Showing papers on "Feminist therapy published in 2000"

Reviewing effective components of feminist therapy

Abstract: Despite the broad application of feminist techniques and advances in defining feminist theory for psychological practice, consensus regarding the effectiveness of core components and techniques specific to feminist therapy is still evolving. This paper identifies four core components of feminist therapy: consciousness raising, social and gender role analysis, resocialization and social activism, and evaluates existing research evaluating their therapeutic effectiveness. Research to date suggests that many of these core components are promising. Future research on each of these key components is proposed.

Using a feminist lens in contextual therapy.

Abstract: Both contextual and feminist therapy have not been given the attention they deserve in the field of MFT. We believe that not only do these approaches have undiscovered merit but also, when integrated, they provide a useful framework for conducting therapy that addresses marginalized voices and raises social consciousness. In this article, we “layer” feminist theory onto contextual therapy and argue that the constructs of contextual therapy may relate well to many women's experiences in families. We then illustrate our combined feminist-contextual therapy with two case examples. This integration broadens the scope and sensitivity of contextual therapy to address issues of gender.

African American women, afrocentrism and feminism: Implications for therapy.

Abstract: Afrocentrism and feminism, ideologies born from resistance to racist and sexist oppression, spawned psychological theories that identify emotional and behavioral patterns of African Americans and women. Afrocentric psychology and feminist psychologies, however, have presented theoretical frameworks limited in their applicability to African American women. Problems include dualistic notions of race and gender, implicit norms for “correct” behavior and assumptions of universality in regard to personality traits. In this article, these problems and their impact on African American women are explored. Recent Black feminist, or “womanist” models, offering integrative approaches to working with African American women are discussed and implications for psychotherapy are considered.

Does “Feminist” Plus “Therapist” Equal “Feminist Therapist”?: An Empirical Investigation of the Link Between Self-Labeling and Behaviors

Abstract: This research examined the therapy behaviors self-identified feminist therapists engaged in. Practicing therapists (N = 101) were asked to endorse various feminist self-labels and to indicate how often they engaged in a variety of feminist (as assessed by the Feminist Therapy Behaviors-Revised [FTB-R] scale; and other therapy behaviors with both women and men clients. The following results were found. First, incrementally specific feminist self-labeling by therapists improved the prediction of therapy behaviors reflecting the notion that the personal is political. Second, the most strongly identified feminist therapists were distinguished from other therapists by their attention to issues of oppression (e.g., sexism, racism, heterosexism) and socialization. Third, therapists reported engaging in FTB-R behaviors with men clients almost as much as with women clients. And finally, FTB-R and other therapy behaviors emerged as distinct, both in terms of the underlying structure of therapists' responses and in ...

Working with Aboriginal Women: Applying Feminist Therapy in a Multicultural Counselling Context

Abstract: Counsellor education for working with Aboriginal women must address both culture and gender issues and this may be done by applying feminist theory within a multicultural counselling perspective. This paper explores these perspectives, their application to these women, and specific counsellor education considerations. Issues particular to Aboriginal women are discussed in addition to factors for integrating feminism and multicultural counselling within this context. Once counsellors have an increased awareness of these factors, they may become more effective cross-cultural and feminist counsellors for Aboriginal women.

Feminist Ethical Challenges in Supervision: A Trainee Perspective

Abstract: Much like psychotherapy, the conduct of clinical supervision is ripe for potential ethical dilemmas due to the power differences inherent in the roles of supervisor and trainee. This study investigated these ethical dilemmas from the perspective of the trainee using a focus group and individual interviews. A qualitative analysis was conducted utilizing the feminist ethical frameworks of Brown (1994) and the Feminist Therapy Institute (1990). Trainees presented ethical conflicts that fell into three main categories: case conceptualization, failures of respect and mutuality and misuses of power. Implications of these findings and suggestions for resolving such dilemmas are presented.

Feminist Therapy as Empowering Hope

Abstract: Publisher Summary From the perspective of clients, the sense of feeling respected and understood is one of the most crucial aspects of the psychological process. The chapter puts across an argument that feminist therapy addresses some of the barriers that can occur in more traditional forms of therapy. It also illustrates how feminist therapy can be utilized from the perspective of hope theory. It then examines the contemporary feminist therapy and provides a brief review of the basic principles of hope theory. Based on this understanding, it addresses the ways in which the integration of these two approaches can help therapists avoid common difficulties encountered in the therapeutic process. It should be noted that although most feminist therapists are women, it does not mean to imply that males are excluded. The diversity of feminist political and theoretical models has enriched the practice of feminist therapy. True to its roots, the development of some basic tenets of feminist practice is a consensual undertaking. In many ways, feminist therapy differs very little from any good therapeutic process and remains flexible to the methods employed.

