What is Feminist Psychotherapy?

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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

Jessica Forrey

Denver

Colorado

The world is a lot right now. If you're prone to anxiety or were already having a difficult time before COVID-19, you may be feeling especially uncertain, run-down, and overwhelmed. Maybe you're an empath, or the person your family and friends typically lean on for support, and the compounding needs and stress of others is making it hard to find your center. It's a powerful decision to seek som...
Life gets hard at times with increasing demands and a finite amount of resources. As creatures of habit, we tend to get stuck in what seems like a never-ending cycle. My clients come to me with a desire for REAL change. They may be managing long-standing mental health problems and/or new and chronic medical conditions. They also seek to improve their relationships and find out what makes their...

Melissa George

Fort Collins

Colorado

Are you feeling stuck? Continuing to turn inward, seek guidance, make changes, but still feeling discontent and uncertain? Still struggling with life's stressors and questioning where you're going and who you are? I help clients who are searching for their life's purpose or soul's calling, those wanting more support in reconnecting with their true self so they can follow their own individual pa...

Noah Krell

Portland

Maine

We are living in a time of profound change and groundlessness, where many of the things we took for granted are shifting. At the same time, we’re being asked to isolate right when we need connection the most. As a result, we might be struggling more with anxiety, depression, grief, anger, fear, and meaning-making. Therapy is a powerful tool that can help us make sense of these emotions and mana...

Tim Fuller

Portland

Maine

I enjoy working with clients to identify and commit to what's most important in their lives, grow inherent strengths and wisdom in order to meet life's challenges, and explore new possibilities. I believe each person deserves a process of change and healing appropriate their unique life story. My approach is centered on compassion, acceptance, mindfulness, practicality and is often infused with...
I think every client has a story that they want to tell. I feel very deeply about learning about my clients. I want to know where they come from, what got them to where they are today and where they want to be in their lives. I am ready to take that journey with each of them. I am passionate about helping them achieve whatever goals they are trying to. I work with individuals with a variety of...

Olivia Taylor

Chicago

Illinois

I am a warm, caring, and compassionate Therapist with experience in working with young adults and professionals of various backgrounds. I am passionate about social justice and human rights and I consider myself culturally, developmentally, and trauma informed in order to assist and guide individuals towards growth, resiliency, and a sense of healing (w/ a focus on BIPOC). I have extensive...

Natalie Burtenshaw

San Antonio

Texas

You were taught to tear yourself down, aim low, and use all your energy to take care of others while leaving nothing for yourself. Do you know that Spirit has a plan for you that’s bigger than this? No wonder your mind's driving you crazy! Our image-obsessed society is deeply afraid of the wild creative potential of our emotions. The real problem is NOT that you’re weak! It’s that you don’t tru...

Kara Nielson

Boise

Idaho

She/Her/Hers. Full Spectrum Counseling of Idaho is a sanctuary for the LGBTQIA+ community and those who love them. As a queer licensed professional counselor, I affirm transgender and BIPOC folx with my whole heart and seek to provide quality, compassionate mental health counseling and support to all those who are systemically oppressed and marginlized. I am a person-centered humanist with an...
Sydney is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA), who has experience working with a variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, self-esteem, life transitions, communication in romantic and family relationships, and women’s empowerment. Sydney is an LGBTQ+ affirmative therapist. Sydney works with children, adolescents and adults, as well as families and...
I enjoy working with both adults and adolescents in a way that assists them in gaining greater self-understanding and compassion. Ultimately, I hope to help each client find a path to a more genuine and integrated way of being with others. I bring curiosity and a fresh look to each client, addressing them where they are in the moment. I see psychotherapy as a collaborative effort between therap...

Brie Everard

Seattle

Washington

***** Not accepting new clients at this time. ***** My style is influenced by the work of Brené Brown, who writes, "We are all made of strength and struggle." I will encourage you to acknowledge and build on your strengths and support you through your struggles. I am passionate about helping people move towards self-acceptance and away from shame and self-doubt. I strive to be authentic,...

Johanna Jelenek

Chicago

Illinois

Johanna Jelenek is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, life transitions, and substance abuse. Ms. Jelenek works with adults, adolescents, and couples and is integrative in her treatment approach, often combining cognitive-behavioral, cultural-systemic, emotion-focused, and mind-body techniques. She tailors treatment interventions to the speci...
There are times in life when it is difficult to believe that we will ever reach our dreams, hopes, goals, or have the future for which we had hoped. We may be feeling stuck, lonely, and unable to develop or access our wisdom and strengths. Too often, challenging life situations or decisions made in the past tend to have a lasting effect on our lives. I believe that everyone has the capacity to...
Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to view my profile to learn about me and my style as a counselor. I am an Associate Professional Counselor (APC) working toward full licensure to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Play Therapist (RPT). I practice from a person-centered and holistic approach, considering a client's emotional, social, spiritual and physical healt...