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

Stuart Brewster

Seattle

Washington

People come to therapy for many different reasons, and there are many different ways to go about doing therapy. But at its core, therapy is very simple: it's a way of learning about yourself. As a therapist, I believe my role is not to "fix" you or your problems, but rather to learn alongside you about your challenges and experiences. My hope is to build a relationship that helps you feel safe...

Becca Post

Salt Lake City

Utah

I believe that timing is everything in therapy. Our work together requires you to feel a nudge, no matter how small towards a desired change. I work with adults who want to work through their trauma, because they recognize that it prevents them from recovering from their eating disorder or living an anxiety free life. If you are someone who recognizes that they feel stuck in old coping patterns...
Healing and caring for ourselves is hard work. Sometimes painful, often fulfilling, occasionally tedious, it is a necessary part of being open to the experiences that life has to offer us. Therapy is one way to find support in healing from trauma, managing our health, and discovering and practicing new ways of caring for ourselves. As Audre Lorde wrote, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence...

Paul O Courtland Soper

Cincinnati

Ohio

I offer telehealth psychotherapy and sex therapy to adults interested in embarking on a journey of emotional healing. Negative thought and behavior patterns build up over time, and it takes time to retrain your brain and body to engage differently with the world around you. A holistic approach focusing on the mind, body and spirit is essential to recovery, and I try to teach my clients and thei...

Kavita Khara

Chicago

Illinois

I seek to empathically meet my clients where they are at. Together, we will build a therapeutic relationship in which your sense of safety and being supported is paramount. I work to bring about the changes you want, including greater functioning and life satisfaction. I strongly believe that each of my clients are an expert in themselves, and thus, I am optimistic that between both of our...
Currently accepting new clients for video/phone sessions. You want to be loved and experience pleasure, but getting there can be difficult, especially when global fear about COVID19 affects us. Many are struggling with isolation, anxiety and lack of hope for the future in these uncertain times. This leaves us feeling lonely, scared and depressed with strain both personally and in relationships....
I have over 40 years of experience in the counseling field. I work with adults, couples, adolescents, children and families. My strengths are my ability to listen, to understand and to empathize. I engage with my clients in a manner that allows them to safely explore choices and find their path to their well-being. I provide a safe, secure, non-judgmental environment where clients can be open a...
All of us face experiences in our lives where we can benefit from the support and connection that therapy provides. Scientific evidence demonstrates that a strong and consistent therapeutic relationship is restorative, healing and emotionally regulating. As a therapist, I believe in connecting with clients, human-to-human, and I regularly feel a deep sense of understanding for those with whom I...
Are you struggling emotionally from a divorce or other challenging life transitions? Are you feeling like life just isn’t working for you? Whether you are experiencing deep loss, sadness, or other intrusive feelings, please know that therapy can help. It is my passion to assist people in working through the difficult times in their lives. Prior to becoming a psychologist, I worked for 16 years ...

Sherida Valpoort-Jones

Wichita

Kansas

Life's stressors can be very overwhelming and the benefit of a safe and confidential environment to address personal stressors can enhance quality of life. It is an honor to be selected by a client to share their journey and desire for change. It is important to secure inner peace by learning skills to regulate emotions during times of distress that provide hope for the future. I am passionate...

Clare Julian Carbone

Salt Lake City

Utah

"There was a dawn remembered when my soul heard something from your soul" - Rumi - The therapuetic encounter allows for the kind of "dawning" which Rumi alludes to. Who am I at my truest being? What lessons am I meant to learn in this lifetime? What gifts do I bring to this world? What is the greater good I want to serve? Each human journey is a mysterious and beautiful evolution of understandi...
I have immediate daytime openings. "Life isn't always easy and sometimes we need help finding our way. I am passionate about helping people along their journey in life and believe that counseling is a safe platform where people can make positive changes. I have years of experience providing counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. " I am a Licensed Clinical...
I am here to help you bring some change to your life! My priority is to meet you where you're at, and help you to identify and achieve your goals. I am experienced in treating trauma/PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety disorder. I am passionate about supporting women through infertility, pregnancy and postpartum issues. I also have experience with meeting the unique needs of Veterans. I a...

Tara Rae Behr

Colorado Springs

Colorado

As a therapist, I want to help people feel their value and belovedness. We all have a right to be here. I see those who I work with as fellow journeyers. There is much to uncover about ourselves and the world around us. We live in a time of great trauma. We all need healing surrounding our biographical narrative, intergenerational & cultural trauma. My hope is to walk alongside you as a welcomi...
I work to help you reach higher levels of inner peace, happiness, self-compassion & wellbeing. I've done 1,000's of sessions & apply empathy, strength building, mindfulness, hypnotherapy, REBT, CBT, Solution-Focused, Narrative & Compassion-Focused Therapy. I provide both in-person & Telehealth sessions. I work with clients to create personalized happiness & self-compassion plans to figure out...