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
Sometimes we have a nagging thought that something isn't going right in our lives or we notice a pattern that keeps happening over and over, but we wait so long to call and get help. Making that call can be so hard, but it is so worth it. Whether you have trauma, anxiety, depression, or difficulty in relationships - whatever is bothering you, a collaborative therapeutic relationship can help yo...
As a counselor I am curious and sensitive to each person’s unique experience. I understand the body we occupy matters. Our physical abilities, family of origin, race, class, gender, sexuality all play a part in how we understand ourselves and the world around us. While I value difference, I also believe we all have core needs. The need to be loved, accepted, seen and felt is at the heart of bei...
You may feel trapped in a violent and/or unhealthy relationship or traumatic memories of the past. Your may be grieving a loss and what might have been. You may feel stagnant and that your life is out of balance. Possibly you are a family member of an offender and you don't understand the "system" and how to help while taking care of yourself. Likely you are feeling isolated and alone....
Life comes with many changes, and sometimes these changes do not always seem to be for the better. During these dark times it can feel like we lack the strength to continue on, or it feels like the path forward is too cloudy to know which way to begin to start walking. However, many people experience depression, sorrow, anxiety, grief, anger, and loss at different points in their lives and the...
Relationships are part of what makes us human. We thrive when connected with others. I am passionate about helping people create and maintain healthy and loving relationships. I work with couples, families, and individuals and have strong experience working with LGBTQ clients. I make it a priority to create a safe space for all of my clients. It is through this atmosphere of acceptance that we ...
Becoming a mom changes your entire world instantaneously. You love your kids so much it hurts & at the same time you’re trying to navigate the person you are now. You have many other roles (partner, employee, etc.) to fulfill, as well as carrying the mental load of the family (doctors' appointments, soccer practice, packing the diaper bag, etc.). There is so much to do, it's no wonder modern mo...
I utilize my 13 years of counseling experience working with diverse populations from school age to adult to help clients make meaningful changes. I specialize in working with adults suffering from anxiety and depression, adjusting to life changes as well as substance use issues. Previously, I spent many years counseling college students in the university setting. I enjoy working with young adul...
Therapy is often times a difficult and personal journey that one enters for a variety of reasons. It provides a safe place for people to process and work through circumstances while also offering valuable insight and perspective into whatever journey they may find themselves on. I feel humbled and a sense of gratitude that you would allow me to be a part of this very personal journey that you h...
I specialize in therapy for children, pre-school through adolescence, and their families. I also work with a broad spectrum of adults and couples. I combine therapeutic play, mind-body and brain-based therapies, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to help children better understand their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. My work with adults is solution focused to help you better...
Humans naturally seek connection but that doesn't make relationships any easier to navigate. It can be tricky trying to manage intense emotions about intimate topics or parts of you; to know how best to express your thoughts, and how to be kind to yourself through it all can be parts of the challenge too. We can work to make the uncomfortable more tolerable at the pace that feels safe and...
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS! I work with individuals, children, couples, and families. I provide counseling for a wide variety of issues ranging from addiction and recovery, trauma, family conflict, anxiety, grief/loss, and communication challenges. Sometimes life becomes overwhelming, stressful, complicated, and we turn to someone to talk through things. I provide a warm, compassionate,...
Hello there! I’m Whitney and I’m the owner and founder of Brave Haven Counseling. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. I am so glad you have taken some of your valuable time to find a therapist. It is such a courageous endeavor to ask for help and I am here to help you along your journey. My clinical experience has allowed me to work with...
I work at the crossroads of queer identities, gender and sexual diversity, and trauma. Through curiosity, warmth, and honesty, I work collaboratively to support clients in connecting their history, relationships, environment, to their current challenges and future goals. I believe that all of our stories are contextual, therefore I work towards identifying oppression-based barriers and explore ...
Depressed? Anxious? Family issues or phase of life concerns? I would like for you to come to a place where you will find warmth and acceptance in a friendly atmosphere. You will enter an atmosphere without judgment. Here is a place where you can be genuine and feel at home. Let's work on becoming a better you! Let's make that first step together. My passion is making the family and relationship...
I specialize in trauma recovery, grief, loss, bereavement, and spirituality. I have worked with survivors of interpersonal violence, sexual assault, suicide, and various forms of self-harm. I also work with individuals who want to explore issues related to identity, gender, and sexuality. I help cultivate an authentic, integrated, and empowered sense of self through connecting with denser emoti...
