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
"In relationships we are wounded, in relationships we heal" (author unknown). I treat individuals who have suffered relational trauma or are looking to recover and enhance their understanding of self in relatedness to self and other. In my 26 years as a clinical mental health practitioner, researcher, and educator on attachment and bonding, I offer my expertise to help you recover and understan...
I provide psychotherapy, EMDR, and guidance for adults, couples, families, and adolescents. My ideal client is one who is ready to begin the journey towards a better functioning family, and/or a happier lifestyle. The best outcomes for children involve working with parents and the family system, as well as the child. I specialize in trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy and EMDR; as well...
I seek to help individuals, couples and families in finding the path to their best life by coping with issues of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, postpartum depression, substance use disorders, career counseling, fertility issues, grief and loss, chronic pain and/or chronic illness like cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. My goal is to help all clients find their path and the...
Have you been feeling like nothing you do is ever good enough...in your marriage, relationships, as a mother/father, or in your life? It is not uncommon that thoughts like this can lead you to feel depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, and pain in your life. You may be experiencing some of these challenges and feel you have done all you can to cope, yet find things are not changing or...
Openings are currently limited. My approach is to help build greater capacity for one's emotional life and relationships. I offer an alliance to sensitively and respectfully engage your life circumstances and inner realities. I prefer to take time and not rush toward quick solutions, letting your own pace unfold. I'm one who would gravitate toward your pain, rather than deflect or minimize it....
I love working with my clients to find their strengths and grow into the people they truly desire to be. I believe people shine with the right kind of support. I specialize in boundary-setting, self worth, adoption, and relational issues. I have received supervision and training in Emotion Focus Therapy and am an intensively-trained DBT therapist through Behavioral Tech. I view my clients throu...
*Not currently accepting new clients.* Years of working with people who have struggled with trauma, depression, anxiety and eating disorders have given me proof of the human capacity for insight, change, growth and connection. I partner with every client to understand and move beyond the maladaptive patterns that get in the way of a life filled with meaning, hope and confidence. Replacing copin...
I believe we are all capable of changing our lives to feel happier more of the time. Perhaps you are struggling with a big transition, such as the death of a loved one, getting married or divorced, having a child, changing careers, or coming out. Or maybe you just feel stuck and you're not sure why. New clients often say that they are frustrated because they would like to feel happier but can't...
I value and celebrate individuals who come all walks of life. I believe there are strengths and perspectives to be found in the life experience we face each day. There are many pieces and parts that make us who we are; our life history, our race, gender, gender expression, age, sexual identities, abilities, religious beliefs, and spiritualities. Pieces that are apart of us, but not always in...
Looking for more joy and meaning in life? Using an eclectic approach, I work with adults and young adults to discover their natural strengths. Part of being human includes being confronted with obstacles that hinder our wellbeing and meaning in life. I enjoy assisting people in creating ways to remove those obstacles. Even in the midst of little hope, I think we all need to be reminded of the j...
You deserve treatment tailored to your individual needs that is evidence-based, emotionally focused, practical, and outcome-driven. I specialize in the treatment of weight management, emotional and binge eating, weight loss, food addiction, anxiety, depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, and low self-esteem. Please visit my website www.ArizonaPsych.com for more information about my practi...
A holistic approach to mental health will bring you lasting transformation! If you are seeking new strategies on how to change by processing and neutralizing past traumas, shutting off old negative self-talk, transmuting depressive thinking, guilt, shame, anxiety and any limited thinking that has blocked you from your desired goals, we look forward to connecting with you. In a safe earthy...
Throughout a woman’s life there are many emotional shifts and it takes strength to reach out for support. I understand the many challenges and stress that sometimes might have you not feeling like yourself. Do you feel alone, anxious, tired, sad, angry, irritable, or stressed? I work with women who are experiencing anxiety, depressed mood, grief and loss, fertility, miscarriage, transition to...
Has your relationship left you feeling sad, lonely, confused, guilty, anxious or unsure of yourself? Are you looking to improve your self-esteem after a past relationship? Do you have difficulty expressing or asserting yourself, and want to develop new ways of communicating? If you're so exhausted from supporting or taking care of others that you find yourself neglecting your own needs, desires...
Most of the time, when we feel stuck or lost or frustrated or just "not quite right," there's a blind spot we're not seeing, or an opportunity to develop some skills that would help us thrive more in our own lives. We can often eventually figure out things on our own, but it's often faster, easier, and more effective with help from a skilled professional. My coaching is practical and deep. We...
