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
Each client carries with him or her a unique story about their struggles. As a therapist, it is my job to help each client reach their full potential and unravel the story that has bound them for so long. I love being a part of a “breakthrough” moment. They are powerful moments that allow for the forgiveness of the past, and the excitement about the future. I am passionate about the...
Have you felt out of balance, unwell? Have you felt that the well-being of your mind, body, spirit, emotions, and connections have suffered as a result? I serve clients from a wellness and strengths-based approach. Together, we'll foster a relationship based on authenticity and accountability. We will also identify strengths and protective factors that have served you well in challenging times,...
Sometimes life entangles us along the way and it's held in our bodies in the form of mental distress. I believe that every person has their own innate light to self-healing but may need some support along the way. I find it a great privilege to walk with clients on the personal journey of healing. I work especially well with children doing play therapy and art, teens facing anxiety, trauma, and...
Choosing to come to therapy is a brave decision, and it is my goal to walk closely alongside you as we navigate life's challenges together. You can expect that I will meet you in whatever place you are with sensitivity and empathy. Building a trusting relationship in order to create a safe and positive environment is one of my top priorities in order to make this a helpful experience for you. I...
Through therapy, I help couples and families who are hiding behind the pain of trauma by creating a nonjudgmental space to explore and invite healing. People need opportunities to unload their burdens. Healing does not occur overnight, it’s a process through awareness, support, and encouragement of others. In marginalized communities, there is still a lot of shame and stigma associated with...
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. Please CHECK BELOW FOR INSURANCES ACCEPTED. Are you waiting to feel more satisfied with life? Do you want to talk but are afraid you’ll be judged? Do you need a safe place to explore who you are? Do you and your partner have the same argument over and over? Are you drinking and using drugs to cope? There may be new ways to look at what’s bothering you. I can help you grow...
Hello and welcome! I'm an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, art therapist, yoga instructor, creativity researcher and women's empowerment leader. My approach is a collaboration with my clients rooted in humanistic, somatic and other evidenced-based practices. I believe that you are the expert of your life; my job is not to "fix" you, but to journey alongside you on your path to...
I have been providing child therapy and adult psychotherapy for 20 years. I am an active therapist, committed to staying deeply engaged in our moment-to-moment exchange. I enjoy working with clients who are psychologically minded, who want to get to know themselves better. I love helping people see their own potential, expand their beliefs about themselves and develop a growth mindset about the...
The therapist-client relationship is unlike any other professional or personal relationship and I value the connection with my clients. I understand the importance of validating your personal circumstances and creating a safe, trusting and private space in which you feel free to share in confidence. Are you experiencing issues in your personal life, problems in your relationships, points of...
To paraphrase Alice Miller: the opposite of depression isn't happiness; it's vitality. My clients are people who want to feel more in control, more at peace, more effective, more connected, more present, more focused, more decisive, more flexible… more alive. They seek relief from patterns -- sometimes chronic and severe, sometimes only subtly nagging -- of painful feelings, negative thoughts a...
My name is Caleb Stephens, and I am an Intersectional Clinician. The reality of therapy is that it is inaccessible to most, and the majority of therapists gear their therapy around themselves, and not around the needs of the client, nor the layers of identity that exist. I am not a traditional therapist, as I am also an Activist, and the majority of the work that I do is Identity work. This is...
If you’re reading this, maybe you’re feeling called to something more. You know your existence can be so much more connected, so much more fulfilling. The fact that you’ve found this page means you’ve already taken a huge first step towards creating the life and relationships that you deserve. The clients I work with are invested in creating meaningful change for themselves. They are seekers of...
Are you struggling with women's issues, trauma, relationships, grief, anxiety, or major life changes? There comes a time when we need some help from a licensed professional to cope with many of life’s challenges, and I’d love to help you on your journey toward healing and self-discovery. I have provided women, and their loved ones in Washington, D.C. with a wide range of psychological services....
Feeling anxious? Things feel out of control? These are challenging times, and most everyone feels internal challenges in response to our external chaos. I help individuals and families connect with themselves, with others, and what really matters in life. I help people focus, recharge, and reconnect with what is important. The result is a happier, less stressful, and more fulfilling life...
Lisa Elliott (she/her/hers) is a relational, strengths-based, trauma-focused, LGBTQ-affirmative social worker & psychotherapist. Lisa’s therapeutic style is warm and open. Her therapeutic approach is rooted in the client-therapist relationship, and encompasses targeted and tailored interventions from a range of therapy modalities. Lisa holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University o...
