Feminist Therapy Research Articles

Women and the Experience of Serious Mental Illness and Sexual Objectification: Multicultural Feminist Theoretical Frameworks and Therapy Recommendations

As Objectification Theory (Frederickson & Roberts, 1997) has advanced, the implications of the experience of sexual objectification of women have increasingly been identified. Objectification Theory provides a feminist theoretical framework for understanding the unique experiences of women who live in a culture that objectifies and sexualizes their bodies. This theory has now been linked to mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders, body shame, substance abuse, and sexual dysfunction (for a review, see Moradi & Huang, 2008). However, the intersections of sexual objectification and serious mental illness among women have not been sufficiently researched. This article will explore the intersections of the experience of sexual objectification and serious mental illness among women from a Multicultural Feminist Therapy framework, offering implications and recommendations for the therapeutic context.

Women with Serious Mental Illness in Therapy: Intersectional Perspectives

The definition and treatment of serious mental illness in women have been crucial issues for feminist therapy. Women with serious mental illness experience elevated rates of abuse, trauma, poverty,...

Black Feminisms

Issues in mental health treatment for black women are multiplicative, significant, and often controversial. As black women increasingly seek professional mental health services, it is imperative that social work practitioners utilize strategies that are based on culturally congruent mental health paradigms that illuminate their strengths and recognize the deficits in the environment. Black feminist therapy has been identified as one such method. Black feminist therapy can mark a beacon in mental health practice, theory, and inform a political movement in the combating of their complex and multiplicative oppressions. This column serves as a call to action to the profession.

Public Conversation: Alison Bechdel and Hillary Chute

Previous articleNext article No AccessPublic Conversation: Alison Bechdel and Hillary Chute May 19, 2012Lisa RuddickLisa Ruddick Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Critical Inquiry Volume 40, Number 3Spring 2014Comics & Media, edited by Hillary Chute and Patrick Jagoda Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/677373 Views: 777Total views on this site Citations: 4Citations are reported from Crossref © 2014 by The University of Chicago. All rights reservedPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Mihaela Precup “He was there to catch me when I leapt”: Paternal Absence and Artistic Emancipation in Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, (Feb 2020): 59–82.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36218-8_3Shoshana Magnet Are You My Mother? Understanding Feminist Therapy with Alison Bechdel, Women & Therapy 40, no.1-21-2 (Oct 2016): 207–227.https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2016.1213607Robin Bernstein “I’m Very Happy to Be in the Reality-Based Community”: Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home , Digital Photography, and George W. Bush, American Literature 89, no.11 (Mar 2017): 121–154.https://doi.org/10.1215/00029831-3788741 LGBTQ Representation in Comics, (Aug 2016): 310–318.https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315851334-44

The Lifespan as a Feminist Context: Making Developmental Concepts Come Alive in Therapy

A central tenet of feminist therapy is that it is necessary to see and understand women in context. All people live their lives within a developmental context; but, curiously, this powerful aspect of their context is often overlooked. This brief article draws explanatory concepts from five major developmental theories—those of Erikson, Gilligan, Jung, Levinson and Loevinger. To teach women trainees to fully grasp the relevance of the developmental context, they learn to apply these concepts to their own lives. Women therapists can use developmental understandings to enlarge their empathic connection with clients, and to underscore and normalize the necessity of change.

Looking Outside the (Voice)Box

Laura S. Brown, PhD, is a clinical and forensic psychologist in independent practice in Seattle, Washington. The bulk of her scholarly work has been in the fields of feminist therapy theory, trauma treatment, lesbian and gay issues, assessment and diagnosis, ethics and standards of care in psychotherapy, and cultural competence. She has authored or edited ten professional books, including the award-winning Subversive Dialogues: Theory in Feminist Therapy, as well as more than 140 other professional publications. She has also recently published her first book for general audiences, Your turn for care: Surviving the aging and death of the adults who harmed you. Laura has been featured in five psychotherapy training videos produced by the American Psychological Association. She was President of American Psychological Association Divisions 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women), 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues), and 56 (Trauma Psychology). Laura was also President of the Washington State Psychological Association. She is the founder and Director of the Fremont Community Therapy Project, a low-fee psychotherapy training clinic in Seattle. In the fall of 2000, she was the on-site psychologist for the reality show Survivor: The Australian Outback. In 1987, Laura lost her voice and was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia. In 1988, she found her voice again.

