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
Are you living the life you want? Recovery is a choice and I am here to help. Getting help is not a sign of weakness; it is the empowerment of one's internal strength. I have a passion for creating a therapeutic alliance with clients to help them achieve their goals and to become their best self. Utilizing evidence based therapies, I am able to peel back the layers and get to the heart of one's...
SOS is a non-profit counseling agency that provides affordable therapy services to everyone in our community regardless of ability to pay. Our Community Counseling Clinics in Santa Rosa, we offer individual therapy for adults, teens and children, couples counseling, and families. We have a diverse team of pre-licensed therapists who bring a variety of clinical specialties to our clinics. Our...
Life can be really tough, difficult times and painful experiences can make it hard to live the life you want. We all get stuck at times. It is common to not know what to do to make things better. It is not easy to take the first step in seeking therapy but it can honestly change your life. With counseling, you can create a life that is joyful. Learning how to balance those different experiences...
If you have reached that point in your life where you feel as though emotional and psychological issues are threatening to overwhelm you, speaking to an experienced counselor may help you manage your stress. Elaine Ketring treats her clients with compassion and respect and works hard to assist them to identify strategies that help them move past their issues. Whether you're grappling with the...
You are unique, and have something valuable to express, offer, and live. It is different than everyone else, and is soul-ly yours. We suffer when we feel cut off from this, when the circumstances and experiences of life do not reflect our deepest knowing of self. Depression, anxiety; feeling stuck, un-motivated, lost, dissatisfied with life; addiction, unhealthy relationships, illness, loss.......
I believe in therapy that affirms, empowers, and supports people to recognize patterns, navigate changes, bolster personal growth and self-worth, and figure things out. Therapist and client collaboration are of utmost importance to me, guided by clinical theory and evidence-based therapeutic techniques that work for you. I am trained in family systems therapy, CBT, play therapy, & solution-focu...
My practice specializes in working with adults who are moving through transition; who need support and information to assist them in doing so in a successful, satisfying manner. My clinical focus is on trauma, relationships/couples, the change process across the life span, and divorce. My clinical and consulting focus is relationship and divorce coaching, healing trauma and developmental issues...
I am a holistic practitioner focused on supporting clients who are experiencing life transitions (divorce / break-up, job / career change, move, menopause, fertility issues), questioning their life meaning / purpose, needing quality self care, and those who want a mind / body approach. I also work with people who may be experiencing anxiety and / or depression related to the above mentioned...
When you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed it can be difficult to find the courage to seek therapeutic support. My hope is that through our sessions you will be able to find peace in the chaos of life. I believe our struggles teach us to center our attention around a part of us that needs to grow. I can help you create this change and manage the feelings that come with this rewarding work. M...
I know how hard it is to ask for help sometimes. I hope you take this opportunity to pat yourself on the back for taking this step. The decision to take a deeper look at your life and relationships is a decision to transform yourself. Give me a call to see if I can help you. I work with issues relating to grief, trauma, sexual assault, breakups, couples work, and anxiety. I offer a unique...
Sometimes we may feel life gives us more than we can handle. Even if we have friends and family with whom we can share our feelings, how often do we have someone who can listen to and support us without judgment or bias in order for us to make the best decisions for our lives? This is when it is important to seek counseling from a qualified, ethical, and licensed professional. I am here to help...
You may be exhausted, disconnected, or feeling empty and looking for some hope. You may feel alone on this journey and believe something needs to change. Seeking therapy takes bravery, and I’m glad you’re here. Perhaps you are in a relationship that just doesn’t feel right or you have experienced something that has left you feeling afraid, out of control, or numb. Maybe you are navigating a...
Clients describe me as warm, engaging and invested in joining them in their wish to feel better and to live in ways that more closely resemble who they want to be. I work with individuals and families dealing with a variety of challenges: anxiety and depression, difficulties in relationships with partners, sexual orientation and parenting dilemmas as well as general struggles with life. My...
I believe we all share the need to be deeply understood, especially during difficult or challenging times. I appreciate the courage clients show when they share stories of their lives. Without fail, I find these stories layered, complex, unique and moving. I admire clients who dare to share life stories that are "works-in-progress" -- messy, drafty, tentative. Stories with icky parts (that's a...
I believe in the interconnectedness of mind, body, spirit and the natural world and that we all have the inner resources to heal our emotional wounds. During difficult times we sometimes need a guide to remind us of our inherent gifts as humans. I consider myself a guide and advocate for the soul and well being of my clients. I strive to empower my clients with deep self-knowing and the confide...
