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
If you are in the LGBT community and seeking therapy, you can feel confident that you will find affirmative treatment focused on your needs and goals. As a member in the community, I understand, through experience, many of the unique needs and circumstances faced by many of us (i.e. discrimination, family rejection, homelessness, lack of support, and job issues). These challenges can cause adde...
Art Therapy makes it possible to express what is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to communicate with words. Using art creates the opportunity to delve into the unconscious and parts of the brain in which words do not exist. Art Therapy has a unique way of healing old wounds, and we believe in working with you, first and foremost, to find the path to wellness that is best for you. There is ...
Relationships are the fundamental building blocks of human experience. We are shaped by and devote many resources to them, and they can be sources of inspiration, support, and consistent love. They can also be harmful and even dangerous, especially when an individual's relationship templates have began as dysfunctional in their families of origin. Many of my clients have been or currently are i...
Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you. It means that you may be seeking clarity in some areas in your life, or wanting to work through complex emotions. It may mean you are working through a traumatic experience or challenging negative thinking patterns. Some people come to therapy to learn new ways to cope with difficult situations, or they may be focused on persona...
Clients I have worked with have experienced depression, anxiety, intimacy issues, trauma, family concerns, and daily life struggles. Clients often express feeling "stuck" with where they are in life and have exhausted their normal problem-solving skills before seeking help to get "unstuck". I work with clients to help them find new ways to work with the problems that bring them into therapy and...
My passion is using creativity to support individuals in healing from trauma and increasing their overall well-being. I provide a safe, supportive environment and incorporate a range of modalities from a holistic, trauma-informed and mindfulness-based approach. Through the creative art process, individuals can authentically connect with themselves and learn to process a range of emotions in a...
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, my job is to hold hope, especially when it's hard to find. I work to create a collaborative, nonjudgmental space where individuals can explore their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. I'm here to support you in identifying and processing past hurts that continue to influence relationships and self-confidence, as well as offer encouragement through difficult...
My expertise is coming along side individuals who have experienced various forms of trauma - from sexual abuse and assault to traumatic grief and loss to complex trauma. One might feel everything all at once or nothing at all. On the outside, it may seem like everything is fine - you are successful and have it together but on the inside, you might be falling apart or carrying an unbearable weig...
Elizabeth provides a safe place and recovery focused space for LGBTQIA+, teens, college students, women, men, and families. Elizabeth challenges and aids in the implementation of each client’s goals and aspirations for their growth process. She empowers her clients to not only live independently, but successfully. Elizabeth serves individuals and their families by addressing disordered eating,...
**Accepting new clients** As humans, we all suffer, struggle or experience pain in our lives. But the story does not have to end there. Do you find yourself plagued by anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, conflictual relationships, low self esteem, overwhelm, hurt or another emotional stressor? No matter where you are, there is hope for you. As your therapist, I am here to walk alongside you in ...
*Not currently accepting*Change, transition, and facing the unknown can be incredibly overwhelming. I believe in sitting together with my clients in whatever they are experiencing and working together to explore meaning and any possible resolutions. Operating from a place of strengths-based support and solidarity, I will empower you to identify and adapt to your needs. By incorporating...
How have you been coping with what is currently taking place in your life? My name is Ashley Donegan. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida and Washington, D.C. I have been practicing as a social services and mental health clinician since 2014. I am apart of this field because my passion is to help others figure out themselves by offering my clinical guidance. To accomplish this, I...
I’m ready to walk alongside you on your path to hope and healing. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in Minnesota and a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa. I’m also a registered play therapist supervisor and a nationally certified counselor. I have experience working clinically, serving children, families, couples, and adults with a variety of mental health diagnoses at college...
Has life thrown a lot at you? Maybe you’ve successfully gotten through past difficulties, only to find your old ways of coping no longer serve you. Let’s work together to find your healing. With warmth and acceptance, I work to unlock your connection to and trust in your strengths, wisdom, and creativity. We'll shape an understanding of who you are, where you’d like to be, and what tools work f...