The Use of Core Competencies in Suicide Risk Assessment and Management in Supervision: A Feminist-Narrative Approach

Therapists-in-training receive limited training in how to perform suicide risk assessment and management. This task is generally left for clinical supervision. In fact, one-to-one supervision is the most critical element in helping supervisees become skilled at assessment and management of suicide risk. This article proposes the use of the Core Competencies for Suicide Risk Assessment and Management (Suicide Prevention Resource Center, 2006), using feminist and narrative family therapy perspectives. This approach is meant to foster competence and confidence necessary for supervisees to perform suicide risk assessment and management. Specific tools for supervision are provided.

Acts of Remembering: Relationship in Feminist Therapy

This article is an act of remembering. In the first part of this article, the author remembers and reflects upon her own journey of being and becoming a feminist, healer and clinical psychologist in training. She then shares some of the most meaningful lessons on 1) the therapeutic alliance, 2) transference and countertransference, 3) the nature of change, and 4) cultural competence that she has learned from her sister of the heart relationship with the brilliant spirit and work of Black lesbian, feminist, warrior poet, and activist, Audre Lorde. In each of these lessons the author reflects on her efforts to translate her conceptual or applied practice as a feminist student therapist. It is her hope to invite exploration of new bridges and paths by which other feminist psychologists may connect more deeply and meaningfully to our work both professionally and personally. The author closes with some reflections on the path ahead for feminist psychology.

Feminist Therapy as a Path to Friendship with Women

While many feminist therapists have found that their personal experiences of friendship have given them an experiential base from which to develop their work, some feminist therapists have had alternative journeys through connections with women. This article explores how the author transformed her childhood and adolescent experiences of relational aggression into a deepened understanding of the value and importance of relationships between women. The contributions of misogyny and sexism to relational aggression among girls and women, and their enduring effects on all women's relationships to other women is explored. Finally, the author describes her intimate e-epistolary friendship with two other women, and considers how the medium of email and other forms of electronic communication may facilitate emotional intimacy for women who have experienced relational aggression with other women.

Facing Up to Aging: Mid-Life Women's Attitudes toward Cosmetic Procedures

Despite the fact that mid-life and older women are a major consumer group for cosmetic procedures (e.g., botox, face lifts), few studies have been done on their attitudes toward these procedures and their willingness to undergo them. The purpose of the present study was to gather information about the popularity of these procedures among a group of 57 mid-life American women, examine whether some personality and attitudinal measures might predict attitudes toward these procedures, and consider the ramifications of the data for the treatment of women in feminist therapy. About one third (38.5%) of our sample had had one or more cosmetic procedures, and 81% said that they would have a procedure if cost were not an issue. Positive attitudes toward cosmetic surgery and preoccupation with being over-weight best predicted women's interest in cosmetic procedures. The popularity of these procedures is discussed in light of the double standard of aging and age discrimination, weight as a “normative discontent,” and the ubiquity of advertisements for, and normalization of, these procedures in the popular media.

“The Test of a Civilization Is the Way that It Cares for Its Helpless Members”: Violence Against Older Women

Violence against women is a major health risk nationally and internationally. However, despite its impact, violence against older women remains an understudied area. Abuse of older women is frequently unrecognized unless encompassed under “elder abuse.” The purpose of this article is to (1) provide a summary of current research on violence against older women, (2) describe methodological biases in research on violence against older women, (3) discuss methodological biases that have kept the problem of violence against older women hidden from view, and (4) propose new directions for feminist research, advocacy, and therapy.

Risk, Uncertainty, and Gender Stereotypes in Healthcare Decisions

Disparities in healthcare access, treatment, and outcomes are widely prevalent for women and minorities. At the same time, healthcare choices have become increasingly intricate and correspondingly uncertain. We review contemporary issues in healthcare for women, with emphasis on access to care and on healthcare disparities. In the belief that forewarned is forearmed, we review the role of sexism and the psychology of decision making in producing health disparities. In the face of this complexity, therapists can help women seek sound healthcare and make informed choices. Implications for feminist therapy are suggested that emphasize client empowerment and agency.

“Can't Have it All”: Representations of Older Women in Popular Culture

Representations of older women in the media are defined by the double marginalization of age and gender. The analysis presented here illustrates four major stages in the development of such images: invisibility of older women, stereotypization, ghettoization, and integration. All of these forms continue to circulate simultaneously in popular media at the current time. The feminist critique of these representations suggests that they might be playing a significant role in how women interpret and experience aging. Thus, the authors argue that the complex dialogue between media representations of older women and the lived realities of these women may have meaningful implications for feminist therapy.

