Developing a Feminist Model for Clinical Consultation:

Abstract

Feminist therapists have often felt outside the mainstream of clinical practice. The on-going process of developing our theoretical base has both strengthened our effectiveness and decreased our sense of professional isolation. Few mentors, colleagues or supervisors share this feminist philosophical base. One response to this dilemma has been the development of feminist organizations, such as the Feminist Therapy Institute and the Association for Women in Psychology. A complementary response is the creation of local feminist consultation groups for ongoing clinical consultation and for personal support. This paper discusses the process of developing one such group and the role that the interaction that commonality and diversity has played in its creation and evolution. The dialectical relationship between commonality and diversity is also explored in a broader sense. Finally, the beginning of a developmental view of this group's evolution is offered, emphasizing the links for women between connectedness a...