What is Feminist Psychotherapy?

Home » Treatment Therapies » Feminist Psychotherapy » Page 561

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

**CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS** Here at Nova we know that asking for help can be one of the scariest and bravest things you can do. It is also the first step to working towards a healthier and happier you. NMHS focuses on helping people with anxiety/ depression, life transitions, Autism and LGBTQI+ affirmative therapy. We have experience working with a range of age groups & mental health...

Jeannie Aschkenasy

Chicago

Illinois

I have extensive experience working with individuals of all ages, as well as couples, who are interested in bridging the she space between where they are and where they want to be. I do this by using my specialized skills as clinical psychologists, but also by bringing a holistic lens to the work. I want to meet you where you are emotionally, mentally, and behaviorally. My goal is to provide a...

Colors In Life, INC

Billings

Montana

As a helper of healing and change, I will honor the rights of all diverse populations. Therapeutic services which provide clients' with choices and options in a clear form of understandable language. Each client will have the opportunity to make goals which they feel are attainable. together we will assess levels of stress, the retention of negative influences, therefore, we can together evalua...

Wild Sage Counseling, LLC

Denver

Colorado

Authenticity. Intention. Connection. Integrity. These are foundational principles that I cultivate in my therapy practice. Drawing from my background in Ecopsychology and Transpersonal Psychology, I believe in the interconnectedness of all things, and see the basic goodness in every being. I will join you in your exploration of expansion with an open and collaborative approach. I bring my passi...

Blackbird Counseling, LLC

Denver

Colorado

Hello! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Addiction Counselor. For the past seven years, I have helped adult individuals and groups heal from mental/behavioral health issues and substance addiction utilizing a variety of evidence-based practices. My approach focuses on cultivating self-acceptance & self-love, learning how to heal through traumatic and difficult experiences to f...
The Strive for Wellness Clinic, in association with the Maryland Early Intervention Program (EIP), a SAMHSA funded psychosis risk clinic, delivers research based specialized assessment, consultation, and treatment to youth ages 14 to 25 who struggle with troubling thoughts and/or experiences, or are concerned by odd or unusual changes in behavior. Early identification and treatment can lead to ...
Are you looking for greater joy and satisfaction in your personal relationships and professional achievements? I am a psychotherapist with over 40 years of experience. I am a graduate of The Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. I am a graduate of the Washington Square Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, The Group Therapy Training Program of the Post Graduate Center ...
As you progress, you may strive for more out of life, yet, are unsure how to get to where you may wish to be. I will support you on your journey as we explore what your needs are, your long term/short term perceived goals & best practices in fulfilling such. I use the therapeutic process to assist in empowering my clients so that you come to realize & acknowledge the wealth of inner resources y...

Virginia Cox Evans

Louisville

Kentucky

For over 30 years I have been treating depression, anxiety & addictions with a specialty in eating disorders. I'm a founding fellow for The Academy of Cognitive Therapy and also integrate other strategies in helping my patients actualize their full potential. I provide individual, marital, family, and group therapy. From adolescence to later life years, I help clients improve their physical,...

Christine Mia Kerno

Minneapolis

Minnesota

I specialize in trauma focused EMDR, substance use issues, and the care and treatment of the LGBTQIA community including transgender folk. I have developed a practice serving this very vulnerable and under-served population including trans women of color. As a male to female transgender person and a mental health professional I provide culturally specific services to the LGBTQIA community. I am...
As a therapist, I believe that people have the strengths and potential within themselves to make changes but sometimes circumstances get in the way of discovering and utilizing those strengths. My role is to act as a guide through the process of uncovering your strengths and achieving your goals. I believe that each individual is unique and I tailor my approach to each client's individual needs...

Araceli Cortes

Los Angeles

California

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working with infants, children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. I value the diversity of each person’s story and find it essential to consider the cultural, social and political context that may be contributing to your distress. My hope is to assist you in gaining an empowering and positive reauthoring of your story. Aveces es dificil tom...
Being human is difficult. Period. It can come with painful and traumatizing experiences -- particularly as we live in a society that is imbued with isms, poverty, and uncertainty about the future. We can experience deep sadness, loneliness and worries. And even so, there is something in us that wants to find hope and long-lasting joy, and live a life that's rich, meaningful, and filled with...
I am a mental health counselor and a university administrator. My 10 years of experience in student affairs, with special emphases in diversity and inclusion, LGBTQ+ and sexual assault survivor advocacy have helped guide my work in mental health. I use an integrative approach to therapy that is crafted around each individual in a safe, empathetic and supportive space. It’s of paramount importan...
We all experience some sort of pain, stress, trauma, or adversity in our personal lives and relationships. When our hearts ache, we search for ways to cope. These initial ways of coping often are adaptive in the short term. However, in the longer term, these same coping strategies may hinder further growth and healing. You and I can work together without judgment to dismantle painful experience...