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 offer a mindfulness-based, trauma informed approach to individual and couple therapy. I provide a gentle, safe & nonjudgmental space to explore emotions, painful memories, relationships, losses, and patterns of behavior which feel limiting or self defeating. Trauma work can help integrate lost parts of self to relieve anxiety, depression, anger, health concerns & PTSD. I work with survivors o...
My passion is helping you live your best life every day! I so look forward to being a listening ear and a comforting voice for you! You might just need someone to talk to about something happening in your life right now. Or you may need someone to help you understand or adjust destructive behaviors or thought patterns, or perhaps you have past traumas that you need help working through. I will ...
Many of us who look like we’re doing fine on the outside secretly struggle with a deep, internal fear that we are not “enough.” Many of us also know the pain of feeling marginalized in various ways. Perhaps we are exhausted managing these difficult thoughts and feelings each day. We are further worn down when others don’t recognize the harm that structural oppression causes us. While we are...
Life transitions at any age are inevitable and often times, challenging. Are you or someone you know having a difficult time in life and would like help developing skills to live the life YOU want? If you’re reading this then you have already taken the first step towards that desired life. You want to so you can and together we will improve self-esteem, cultivate resilience, promote insight, an...
Welcome. My name is Deb and I help people create hopeful outcomes. Whether your difficulties are in the home, school, workplace or startup, I can help you see situations in new ways to generate positive results. I am passionate about helping people tap into their creativity, humanity and humor to identify strategies to achieve inner peace, strengthen relationships and solve problems. Many of my...
It can be difficult to be your true authentic self. Painful emotions such as shame, guilt, doubt, and anxiety can feel chaotic in the body. You might find yourself trying to manage these emotions through a variety of distractions including substances, food, over-working, and avoiding. Continuing to distract yourself may be helpful in the moment, however, it may not be sustainable. Imagine feeli...
I believe one of the bravest things we can do is begin to understand our stories. Our minds and bodies react to trauma in a defensive way. The human mind is uniquely designed to defend against the memories of scary events, yet sometimes those defense mechanisms end up causing ongoing pain unnecessarily. Feelings of anger, shame, anxiety and depression can keep one stuck in an endless loop of...
Today's world can be overwhelming, especially when a person has experienced trauma in their past. My focus is working with individuals who have experienced loss, and/or are going through major life transition, or have experienced a traumatizing event or events. You are not alone and I know hope resides within you - sometimes we just need help seeing the hope within. As a client, I walk the path...
Occasionally, people struggle with adverse circumstances, relational difficulties, and issues of self-concept and purpose that leave them feeling overburdened, inadequate, or simply not themselves. In efforts to feel better, we get stuck in extreme and irrational thought patterns, act impulsively/compulsively out of fear and anger, and engage in self-destructive behaviors. At heart, each of us...
I practice a holistic model focusing on addressing body, mind, and spirit. Clients I see often come in wanting to decrease feeling anxious or depressed. Other issues I commonly address are managing navigating transitions, managing chronic pain and illness, supporting sobriety and getting unstuck from problems in relationships or work. I strive to support clients in building lives that are...
I provide a client centered approach that is compassionate with a judgement free zone that empowers you to make the changes in your life that you desire. I am simply a guide and supportive entity that helps you create your new life. I have years experience providing services to individuals struggling with mental illness, addictions and transitioning from the prison system. I am very diverse and...
The stories we tell about ourselves can be complicated. Often times, how we see ourselves is based on how others see us, on societal expectations, or assumptions rooted in the past. I work with clients to help engage curiosity and exploration, detangling behaviors and feelings that get in the way of the life and relationships they desire. I believe the problems we face can actually serve as an...
Throughout our lives we go through experiences that help us define who we are. These moments of connection and isolation, fulfillment and confusion are foundational events that make us, us. These can be life altering experiences; societal forces, traumatic events, difficult relationships, or a series of distressing events that we carry for the rest of our lives. Working through these experience...
***Waitlist for New Clients*** You may have recently transitioned out of a major change, such as the military, retired out of a life-long career, or perhaps realizing that there are certain past issues and traumas that need to be processed in order to move forward. You realize that moving forward is often times the most important function of self-care, however you need help. I am humbled that y...
I specialize in treating generalized anxiety, social and performance anxiety, panic attacks, trauma, complex PTSD, depression, attachment disorders, attachment issues in romantic relations, body image issues and low self-esteem. Additional focus chronic occupational stress, academic success, career development. I have an extended and diverse experience in therapy. If you are a mental health...
