Feminist Therapy Chapter 12 Flashcards

Founders of Feminist Therapy

• Key figures: Jean Miller, Carolyn Ennis, and Olivia Espin are the founders of feminist therapy.

Feminist Theory

• Emphasizes understanding psychological oppression faced by women.
• Highlights how sociopolitical status constrains women's identity development, self-concept, goals, and emotional well-being.
• Advocates for social equality and social interests.

Goals of Therapy

• Aims for empowerment and affirming diversity.
• Promotes social change and balances independence with interdependence.
• Helps clients recognize and claim their personal power.

Client-Therapist Relationship

• Characterized by equality and mutual respect between the client and therapist.

Empowerment

• Encourages clients to view themselves as proactive agents for their needs and the needs of others.

Varied Approaches to Feminist Therapy

• Includes diverse movements such as liberal feminism, radical feminism, lesbian feminism, and postmodern feminism.

Focus of Feminist Therapy

• Challenges traditional male roles and advocates for empowerment to combat oppressive societal norms.
• Considers the impact of socialization on women's experiences.

Five Principles of Feminist Therapy

• Person is Political: Recognizes personal issues as linked to societal oppression.
• Egalitarian Counseling: Establishes an equal relationship where clients are viewed as experts on their lives.
• Honoring Experiences: Validates the experiences of women and girls.
• Reformulated Definitions of Distress: Rejects traditional disease models in favor of a broader understanding of mental health.
• Integrated Analysis of Oppression: Examines various forms of oppression within therapy.

Person is Political

• Personal problems are viewed as consequences of societal oppression, with a commitment to pursuing social change.

Egalitarian Approach

• Encourages open discussions where the client’s experiences are prioritized.

Intervention Techniques

• Employs gender role analysis, power analysis, assertiveness training, reframing, and promotes social action.

Gender Role Analysis

• Aids clients in understanding the influence of gender-role expectations in their lives and the broader societal context.

Power Analysis

• Highlights power imbalances between genders and helps clients recognize their own power and agency.

Assertiveness Training

• Raises awareness of interpersonal rights for women, challenging stereotypes, changing negative beliefs, and facilitating practical changes in behavior.

Reframing

• Shifts the perspective on problems from an individual focus to an interpersonal context, changing how clients define their issues.

Social Action

• Empowers clients to engage in social action and deepens their understanding of feminism.

Limitations of Feminist Therapy

• Therapists risk imposing their values, lacking a neutral stance.
• May challenge societal values without fully understanding clients' cultural backgrounds.
• A heavy focus on sociopolitical issues may detract from addressing emotional experiences.
• The approach requires more empirical support for validation.