Feminist Psychotherapy

Overview

Feminist Psychotherapy is a person-centered, politically-informed model that integrates the collective historical/cultural and specific lived experiences of individuals into a treatment plan.[1] This therapy arose during the 1960s second wave feminist movement in the United States and was initially conceptualized as a viable alternative to those in historically marginalized populations seeking therapy, including people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and gender-variant individuals. Feminist psychotherapy has since widened its scope of practice to include people of all genders as well as children, and families. The guiding principle behind feminist psychotherapy is rooted in the belief that gender, social location, and power are central factors in the understanding of human difficulties.[2]

History and Development

Feminist therapy was historically identified as a movement led primarily by women psychotherapists aimed at reforming traditional sexist psychotherapy approaches and practices created by the dominant patriarchal body.[3] Feminist psychotherapy emerged around the end of the 1960s into the early 1970s, coinciding with the second wave of feminism in the United States. The second wave of feminism was a movement catalyzed by both the anti-war and civil rights movement, increasing women’s desire for less discrimination and more equality. Furthermore, second wave feminists cared deeply about structural and systemic issues, and were specifically invested in exposing and overcoming the casual, systemic racism present in society.[4] In 1994, clinical and forensic psychologist Laura Brown provided a clear definition and framework for the theoretical basis of feminist therapy, with the central principle stated as, “solutions advancing feminist resistance, transformation and social change in daily personal life, and in relationships with the social, emotional and political environments.”[5] Since Brown’s early conception of Feminist Therapy, there has been only one major change which includes the broadening of its initial emphasis to include more social identities through a broader multicultural lens. For example, Feminist Psychotherapy can be an effective treatment option for those with special needs, immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized and minority groups.[6]

Guiding Principles

Feminist psychotherapy emphasizes mutuality and equality in order to foster trust between therapist and client and elicit positive changes within the individual.[7] Feminist psychotherapy believes that by empowering individuals, positive social change through advocacy becomes possible as the client exhibits more willingness to then educate and spread awareness to others. This therapy believes that individual experiences and the environment are formative aspects of identity and are closely linked. Thus, feminist therapy takes a holistic approach to understanding the individual in terms of multiple contextual levels that may influence their being. These levels include global (worldview), institutional (educational system), relational (family dynamics), and individual (biological, spiritual).[8]

Specific Tenets of Feminist Psychotherapy[9,10]

Critical consciousness and commitment to social change: Aside from the individual, feminist psychotherapy aims to elicit positive change within society as a whole.
Egalitarian relationship between client and counselor: Emphasizes equality between the therapist and the person in treatment in order to avoid power imbalances.
A strength focused approach: A reframing of psychological distress that avoids diagnostic labels and emphasizes client strength; the role of systemic inequalities on well-being is emphasized rather than an individual’s personal weakness.

Techniques of Feminist Psychotherapy[11,12]

Self-Disclosure: The therapist may choose to share their own experiences in attempts to build close relationships with the client. The therapist engages in self-reflective practices, acknowledging one's own biases as a practitioner, and aims to cultivate a safe, inclusive space for the client throughout the counseling process.
Gender Role Analysis and Intervention: The therapist and client explore gender and gender-related roles in connection to foster self-acceptance; the therapist asks questions which aim to uncover internalized beliefs and exposure to ideas about gender, the impact of the messaging, and make a plan to implement change based on a new awareness of these gender notions (e.g., “What gendered expectations are you measuring yourself against and possibly trying to live up to?”; “What are the potential negative or positive effects of this?”)
Power Analysis: The therapist and client explore power imbalances and dynamics in the context of the client’s lived experiences and personal distresses. The counselor validates the client’s reality and facilitates critical self-reflection involving the role of power in relationships and how to overcome barriers rooted in power inequities.
Reframing and Relabeling: The therapist reshifts focus from a traditional emphasis on the internal to the societal. Clients’ self-defeating behaviors are connected to larger societal issues rather than individual weaknesses. This allows the client to shift away from self-blame and instead focus on healing, growing, and cultivating greater self-esteem.
Social Action: The therapist encourages the client, in particular girls and women, to use assertiveness and communication as a way to empower. Political and social advocacy is encouraged to enact meaningful changes for the self and others.

Possible Limitations

One central criticism of feminist psychotherapy is the fact that it is rooted in a more philosophical approach with a set of guiding principles and beliefs rather than a highly standardized and well-defined empirically-proven therapy (e.g., CBT or IPT).[13] Thus, evidence-based research on the efficacy of feminist therapy is lacking. While feminist psychotherapy is generally accepted as impactful and necessary with its consideration of gender roles, power dynamics, cultural context and lived experiences, another limitation of this method stems from this subjectivity. In attempting to mitigate egalitarian relationships and practice self disclosure technique, therapists must also be aware that their sharing of personal and professional beliefs may overly influence the beliefs of a person in treatment.[14] Additionally, because feminist psychotherapy shifts blame from the individual to the context in which they are placed in, there is also risk that this strong focus on environmental factors can detract from the ability of a person in treatment to take personal responsibility for problems.[15]

Contributed by: Kaylin Ong

Editor: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.

References:

1 Good Therapy. (2009, September 15). Feminist Therapy. Goodtherapy.org. https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/feminist-therapy

2 Brown, L. S. (2018). Introduction: Feminist therapy—Not for cisgender women only. In L. S. Brown, Feminist therapy (pp. 3–10). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000092-001

3 APA (2021)

4 GALE. (2023). Second Wave Feminism Primary Sources & History | Gale. Www.gale.com. https://www.gale.com/primary-sources/womens-studies/collections/second-wave-feminism#:~:text=The%20second%20wave%20feminism%20movement,spread%20to%20other%20Western%20countries

5 Brown, L. S. (1994). Subversive dialogues: Theory in feminist therapy. Basic Books. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1994-98446-000

6 APA (2021)

7 Good Therapy (2009)

8 Schwarz, J. E. (2023). Counseling Women and Girls: Introduction to Empowerment Feminist Therapy. In connect.springerpub.com. Springer Publishing Company. https://connect.springerpub.com/content/book/978-0-8261-2917-8/part/part01/chapter/ch01?implicit-login=true

9 Good Therapy (2009)

10 Schwarz (2023)

11 Good Therapy (2009)

12 Schwarz (2023)

13 Enns, C. Z. (2002). Feminist psychotherapy. Editors-in-Chief, 801. https://www.academia.edu/download/34566807/Encyclopedia_of_Psychotherapy.pdf#page=771

14 Good Therapy (2009)

15 Ibid.