy contends that women are in a disadvantaged position in the world due to sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, age and other categories. Feminist therapists argue that many problems that arise in therapy are due to disempowering social forces; thus the goal of therapy is to recognize these forces and empower the client. In a feminist therapy setting the therapist and client work as equals. The therapist must demystify therapy from the beginning to show the client that she is her own rescuer, and the expectations, roles, and responsibilities of both client and therapist must be explored and equally agreed upon. The therapist recognizes that with every symptom a client has, there is a strength.
Feminist therapy grew out of concerns that established therapies were not helping women. Specific concerns of feminist therapists included gender bias and stereotyping in therapy; blaming victims
of physical abuse
and sexual abuse
; the assumption of a traditional nuclear family
; and the ongoing erasure of women from the psychological discourse.
Practicing psychiatrist Sally Satel
argues that the very concept of feminist therapy is contrary to the methods and goals of psychotherapy, sometimes so far as to veer into potential malpractice
. Traditionally, notes Satel, the goal of therapy is to help the patient understand and alter unrealistic thinking and unhealthy behaviors to improve the patient's confidence, interpersonal skills, and quality of life. Traditional therapy, while rooted in well-tested methods, must also be flexible enough to adapt to each patient's unique experiences, personality and needs. In contrast, Satel notes that feminist therapy promotes a one-size-fits-all approach that presumes that many of a patient's problems stem from her living in an oppressive, sexist, or patriarchal culture. Satel agrees that sexism and discrimination might be a factor in some patients' problems, but also expresses alarm that feminist therapy minimizes or ignores other potential problem sources such as family dynamics, cognitive distortions, drug/alcohol abuse, mental illness
, or even criminal acts by the patient. Additionally, Satal argues that the feminist presumption that women are oppressed can actually worsen a patient's feelings of helplessness by placing the patient's locus of control
outside herself. Furthermore, Satel notes that some feminist therapists so substantially alter their treatment practices as to risk professional misconduct or other censure. For example, in overcorrecting to avoid a hierarchical relationship, feminist therapists have violated standard policies by sharing intimate details of their own lives in a manner considered unthinkable by traditional therapists. Feminist therapy has also generally avoided rigorous peer review
or other scrutiny to test for efficacy. Finally, Satel contends that in blaming a sexist culture for the patient's problems, feminist psychology refuses to hold women accountable for their own actions or misdeeds.
Other critics have argued that feminist therapy embraces and promotes a number of inaccurate and discredited a priori assumptions, such as the belief that men are responsible for initiating, perpetrating and perpetuating most interpersonal violence.
Therapy
This is a list of types of therapy .* Adventure therapy* Animal-assisted therapy* Aquatic therapy* Aromatherapy* Art and dementia* Art therapy* Authentic Movement* Behavioral therapy* Bibliotherapy* Buteyko Method* Chemotherapy...
arising from what proponents see as a disparity between the origin of most psychological theories and the majority of people seeking counseling being female. It focuses on societal
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
, cultural
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, and political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
causes and solutions to issues faced in the counseling process. It openly encourages the client to participate in the world in a more social and political way.
Feminist therapy contends that women are in a disadvantaged position in the world due to sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, age and other categories. Feminist therapists argue that many problems that arise in therapy are due to disempowering social forces; thus the goal of therapy is to recognize these forces and empower the client. In a feminist therapy setting the therapist and client work as equals. The therapist must demystify therapy from the beginning to show the client that she is her own rescuer, and the expectations, roles, and responsibilities of both client and therapist must be explored and equally agreed upon. The therapist recognizes that with every symptom a client has, there is a strength.
Feminist therapy grew out of concerns that established therapies were not helping women. Specific concerns of feminist therapists included gender bias and stereotyping in therapy; blaming victims
Victim blaming
Victim blaming occurs when the victim of a crime, an accident, or any type of abusive maltreatment are held entirely or partially responsible for the transgressions committed against them. Blaming the victim has traditionally emerged especially in racist and sexist forms...
of physical abuse
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
and sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
; the assumption of a traditional nuclear family
Nuclear family
Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of a father and mother and their children. This is in contrast to the smaller single-parent family, and to the larger extended family. Nuclear families typically center on a married couple, but not always; the nuclear family may have...
; and the ongoing erasure of women from the psychological discourse.
