What is Feminist Psychotherapy?

Home » Treatment Therapies » Feminist Psychotherapy » Page 74

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

Aliyah Vinikoor

Seattle

Washington

Therapy is a powerful vehicle of self-discovery. It's an opportunity to deepen understanding of our patterns and behaviors - and cultivate a more authentic relationship with ourselves and others. I work with individuals to successfully meet life's challenges, navigate change, and develop practices to grow into our best selves. From a place of collaboration and warmth, I assist clients to uncove...
Grief and loss are integral parts to the human experience and are not something just caused by death. We can grieve loss of a friendship, changes in identity, a crisis of faith, and even positive changes like marriage, motherhood, etc. You might be feeling confused or distressed by this grief and that is okay. You may be experiencing new symptoms of depression or anxiety and that too is normal....
Now Accepting New Clients.... I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Recovery Coach. With over 8 years of experience, I work with individuals, couples, and families. I specializes in both substance and behavioral addiction, depression, anxiety, family conflicts, anger management, and trauma. At my practice, I use a unique approach to therapy in order to give my clients the...

Ashley Hallett

Minneapolis

Minnesota

**Accepting New Clients!** Each of us lives a unique and complex life, populated with our own ambitions, friends, routines, fears, and inherited craziness. Our lives create an epic story that continues invisibly around you with elaborate and meaningful experiences. At times we can feel stuck, unhappy, or even lost. Each time we consciously work with our pain, we are working towards a more nuanc...

Victoria J King

Oakland

California

As a Sex & Relationship Therapist, I come from a person-centered, open-minded, sex-positive, trauma-informed, attachment-oriented, and multi-cultural perspective, to support my clients in creating a healthy, satisfying, and empowered sexuality and relationship with oneself and others. I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and partners struggling with relationship & attachment issues,...

Anna K Smith

Raleigh

North Carolina

I delight in working with couples to repair troubled relationships & find a deeper, more secure connection with one another by helping partners bring their needs into awareness, share those unmasked parts, and transform old patterns of communication & interaction. I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental space, whatever your orientation, identity, ethnicity, or sexual preference. I meet my...

Emily Willet

Spokane

Washington

It can be scary to come out to your healthcare professionals, not knowing what kind of response you will receive. When you believe you must explain or defend your identity and culture, it can leave you feeling misunderstood or judged. This is why I have intentionally created an atmosphere where you feel safe and accepted exactly as you are. Since my own coming out, it has been my dream to provi...

Terilee Wunderman

Miami

Florida

I work with clients to help discover their natural strengths and gifts in order to develop better coping skills, overcome challenges and traumas, and promote healing, self-confidence, and enthusiasm in their relationships, work, and life choices. I also provide psychological evaluations regarding emotional and behavioral concerns, adoption and parenting issues, transgender matters, and...

Sarah A Fiskness

Seattle

Washington

Skills for Life offers therapy for children, adolescents, young adults, and the families that support them. We are located in Madison Valley by Cafe Flora and also offer HIPPA compliant telehealth. Call for a free 15 minute consultation to see if counseling can help your family. Sarah Fiskness is a licensed mental health therapist with over 20 years of experience in social services, education a...

Krista Wilson

Chicago

Illinois

Each human has reasons for the things they do, say, and feel. As we walk around in the world, some things work for us and some don't. I am here to celebrate what is working and guide you through the change of what isn't. I believe that you are the expert on your life, but at times things can become overwhelming and your true voice can become clouded. I'd love to help bring you back to a sense o...
I specialize in adolescents and young adults, as well as children ages 0-5. My ideal client age group is early adolescences, age 12 to 15, but I am experienced in working with children of all ages. I also specialize in treating trauma, addiction and attachment issues in both children and adults. I’ve worked with addiction & trauma for 20+ years, primarily with adolescents & young adults. I am...

Sarah Smalley

Seattle

Washington

I love working with adults with varying backgrounds doing crisis work or deep transformative therapy. I operate from a social justice perspective and believe that our environments and our many identities deeply impact our well being. Whether you're navigating an abrupt or difficult life transition, working through a past trauma, unpacking the state of the world, or just feeling stuck, our work...

Amy Poppers

Oakland

California

My approach to therapy is relational and integrative. I believe that we all have a deep capacity for healing, but it can be difficult to fully access our inner strengths and resources without support. Together, we can uncover ways you are feeling stuck, and chip away at blockages that may have developed due to intergenerational trauma, early wounds, losses, and other challenging circumstances....
Anxiety and depression can hold you back because fear can stop you from making the positive change needed for creating harmony and peace in your life. I provide a confidential, non-judgmental, and accepting environment to process the influences of family patterns, personal history, and social expectations that may or may not match your authentic inner self. Together, we will find effective...
Rae is a bilingual (English, Spanish) art therapist working primarily with adult and teen survivors of violence, trauma, eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders and substance or behavioral addictions. Her work aligns with a person-centered, strength-based model of therapy, and she believes in the individual being the expert of her or his own story. Holistic, body-centered practices are...