Feminist Therapy: A Framework of Empowerment
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Advisor
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Haverford College. Department of Psychology
Type
Thesis
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
eng
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
Haverford users only
Terms of Use
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
Feminist therapy is a framework that positions sexism, patriarchy, and problematic gender norms and constraints as the causes of a client’s problems. This framework differs from traditional therapy, which tends to position personal factors as the causes of a client’s challenges. This externalization can both help a client heal from a particular trauma, and support that person in understanding social structures and norms that help perpetuate systems of violence against that person. This focus on external factors works towards empowerment through externalizing feelings of shame, guilt, or blame surrounding one’s situation or experience. Feminist therapy also has a component of dismantling the hierarchy of therapist and patient, meant to create empowering situations throughout therapy and resisting the reproduction of societal oppression of a client in therapy. Feminist therapy aims not to simply be tangentially sensitive to sexism, patriarchal norms, pressures, and general oppression: These issues are the grounding for the therapy’s framework and its work toward healing, safety, and empowerment of patients. This thesis aims to explore the complexities in feminist therapy literature. An overview of Feminist Therapy will be presented, as well as the diversity within this therapy approach, followed by a review of the critiques of feminist therapy. Finally, a proposal will be made for how the feminist therapy framework can be used as a primary intervention for young children.