What is Feminist Psychotherapy?

Home » Treatment Therapies » Feminist Psychotherapy » Page 5

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

Jill McDevitt

San Diego

California

I help people shake the sexual shame and baggage they’ve been carrying around since childhood and find sexual happiness! Liberating sexuality from the shadows is my life’s passion. I believe that you’re amazing, and rather than trying to “fix” you, we can help you outgrow your sexuality pains and struggles. I believe free expression of sexuality is a vital part of being human, and I believe you...
I’m a bilingual (English/Spanish) Marriage and Family Therapist with four years of experience treating cultural diversity issues. I believe every individual is unique and finding the strength to defend that uniqueness is my goal as a clinician. Many times, we find ourselves dwelling in a place of discomfort because we are in transit, in a new position, a new career, a new family or a new countr...

Eileen F Dougherty

New York

New York

The world is a wondrous place, but it doesn’t seem so to one locked in turmoil or living in fear. I work with people who feel stuck, worthless, depressed and anxious. We explore the sources of such feelings and work towards easing the pain. Psychotherapy offers the opportunity to see the world from a different point of view; an exploration of all that comes before and leads to 
the here and now...
Cristi Habermann MA LPCMH LAC Counseling Services is not accepting new clients at this time. Therapy is a collaborative process. In partnership, we will determine the best path to meet your goals. Practicing what you learn in the session during the week is the best way to learn new skills. I use a combination of techniques to teach my clients new skills. Some of the therapies I use to promote t...
"Does this support the life I am trying to create?" is a question I ask myself daily. It is important to me that our therapeutic relationship fosters a safe, accepting, and collaborative space by exploring resilience, strengths, and informed curiosity. I strive to facilitate self-empowerment and self-efficacy through adaptive coping/behavioral skills, strengthening cognitive insight, while...
*NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS* I am a clinical social worker and registered yoga teacher who empowers people using the guiding principles of empathy, curiosity, cultural humility, and collaboration. I take an integrative and psychobiological approach and work to understand how the intersection of your unique experiences impact you today. I remain committed to working with people as they...
Looking for the freedom of not being judged? Stressed, anxious, or feeling overwhelmed? Stop struggling with life's challenges and let therapy help you begin to thrive. Therapy is proactive self-care and is for anyone who wants a better quality of life. Does your anxiety just seem to take over your life? Does your relationship with money need to be improved to help you make better financial...

Chandler Belfort

New York

New York

I believe therapy is a path to self-discovery and a resource that supports self-growth and well-being. As a therapist, I would like to exist as that resource for my clients by helping them develop new insights and tools that facilitate their capacity to experience greater fulfillment, authentic self-expression, and healthy connection. I strive to do so by honoring that each of us is a unique...
I believe that each of us is innately equipped for healing, growth, and connection with self and others. As a therapist, I’ll collaborate with you to access or rediscover those capacities within yourself. I primarily work with people who want to deepen connections with self and other, build resilience, and create meaning. I focus on long-term work with people experiencing anxiety, life...
I am passionate about helping my clients create positive change in their lives. In my career, I have helped women from all walks of life who struggle with depression, anxiety, symptoms related to traumatic experiences, self-esteem issues and biologically based mental illness. Even though their stories and lived experiences varied, each sought support because they wanted to feel better, decrease...
I specialize in working with adults like you, impacted by trauma and complex trauma, who want to find lasting relief from disturbing symptoms such as depression, anxiety, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive related issues. I use a combination of talk therapy, DBT, and EMDR to help you create and maintain positive change in your life - changes in relationships, to harmful behaviors, reductio...
I love to work with women, men, and other adults of all ages who want to benefit from counseling. I also work with pre-teens/adolescents to help them develop into the people they want to become. (Spirituality can be incorporated into therapy as desired; individuals of all faith backgrounds welcome and people of no religious affiliation as well!) In addition to psychotherapy, I provide...
Vulnerability: while rewarding, can be daunting. It is not easy to let someone into your internal landscape and I deeply value the possibility of learning yours. My name is Sam and I work with clients to become intimately comfortable with the buried, hidden, and beautifully impactful aspects of themselves. Giving these aspects refuge and support to become known leads to a deeper understanding o...
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in the greater Salt Lake City area. I have one goal: to help you cultivate more joy in your life, whatever your individual circumstances may be. My non-judgmental, collaborative approach is dedicated to empowering my clients and uplifting their voices. Above all, I emphasize a supportive environment for healing and cultivating self-compassion. I...
I love helping people! I love witnessing the transformation and seeing the sparkle in their eyes return or intensify. Life is an experience that is full of unplanned, unexpected events that can be difficult to deal with- but it is all surmountable! I truly believe that once we are able to clear away some of the ego, our inner voice/higher self can be heard and that is when incredible shifts in...