Feminist Theory

To start off, this may be my least favorite of the therapy's studied in this course. I know that it is not "just for women", but anything that goes on a premis that one gender, minority, group, or anything needs a special kind of therapy bothers me, and as I read about this it really seems to focus more on and for women then anything else. Just my thoughts on it.

I am omitting pictures from this blog for one reason, it states in our text that there really isn't a "founder" for this therapy. Though several women have been significant contributors, such as Jean Baker Miller, MD, Carolyn Zerbe Enns, Olivia M. Espin, PhD., Laura S. Brown, PhD. There are many more that may have done as much as these women for this theory as well.

The goals of this therapy are to help the client as well as society in their narrow views of gender role socialization. If aims to minimize discrimination and oppression on any basis.

The key concepts of Feminist Therapy are that the personal is political. Woman should be valued and honored in all aspects. The counseling is egalitarian, meaning that all people have equal rights. All types of oppression are addressed and the point of therapy is to focus on strengths and a reformulated definition of distress.

The techniques used for clients are varied. Traditional approaches are used, but mainly the therapist is trying to get the client to see the impact of gender role socialization. To do this the therapist uses such things as intervention, journeling, gender role analysis, assertiveness training, demystifing therapy, bibliotherapy, role playing, social action, and several other techniques to reach their goals.

Reference

Corey, G. (2013). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Belmont, C.: Brooks/Cole,
Cengage Learning.