Growing Older in Portugal: Gender Issues in Physical Health and Well-being

This article presents three studies which demonstrate that (1) Older women enjoy the status of grandparenthood, and they show resources, continued personal growth, and positive functioning; (2) Spouses provide emotional support, and widowhood has an impact on the experience of emotional loneliness; and (3) As they age, men remain cognitively more preserved, and women affectively more preserved. Over a 3-year period, older people showed smooth changes in physical health, cognitive functioning, and mental health. Results are discussed in terms of healthy living, resilience, positive affect, and also conditions that promote undesirable pathways in older age. Implications for feminist therapy with older people are discussed.

Aging, Agency, and Activism: Older Women as Social Change Agents

Current cohorts of older women are potential social activists, and their potential to contribute to social change is examined. It is argued that engagement in social action is positive and empowering for aging women. Older women both contribute to and benefit from social capital, connections among individuals in social networks, and norms of reciprocity (Putnam, 2000). Recommendations are offered for organizations that wish to recruit and engage older women as members. A feminist therapy perspective is consistent with the empowerment of older women as social agents.

Art in Group Work as an Anchor for Integrating the Micro and Macro Levels of Intervention with Incest Survivors

This paper outlines a theoretical model for combining art and group work to integrate the personal and the social levels of incest trauma, as advocated in feminist therapy. Incest survivors must deal with deep, present-day defenses that result from both the trauma and from the lack of social support. The paper demonstrates how art work within a group context can be used to simultaneously confront defenses, change interactive behaviors, and create social change. This integrates the dynamic and diagnostic underpinnings of art and group therapy with a socially contextualized and empowerment perspective.

Theory and Practice of Positive Feminist Therapy: A Culturally Responsive Approach to Divorce Therapy with Chinese Women

Positive Feminist Therapy (PFT) is a strength-based culturally responsive therapy model specifically designed for helping Chinese women facing marital conflicts and divorce, integrating Empowerment Feminist Therapy, systems theory, and positive psychology. To help clients become change agents, PFT uses clients’ existing strengths to develop alternatives by examining internalized values of womanhood within their unique cultural contexts. The goals are to empower Chinese women to reclaim their sense of self on the path to achieving balance and self-efficacy, and to redirect their energy toward a synergy between themselves and society. Potential applications of, and recommendations for, Positive Feminist Therapy are presented using a case scenario.

Approaches to Feminist Therapy: A Case Study Illustration

This paper deals with the emergence and development of feminism in general and feminist psychology with special emphasis on feminist's reaction to traditional assumptions in Freudian psychology and male dominated theory and research. Feminist movement simply started as a women's activism which later claimed political identity and finally ended as women's liberation movement. Feminists simply advocate gender equality. Emergence of feminist psychology movement and appearance of significant female figures in psychology is further explained along with their contribution to the theory, personality and specific developmental issues along with its input to the therapy and counseling field. The influence of four feminist philosophical approaches namely, liberal feminism, cultural feminism, radical feminism and social feminism are also shortly discussed alongside with their practical implications. Above and beyond, feminist contribution to the therapy field reflected in offering specific therapy goals are also discussed. Self esteem as a core issue and one of feminist therapy goals is finally discussed and presented through a specific case study illustration. Feminist therapy is important therapy approach with significant therapy goals contribution in relation to women's mental health issues. Consideration of sex, gender, cultural diversity, etiology, diagnosis and treatment is feminist request for successful therapy because fixing woman for functioning in a dysfunctional society seems not enough.

Integrating the Personal and Social Voices of Latinas in Feminist Therapy

After Debra and I (Oliva) finalized our co-edited special issue of Women & Therapy on Asian and Asian-American women, it became evident to the both of us that we needed to do the same for Latinas a...

Integrating Women's Voices and Theory: A Comprehensive Domestic Violence Intervention for Latinas

Using both academic theories and two decades of experience in community, this article presents the work conducted by Caminar Latino (Latino Journey), a comprehensive intervention for Latino families affected by domestic violence. Having developed in both analogous and independent ways from theories in the academic field, Caminar Latino provides a unique opportunity to explore ways in which ecological theory and tenets of feminist therapy can be combined within a social justice framework to address this severe social problem. Of particular relevance to therapists, advocates and others working in this field is the ongoing inclusion of the voices of women participants as a central tenet of the intervention.