Tiombe Preston, MS, MFT

Sexual Assault Crisis Agency

Long Beach, CA

Feminist Therapy
Reasons for the growth of feminist therapy:
• The “second wave” of feminism
• The development of consciousness-raising groups
• Feminist critiques of psychoanalytic theory and its sex-role stereotypes
• Feminist criticism of the male-dominated field of psychology
• A grassroots movement by feminists to provide a new therapy for women
• An increasing awareness of the sexism inherent in the theory and practice of psychotherapy

Feminist Therapy Philosophy and Techniques:

• The personal is political
• Women have choice
• Equalization of power
• Therapist as role model
• Androgyny (deconstructing sex-role stereotypes)
• Social action
• Ethics

The therapeutic process:

1. Therapeutic relationship
A. therapist conveys to the client her feminist values and orientation
B. goals of therapy are mutually determined
C. there is respect for client’s knowledge of self and appreciation of the power differential between
client and therapist
D. therapist identifies the cultural sources of the client’s conflicts and is aware of sociocultural barriers
E. demystification of the therapeutic process occurs through use of mutually understood language,
sharing knowledge of therapeutic process prior to contract, or sharing literature
2. Facilitation of resocialization
A. the values/messages of the society and the client are explicitly examined
B. the woman differentiates between what she has been taught is appropriate for women and what is
appropriate for her
C. symptoms are seen as adaptive solutions to oppression rather than individual pathology
D. client is made aware of her unconscious role expectations, allowing her to remove constrictions
and explore her strengths
E. self-statements are explored to see how they hinder the client’s growth
F. help the client overcome well-learned self doubt
G. anger must be validated and expressed
3. Strengths and egalitarian relationship with the therapist
A. strengths are explored and healthy self nurturing/coping skills are encouraged
B. strong emotional support is given to enhance the client’s self esteem
C. feminist therapist is actively working toward the goal of sharing power in the relationship
D. the client-therapist relationship is a model for other relationships in the client’s life, especially the
family system
4. Opportunities for growth and practice of effective behaviors
A. direct and honest communication is a major area of skill development in feminist therapy
(manipulation is a tool of the powerless)
B. assertiveness training—to help her negotiate traditional roles more effectively as well as function
in new roles
5. Termination
A. characterized by mutual recognition that the work of therapy is nearing completion
B. mutually agreed upon goals of therapy have been met

Characteristics of a feminist therapist:

• she must be aware of her own values and be willing to make them explicit to her clients
• she should be involved with social action for women
• she should be working toward optimal functioning in her own life
• she must carefully consider her choice of theoretical base and be aware of its sexist bias, especially
concerning sex-roles and female development
• she must be aware of any privileges she has that her client may not share (i.e. race, class, immigration
status, sexual orientation, education, (dis)ability, age, religion, etc.)

Resources and Suggested Reading:

Feminist Counseling In Action , Jocelyn Chaplin
Understanding Women, A Feminist Psychoanalytic Approach, Luise Eichenbaum and Susie Orbach
Feminism As Therapy, Anica Mander and Anne Rush
Talking It Out, A Guide to Groups for Abused Women, NiCarthy, Merriam and Coffman
Reviving Ophelia, Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, Mary Pipher
Consuming Passions, Feminist Approaches to Weight Preoccupation and Eating Disorders, Brown and
Jaspers, Eds.
Feminist Psychotherapies: Integration of Therapeutic and Feminist Systems, Dutton-Douglas and Walker,
Eds.
Feminist Groupwork, Sandra Butler and Claire Wintram
The Politics of Rape: The Victim’s Perspective, Diana Russell
Women’s Growth In Connection, Jordan, Kaplan, Miller, Stiver, and Surrey
Women and Madness, Phyllis Chesler
Fat Is A Feminist Issue, Susie Orbach
Psychoanalysis and Feminism, Juliet Mitchell
In A Different Voice, Carol Gilligan
Next Time She’ll Be Dead, Ann Jones
Against Our Will, Susan Brownmiller
Femininity, Susan Brownmiller
Father Hunger: Fathers, Daughters, and Food, Margo Maine
Backlash, Susan Faludi
Life and Death, Andrea Dworkin
The Hungry Self, Kim Chernin
Feminist Frameworks, Jaggar and Rothenberg
Rape in Marriage, Diana Russell
Feminist Therapy as a Political Act, Marcia Hill,Ed.
A Guide to Feminist Family Therapy, Lois Braverman,Ed.
The Courage to Heal, Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
Feminism and Psychoanalytic Theory, Nancy Chodorow
From Surviving to Thriving, Christine Dinsmore
Recovering From Rape, Linda Ledray
Take Back The Night, Linda Lederer, Ed.

T. Preston, Instructor, CSULB