Principles of Feminist Therapy
- An egalitarian relationship (a relationship in which the participants have equal status) between therapist and client is key in feminist therapy, utilizing the therapist’s psychological knowledge and the client’s knowledge of herself. The inherent power differentials between therapist and client are addressed, and the client must realize that the therapist is not giving her power, but power comes from within herself. This relationship provides a model for women to take responsibility in making all of their relationships egalitarian. Feminist therapists focus on embracing the client’s strengths rather than fixing their weaknesses, and accept and validate the client’s feelings.
- Feminist Therapy Theory is always being revised and added to as social contexts change and the discourse develops.
- The therapist always retains accountability.
- The feminist therapy model is non-victim blaming.
- The client’s well-being is the leading principle in all aspects of therapy.
Feminist Therapists' Responsibilities
- Feminist therapists must integrate feminist analysis in all spheres of their work.
- Feminist therapists must recognize the client’s socioeconomic and political circumstances, especially with issues in access to mental health care.
- Feminist therapists must be actively involved in ending oppression, empowering women and girls, respecting differences, and social change.
- Feminist therapists must be aware of their own situated experience (their own socioeconomic and political situations as well as sex, gender, race, sexuality, etc.) and is constantly self-evaluating and remedying their own biases and oppressive actions. As well as must be learning about other dominant and non-dominant cultural and ethnic experiences.
- A feminist therapist must accept and validate their client’s experiences and feelings.
Contributors to Feminist Therapy
- Judith Worrell
- Pam Remer
- Sandra BemSandra BemSandra Ruth Lipsitz Bem to Peter and Lillian Lipsitz. She grew up in a "working class" family, with one younger sister named Beverly. She is married to Daryl Bem, also a psychology professor....
- Laura BrownLaura BrownLaura Brown is the Special Projects Director of Harper's Bazaar magazine.She is currently a judge on The Fashion Show , which is in its second season on the Bravo network....
- Jean Baker Miller
- Carolyn Enns
- Ellyn Kaschak
- Bonnie Burstow
Criticism
In 1977, scholar Susan Thomas argued that feminist therapy was "more [a] part of a social movement than [a] type of psychotherapy," and was so intimately tied to broader social and political feminism that its legitimacy as a theraputic school was questionable.Practicing psychiatrist Sally Satel
Sally Satel
Sally Satel, is an American psychiatrist based in Washington, D.C. She is a lecturer at Yale University School of Medicine, the W.H. Brady Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and author. Books written by Satel include P.C. M.D.: How Political Correctness is Corrupting Medicine and Drug...
argues that the very concept of feminist therapy is contrary to the methods and goals of psychotherapy, sometimes so far as to veer into potential malpractice
Malpractice
In law, malpractice is a type of negligence in, which the professional under a duty to act, fails to follow generally accepted professional standards, and that breach of duty is the proximate cause of injury to a plaintiff who suffers harm...
. Traditionally, notes Satel, the goal of therapy is to help the patient understand and alter unrealistic thinking and unhealthy behaviors to improve the patient's confidence, interpersonal skills, and quality of life. Traditional therapy, while rooted in well-tested methods, must also be flexible enough to adapt to each patient's unique experiences, personality and needs. In contrast, Satel notes that feminist therapy promotes a one-size-fits-all approach that presumes that many of a patient's problems stem from her living in an oppressive, sexist, or patriarchal culture. Satel agrees that sexism and discrimination might be a factor in some patients' problems, but also expresses alarm that feminist therapy minimizes or ignores other potential problem sources such as family dynamics, cognitive distortions, drug/alcohol abuse, mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
, or even criminal acts by the patient. Additionally, Satal argues that the feminist presumption that women are oppressed can actually worsen a patient's feelings of helplessness by placing the patient's locus of control
Locus of control
Locus of control is a theory in personality psychology referring to the extent to which individuals believe that they can control events that affect them. Understanding of the concept was developed by Julian B...
outside herself. Furthermore, Satel notes that some feminist therapists so substantially alter their treatment practices as to risk professional misconduct or other censure. For example, in overcorrecting to avoid a hierarchical relationship, feminist therapists have violated standard policies by sharing intimate details of their own lives in a manner considered unthinkable by traditional therapists. Feminist therapy has also generally avoided rigorous peer review
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
or other scrutiny to test for efficacy. Finally, Satel contends that in blaming a sexist culture for the patient's problems, feminist psychology refuses to hold women accountable for their own actions or misdeeds.
Other critics have argued that feminist therapy embraces and promotes a number of inaccurate and discredited a priori assumptions, such as the belief that men are responsible for initiating, perpetrating and perpetuating most interpersonal violence.