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
You may be are reading this because you are struggling, perhaps you have tried everything you can think of to feel better, to solve your problems, or to make things right and nothing seems to turn out in the way you expect. Life can be very challenging and sometimes very painful. Relationships can also be difficult and it’s easy to become stuck–unsure of exactly how you got to where you are and...
I see clients in search of supportive pathways out of pain and anxiety, often people who feel abandoned or unseen in some way. If you're struggling with overwhelming emotions or life events, feeling confused about how to move forward, I may be able to help. I believe emotional pain and suffering can be relieved through creatively confronting the obstacles that oppress us and prevent us from...
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 10 years of experience helping individuals, couples, children and families. I work with clients who are dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma disorders, relationship issues, sexual issues, mood difficulties, social, racial, cultural and economic disenfranchisement, and life transitions. I bring an integrative approach to my practice, as I believe ...
Kids and teens often face unique struggles that must be uniquely approached. As a specialized youth therapist, I recognize that academic stress, self-esteem, self-harm, depression/anxiety, and behavioral issues impact youth and their families in unique ways. I am here to partner with you and your child to better understand and address the underlying causes of your child or teen's struggles. I...
Gideon is a clinical counselor, supervisor, and consultant at Veduta Consulting, LLC. He works with individuals, couples, and groups from a relational-cultural approach. Gideon received his MA in Counseling Psychology from the Family Institute at Northwestern University in 2014. He then completed advanced postgraduate training in humanistic, client-centered counseling through the Barbara Temane...
Each individual in the therapeutic alliance is the ideal client for one simple reason - we are each uniquely in a rut, stuck, or confused. To this end imagine being in a pit of quicksand without any sense of direction, worth, or hope. People will walk by and offer advice on how to get out. Others might provide a utensil or medication. Yet none of these address the immediate situation of being i...
I see life as a story, and we hold the pens to our next steps. Some chapters of our stories are wonderful, some are more difficult, and all of them combined make us who we are. I believe that everyone has much to tell, and I'd love to hear your story. I am passionate about helping people live the lives they desire, holding space for mystery and wonder as each person’s path unfolds, and integrat...
I like working with all age groups, from young children to adults, because people are precious and deserve support through life issues. I want clients to feel comfortable as they work to understand and achieve their mental health and life goals. I started working as a mental health practitioner with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Behaviorism. My chosen degree, Marriage and Family Therapy, speaks ...
I believe that therapy works well when it is a collaborative process. Finding a therapist you trust is key, as I see the relationship between therapist and client as the foundation for positive change. I have been described as warm and approachable while also real and direct. I am trained in the creative arts and use these tools when they support healing and growth. I offer individual, group, a...
If you are someone who, by nature of identity or through your experiences in this world, find yourself in the grip of anxiety, grief, depression, or any other symptoms that make it hard to function in this world, I would be honored to work with you, to help you, and to journey together with you towards whatever goal you may set yourself. I am passionate about working with clients who feel like...
At Dr. Mary Berge and Associates, you will be provided with the best care in the region, in our serene, and confidential, private practice setting. Our highly trained mental health specialists are ready to help you & your family, so don't wait another day to start changing your life... call now for an appointment. We offer individual, family, & relationship therapy for nearly all emotional and...
I believe each of us can benefit from therapy as a space to grapple with life’s difficulties. My ideal client is anyone who is motivated to explore their relationship with themselves and others. I work with adults to address relationship issues, adjustment to life transitions, identity, stress, anxiety, as well as eating and body image concerns. I enjoy working with those who identify as member...
In my practice I work with clients of all backgrounds and age groups; and I have a specialty in adolescence and young adulthood. I enjoy supporting clients as they navigate growing up and becoming adults in this complex world. My approach is grounded in Psychodynamic Theory and the belief that many of our problems are rooted in thinking patterns, behaviors, and emotional responses that we...
I think that in many ways, mainstream culture opposes our aliveness. Our belonging suffers because of the narrow boxes prescribed to us. If you feel stunted, stuck, or like you can't get it together, I don't believe there is anything wrong with you; I believe that you've adapted to a context. As an embodiment-based, relational therapist with a neurobiological lens, I am here to help in the...
My ideal clients are individuals who feel marginalized in part due to systemic injustice. I am passionate about providing trauma-informed and feminist based treatment to individuals who may feel unwelcome among their own communities due to perceptions of their identity. I work with clients to provide clarity around topics such as racial identity development, lgbtq+ identity development, sexual...
