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
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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,...
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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...
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"My area of specialization is in working with adults with trauma, PTSD, overwhelming stress, anxiety, and depression related problems. I have worked and am trained extensively with issues of PTSD, infidelity/betrayal (attachment traumas), childhood adveristy, grief, trust issues, combat, and past events that can create distress. Many events in the past can have a traumatic effect which can carr...
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Male Behavioral Health Inc. (MBH) is dedicated to addressing the profound mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs of men and boys through research, training, and direct practice. Utilizing a unique therapeutic approach called Masculinist Therapy we help men and boys deal with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues including: Guilt, Anxiety, Anger, Regret, Depression, Fatherhood,...