Exploring experiences of connection for women clients in feminist therapy

Abstract: This research was an exploration into the subtleties and complexities associated with establishing and maintairing therapeutic connection in feminist therapy, from a client's perspective. Seven women clients were interviewed. and through qualitative analyses of their experiences. three main themes emerged -'On My Side'. 'Therapist Expertise'. and 'Mutuality'. These themes identified different dimensions of the therapeutic alliance and their impact on c o ~ e c t i o n . 'On My Side' described the means by which a client felt seen and valued by her therapist. which was contextualized. and dependent upon. a therapist's belief system and her social locations (e.g.. gender). 'Therapist Expertise' encompassed al1 the ways in which a therapist facilitated the work with the client. Fundarnentally. however. expertise was embodied in the therapistt's presence. not the role or position she held. 'Mutuality' described how client and therapist engaged in and negotiated the shared therapeutic space that is traditionally Iaden with immutable power imbalances. Generally. clients felt that if the relationship was mutually respectful. the 'breaks' in the therapeutic comection were considered part of a '*continuum". These participants also discussed the associations between comection and of a sense of "integration" (as a fom of well being). While the themes presented represent some new conceptualizations. this shidy also explored some of the processes that resulted in their emergence. This attention to therapeutic process. and its links to comection. contributes to the newly developing body of valuable research that has focused on the client's perspective of ferninist therapy. These findings are discussed with reference to that literature. Funher. the implications of ihis researih br b d i tlicrapeutiç pmç~icr and lsminist therapy theory are expioreci.

The Psychotherapy Relationship: Theory, Research, and Practice

Abstract: The highly complex process of psychotherapy can be viewed as consisting of two major parts: the relationship and the technique. The relationship part is hard to define, even harder to grasp clinically, and difficult to study empirically. Although there are different schools of psychotherapy, few would disagree that a good therapeutic relationship is a necessary condition for the favorable outcome of psychotherapy. The central focus of this book is, in the authors' words, “what that relationship consists of, how it develops during treatment, how it varies for different systems of psychotherapy, how it operates in and affects treatment.” As they have acknowledged, the book is an extension of the theoretical formulations on psychotherapy relationship originally developed by Gelso and Carter.1,2 The focus is on individual psychotherapy, although the discussions and the propositions can be generalizable to other formats like group or family work. In today's world of evidenced-based treatments and, in the absence of evidence, expert opinions, the authors have done a fairly good job of combining theory and practice with research. They start by defining a successful psychotherapy relationship and discuss how such a relationship is defined in four major schools of psychotherapy: psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic-existential, and feminist. In each of these sections, the authors draw upon both the literature and their own clinical experience. The first half of the book is focused on the components of the psychotherapy relationship: 1) the working alliance, 2) the “unrealistic” relationship in psychotherapy (transference and countertransference), and 3) the “real” relationship. The authors see all psychotherapy relationships as consisting of these three components. After introducing the three components at length, the authors examine and explore how each of them operates in different types and schools of psychotherapy. They further discuss the interaction of these components with each other and with therapists' techniques as the therapy progresses. Throughout, they discuss how the propositions are informed by theory, practice, and research. This first section prepares the reader to delve into the second half of the book, in which the authors discuss and analyze the conceptualizations of psychotherapy relationship in the four major theoretical clusters. With each, they approach this on four dimensions: 1) whether the relationship is seen as central or otherwise (“as an end in itself or as a means to an end”); 2) whether the relationship is seen as curative in itself; 3) the relative emphases on “real” relationship versus transference and countertransference; and 4) the therapist's conceptualization and use of power in the relationship. A particular strength lies in the effort to bring in findings from research, when it exists. In the first section of the book the authors review the available empirical research findings on the definition of psychotherapy relationship, the importance of working alliance to treatment outcome, and the area of transference configuration. Along with the evidence, they present their own views, developed from their practice and supervision of psychotherapy, and provide case material to clarify certain points. This dual emphasis on science and practice is, I think, the real strength of this book. An area where Gelso and Hayes's book seems to differ from most others on psychotherapy is in the authors' presentation of feminist therapy as one of the four main clusters of psychotherapy. They do raise the question of whether feminist therapy is a unique theoretical approach to clinical work or a system that possesses tenets of its own but also shares attributes with other approaches and hence can be combined with them. After discussing related aspects, the authors conclude that feminist therapy “constitutes a singular approach to therapy that nonetheless may be integrated with other distinct theoretical systems.” This conclusion seems less than strongly supportive of their including feminist therapy as one of the four major clusters of psychotherapy. It also appears to be an all-accommodating conclusion, which is, perhaps, more reflective of the field than of one particular book or opinion. Overall, the book seems theoretically balanced and fair; there is no apparent leaning toward one cluster of psychotherapy or antagonism toward others. The authors' expressed hope in writing this book was “to benefit both science and practice in the field of psychotherapy.” I think they certainly have done that.

Comparative treatment of eating disorders

Abstract: This volume addresses the treatment of eating disorders from the perspective of nine experts, each representing a specific treatment modality from psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioural therapy, interpersonal psychothedrapy and the Adlerian approach, to developmental systemic feminist therapy, self-psychology therapy, integrative cognitive therapy, cognitive analytical therapy, and family therapy.