How Feminist Therapy Is Well As Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy

Ballou (1996) in Ivey (2002) comments on other concepts of feminist therapy. An understanding of pluralism is one. That is, the value of difference. Although focused

"Feminism isn't about making the women stronger. Women are already strong. It's about the way the world perceives that strength." -G.D. Anderson. Feminist theory is a mode of analytical thoughts and actions of women's ideology that are excluded from society. Feminism constructs the difference in knowledge, social change, and spiritual influence of human existence. (Robbins, Chatterjee, Canda 2006). Feminism constitutes gender, as it acknowledges the different forms of feminism by examining categories of race, class, and sexual identity that exist. The theory opposes the perception of women and another group that can influence the dynamic of the dominant worldview.

Feminist theory is compatible with anti-oppressive principles. This theory sees the foundations of group work as equity and social justice, and aligns with anti-oppressive principles of bringing about change and obtaining open and meaningful communication (Gregory &

With the revival of the feminist movement in the 1960 's many women started to renounce traditional theories of psychotherapy, arguing that these theories were sexist, oppressive, and ultimately detrimental to the psychological and emotional well-being of women. Feminist advocates highlighted the limiting nature of socialized gender roles and the damaging effects of the various levels of oppression experienced by women. In response to the recognition of these perceived injustices, feminist support groups formed and eventually a feminist approach to therapy was collaboratively developed. Feminist therapists practice with an awareness of how gender socialization and systemic

The theorist that I chose is Dorothy Smith. She is a well-known Marxist feminist scholar and activist (Carroll, 2010, p. 1). The reason I chose to write about Dorothy Smith is because her unique approach to feminism and women’s movements interested me, making me want to learn more about her.

Enns (2004) highlighted two such new views related to client problems. First, the perspective that, “the personal is political” emphasized that problems arising for women within therapy cannot be disconnected from the larger social and political context. To consider problems in therapy solely on an intrapersonal level is to perpetuate a “blame the victim” orientation. Therefore, it was essential that an integrated analysis of oppression was explored. Second, problems and symptoms may be conceived of as ways of coping and surviving oppressive circumstances. Anxiety may be reframed, not as the result of a suppressed unconscious or the inability to cope, but rather as a reasonable response to sexisms, violence or

The feminist movement of the 1960’s focused solely on the improvement and well- being of women. The idea of Feminism is a critical theory as it is an analytical examination of social conditions and what tools could be utilized to proactively improve these conditions. Overcoming the consistent barriers women had to endure during this era remains prevalent and continues to have psychological effects. In order to strengthen one’s mindset regarding feminism, we must first refer back and understand the intellectual history of the women’s movement and examine areas of how counseling can assist with overcoming these impediments. The Feminist philosophy is the philosophical dimension of intellectual feminism. Many philosophers understand their intellectual history and the history of the women's movement in terms of three "waves."

The goal of Feminist Therapists is to make their clients feel empowered and help them in the daily aspects of life. These aspects that pertain to society’s attitude about them and their place in society. Goals are to define ways that non-Caucasian women are being oppressed and for the client to be familiar with these norms. This will better help her gain power within her everyday life and create confidence in her at work or school. When the client is aware of racism in the world they live in it is easier to make a transformation in the environment they are in. Hence the goal of FT is to bring awareness to feminism and to educate the client on feministic issues within the society. The counselor will give Ana goals and be very supportive of her

Feminist theory is directed to the understanding of women 's lives, struggles, and how we can improve those areas of struggles for women. Theory has become a significant part to the feminist community, because it gives feminists the opportunity to discuss the issues in a manner where they feel liberated, and could service as a healing function (bell hooks, 1994).

Systemic Therapy has aroused numerous criticisms over time, of which much derive from the use of confrontation and the impact this can have on the therapeutic relationship (Hammond & Nichols 2008). Champions of Systemic therapy strenuously deny the use of confrontation as harmful to the therapeutic relationship. Hoyle {2013} also raises criticism with systemic Therapy stating as a model it is not addressing issues that do not fit into “societal norms” in terms of culture, ethnicity, structure and sexuality to be treated as deviant. Some feminist critics have been critical of the model also, due to the idea of equality between different gender family members and it did not concede that family systems cannot be observed through gender unprejudiced glasses as it disregards the socially shaped perspective and assumptions placed on male and female roles {Walker and Akister, 2004}

From the beginning of time, men and women have always had this slight inequality between them. Men were always looked upon as the “bread winners” and women were seen as the “housewives”. Women were also frowned upon if they did anything that seemed fit for a man only. As a whole, women had no rights and no voice at all. The fascinating book by Zora Neale Hurston called “Their eyes were watching God”, relates to this very feeling of women not having a say so and being ruled by their husband, this is called feminism associated with the feminist theory. Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical or philosophical discourse. In other words, it aims to understand the nature of gender inequality while examining women’s roles in social life, experience,

She noticed a lack of diversity in feminist theory, so she published In Feminist Theory: From Margin

Feminist Psychology really started to flourish in the 1960’s and 1970’s. There isn’t any one particular theorist that can be credited for Feminist Therapy; rather there were a combination of psychologist who aided in the creation of Feminist Therapy. Feminist Psychologist tried to eliminate the sexist aspects of other traditional theories, but still integrate parts of those other theories that worked. The goals that the original Feminist Psychologist established in the 60’s and 70’s are still used today. One of the goals of Feminist Therapy is to establish a relationship with a mutual understanding of power. The therapist should understand that the client is the expert on her own issues. It is important for the therapist to know that the therapist is only there to help the client develop the tools that are necessary to reach her maximum potential as a valuable and unique individual. The second main goal of Feminist Therapy is change. Feminist Therapy strives to not only help the individual change for the better, but also society (Mahaney, 2014). Gender issues, like gender stereotyping and gender roles, can lead to psychological distress in individuals therefore they need to be addressed. Gender stereotypes and gender roles can negatively impact a person’s identity, because of this Feminist Therapy is not only for women, but for men as well. Both women and men can benefit from Feminist Therapy because it helps individuals better understand the impact the gender stigmas play on a person’s mental health. Females live in a mostly

(Sommers-Flanagan 2012) states that the term for “feminist theory was developed by women to address the social and cultural oppression and unequal treatment of women. Implied in the feminist perspective is the tendency for humans who wield more power to use that

Feminist perspective developed with the ideology that women face large amounts of inequalities in a patriarchal society. They aimed to address and rid the social world of this oppression of women by men. According to Bishop, (2015) “oppression occurs when one group of people use different forms of power to keep another group down in order to exploit them. The oppressor uses the power; the oppressed are exploited” (p. 133-134). Oppression must be by individual experience and not grouped into being the same for all. This includes understanding the original ideology of feminist theory being critiqued as only considering the experiences of middle class, white women. That black women, of lower class experienced oppression much different from the other women. Women are oppressed, thus has to be understood in a different construct that women are similar in some sources, experience of oppression but also experience oppression very differently from one individual to another. Feminist theories have further been expanded do its continuation throughout society and decades to encompass many more issues and arenas than just men and women relationships. Now it seeks to understand and address oppression based on culture, race, class, etc and not only for women but for all. Therefore, Bishop (2014) outlines five components that seem common to all forms of oppression and serve to maintain its presence in society.