Feminist Therapy

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that, with the second wave of feminism, women were tired of being told that they were psychologically deficient because they were women, which led to the founding of a new therapy practice called feminist therapy, a specific branch related to feminist practices. The author points out that, based on many original psychological theories and techniques, feminist therapy seeks to empower women to change negative coping strategies and symptoms into effective ways to counter patriarchy and other forms of societal oppression. The paper relates that, in the feminist therapeutic relationship, the key is to have an open dialogue and engagement between the client and therapist as well as seeking to reduce power imbalances to improve the quality of the therapeutic relationship.

From the Paper:

"Symptoms are viewed as a way to cope with the pain associated with living in an oppressive society. Feminist counselors believe that symptoms result as the ways the clients know how to cope with life stressors caused by patriarchal systems and believe that "symptoms may emerge as a consequence of coping with conflicting nontraditional and traditional demands of multiple roles" or that "symptoms often reflect influence strategies that were taught or modeled by others in the environment.""

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brown, L. S. and Ballou, M. (Eds.) (1992). Personality and Psychopathology: Feminist Reappraisals. New York: Guilford Press.
• Enns, C. Z. Feminist Theories and Feminist Psychotherapies: Origins, Themes, and Diversity. 2nd ed. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, 2004.
• JD f/x. 'Wives' The Owner's Manual: "Quotes" of Note. 2001. Retrieved April 22, 2006, from http://www.jd-fx.net/w_quote.html.

More papers on Feminist Therapy:

• Analytical Essay # 136312 : "Feminist Therapy and Postmodern Approaches"
• Term Paper # 95260 : "Feminist Therapy and Postmodern Approaches"
• Comparison Essay # 89092 : "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy"

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