What is Feminist Psychotherapy?

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Feminist Psychotherapy emerged as an approach to counseling as the waves of feminism gained popularity in mainstream western society. It examines the unique way women relate to the world around them after being seen as inferior to men for many generations. It’s also a response to the once male-dominated field of psychotherapy as a whole.

Feminist therapists aim to treat all genders as equally deserving of respect and dignity and accept. They believe in the historical marginalization of all genders besides males.

Critical to Feminist Psychotherapy is an analysis of power dynamics. Power dynamics are inherent in any relationship, specifically within the counseling relationship. Usually, a counselor is an “expert” with high levels of education and status. The client then is thought to be less than. Feminist Psychotherapy, instead of ignoring this power dynamic or using it to their advantage to tell clients what they ought to do, seeks to highlight it and converse about it. Bringing up how the power dynamics affect the counseling relationship helps people examine the power dynamics in all other areas of their life.

Feminist Psychotherapy can be helpful for a range of mental health concerns, can be utilized for a person of any gender identity, and can be used in group settings, family settings, or individual counseling.

Critical to Feminist Psychotherapy is the idea that people grow through relationships with others. Your therapist might help you analyze your patterns of relating to significant others in your life and might ask you to recall some of your early relationships with parents or other caregivers.

Feminist Psychotherapy does not have a list of techniques necessary for treatment. It focuses on the ideas of empathetically relating to you, from one human being (your counselor) to another (you). A healthy relationship with your counselor becomes a model for all of your relationships.

Therapists Who Specialize in Using Feminist Psychotherapy

I work as a Clinician at an acute crisis unit in Santa Cruz, CA. I provide psychotherapy, clinical assessments, provisional diagnoses and disposition planning for patients with severe mental illness, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, and schizophrenia. I received my graduate degree in counseling psychology with a concentration in expressive arts therapy at CIIS in San Francisco, CA. I am...
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Dani Bryant

New York

New York

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Jennifer Morton

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

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Shayla Hilt

Brooklyn

New York

Shayla is an experienced therapist with over 15 years of working with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, difficult relationships and alcohol/substance misuse. She offers a holistic approach to person-centered care in a non-judgmental, supportive, and safe space. Shayla places a strong emphasis on building trust with her clients and tailoring treatment towards individual needs...
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Colleen Moloney

Portland

Oregon

I've worked in the mental health field for over 30 years in a variety of settings and in private practice for 20 years. Currently I work with adults and couples. A primary focus of my work is centered around relationships which are both exciting and complicated.Therapy creates a safe, non-judgmental space for self reflection, connection and growth. With a sense of connection to your own values,...

Catherine (Cat) Toledo

Lexington

Kentucky

Mental health wellness has been my passion for many years, and I enjoy providing services to those who have various needs and backgrounds. My hope is to help provide a safe and supportive place where individuals can explore and process emotions in order to promote hope and healing. I have been working in mental health for at least 5 years, and have experience working with all ages in areas such...
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Alison Little

San Francisco

California

I enjoy working with a wide range of individuals. Areas of particular interest include: life transitions, relationship issues, self confidence issues, divorce and grief. I enjoy helping clients build a mix of internal resources with mindfulness, emotional regulation skills and ways to feel safe and relaxed their bodies. I also work with clients on integrating additional resources such as nature...

Samuel Marque Smith

Seattle

Washington

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Juliana Campos

San Francisco

California

Bilingual, Culturally Sensitive, Trauma-informed, Relational Psychotherapy. I believe that engaging in therapy is an act of courage because change is by definition radical. An important goal of therapy is to connect to your authentic/creative self as a way to make meaning in times of suffering. Together we will explore your personal, family, cultural, and political history to understand the way...
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Welcome! Are you struggling with your food, weight or body image? Are your relationships strained? I believe that transformation is possible. Even the toughest problems can be improved as we explore challenges in the context of a safe, therapeutic relationship. I believe that in order to make and sustain meaningful changes, we need a non-judgmental environment where one feels understood. My goa...