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
Reaching out for help can feel like a matter of life and death. You might delay the call, hoping that whatever is wrong will go away. Unfortunately, profound suffering usually can’t be wished away. It needs to be confronted directly. Though perhaps not obvious, suffering internally or in your relationships may be an expression of unresolved childhood wounds. Now is the time to heal those wounds...
I am a Licensed Social Worker and Psychotherapist with experience working with a broad range of client populations. Creating a safe & welcoming space, as well as, developing a relationship and building rapport with my clients before beginning treatment is extremely important to me. I incorporate various modalities (strengths-based, person-centered, trauma-focused CBT) into my practice to create...
The mind-body approach drives my work as a therapist, and I am passionate about empowering my clients to build more wholesome lives. I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families, and meet with clients ranging in age from 6-70. I specialize in issues including anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, behavioral problems, women’s issues, and personal growth. Through the use of mindfulness,...
I am passionate about working with: People of Color; Trans, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals, and their partners and families; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer folks; Polyamorous and non-monogamous individuals, couples, families and other relationship configurations; Activists and organizers involved in social justice movements and struggles for liberation; and especially, people at the...
Maybe you're going through a difficult life transition, recent stressor or have been experiencing what feels like too much anxiety or too little enjoyment in your life. Perhaps you're wondering if things will always be like this or if it's possible to feel better. Therapy can be a safe place to explore any of these issues along with many others. With a background in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy...
Psychotherapy gives you the opportunity to establish a healing relationship in which you can become aware of your strengths and challenges in a safe space in order to recognize the changes you want to make in your life and appreciate the qualities that are worth holding onto. Quite simply, it is a process of taking ownership of your own life. To help you do so, I provide a respectful,...
Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression are all too common in today's high-paced, high-stress lifestyle. We often find ourselves distracted & disconnected in our work and relationships. We react instead of act. We are impulsive & make decisions on a whim. These ways of relating to each other & our environment tend to increase our stress and often exacerbate the physical, mental and emotional...
Psychotherapist. Advocate. LPS Expert. Your loved one is severely mentally ill but cannot or will not accept treatment. Your local public mental health system is staffed by dedicated professionals, but they cannot always deliver the care and treatment your loved one requires because time, money, and resources are scarce. Your loved one is suffering. You are exhausted from trying again and ag...
Sometimes when you feel broken, you need the help of another to rebuild. But where do you start when you’re seeking a therapist who is empathetic and experienced, supportive and compassionate? As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 18 years experience, I promise I am here to offer you a hand, not a judgment. Over nearly two decades, I have worked with individuals, couples and families...
You're just getting through each day. Barely. Worry is a heavy dark cloud, smothering & unrelenting. A nightly drink to take the edge off, then another, maybe something to settle your nerves? You can’t sleep, each day is a repeat of the day before...like Groundhog Day but no funny parts. You pushed yourself hard, is this where you want to end up? You feel alone & scared, trying to keep up but...
“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take, relationships we were afraid to have and the decisions we waited too long to make.” -Lewis Carroll Compassion with accountability for change. I am accepting new patients with HMSA, but will also accept patients who are willing to seek reimbursement from their insurance plans....
Finding the right therapist can be a difficult task. I hope to make that easier by telling you about myself and my approach. I received my doctorate in Counseling Psychology, a branch of psychology that takes into account the role of various cultural and environmental factors that shape each of us. This means that my approach to therapy is individualized and integrates information about your...
You're tired of living the way you're living; it's not working for you anymore and you want more out of life. More authenticity, more freedom, more joy. I specialize in working with young adults (20s/30s) who want more. Young adulthood is a time for establishing who you are and what you want out of life. Sometimes these things get clouded by outside input. You find yourself pursuing a job, a...
Being able to talk openly and honestly about feelings is the foundation of therapy. A therapist is a supportive person who can listen to you and give you honest feedback in an emotionally safe space. Therapy is about getting a better understanding of yourself, your behavior, feelings, motivations, and patterns. When you come to therapy, I want you to feel comfortable coming in just as you are. ...
I welcome the opportunity to work with individuals of all ages on a variety of issues, including general anxiety, depression, social anxiety, substance use, emotion regulation, perfectionism and test anxiety. I also work with couples who want to improve their relationship, including couples who are interested in processing the emotional challenges of separation and divorce. I use an eclectic,...