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Click on the below article
link to obtain background information to this blog post:
Quizlet.com provides the
following slide show presentation on Feminist therapy techniques:
“Group work
used for consciousness-raising & support,
providing an avenue for women to share their experiences of oppression and
powerlessness. Creates of sense of empowerment, decrease feelings of isolation,
explore messages that may have been internalized about self worth.
Reframing
includes a shift from "blaming the
victim" to a consideration of social factors in the environment that
contribute to a client's problem. *rather than dwelling on intrapsychic
factors, the focus is on examining societal or political dimensions. ex) susan
may come to understand that her depression is linked to social pressures to
have the ideal body rather than stemming from some deficiency within.
Relabeling
an intervention that changes the label or
evaluation applied to some behavioral characteristic. ex)susan is encouraged to
talk about herself as a strong and healthy women then being
unattractive/inadequate because she is not thin.
Assertiveness
Training
teaching/promoting assertive behavior, women
become aware of their interpersonal rights, transcend stereotypical gender
roles, change negative beliefs, and implement changes in their daily lives.
*increase own power, affecting the depression,
susan learns that it is her right to ask for what she wants and needs.
*Therapist helps susan evaluate & anticipate
the consequences of behaving assertively, which might range from criticism to
actually getting what she wants.
Power
Analysis
refers
to the range of methods aimed at helping clients understand how unequal access
to power and resources can influence personal realities. Together therapists
and clients explore how inequities or institutional barriers often limit
self-definition and well-being.
*helps
susan identify alternate kinds of power she may exercise and to challenge the
gender-role messages that prohibit the exercise of that kind of power.
*interventions are aimed at helping susan learn
to appreciate herself as she is, regain her self-confidence based on the
personality attributes she possesses, and set goals that will be fulfilling to
her and do not depend on whether she "finds a man".
Gender-Role
Intervention
therapist
responds to susan's concern by placing it in the context of society's role
expectations for women.
*aim
is to provide susan w/insight into the ways that social issues are affecting
her.
Therapist
responds with what our society focuses on and what's on the media (being thin)
i.e.. many girls are dieting in schools//this gives insight to how these
expectations have affected her psychological condition and have contributed to
her feeling depressed.
might pave the path for her to think more
positively and may also contribute as a role model for young girls.
Gender-Role
Analysis
hallmark
of F. therapy, explores the impact of expectations on client's psychological
well-being & draws upon this info to make decisions about future behaviors.
*intervention
serves both the function of assessment & promotion of client change
*begins
w/ clients identify the societal messages they received about how women &
men should be & act.
-The
therapist begins by asking susan to identify messages that she received related
to weight/appearance from society,peers, media & family.
-The
therapist talks about how body image expectations differ btw female & males
in our culture/various other cultures.
*susan decides what messages
to keep and others to have open awareness when the discounting messages play in
her head.
Self-Disclosure
used to equalize the client-therapist
relationship, to provide modeling, to normalize women's collective experiences,
to empower clients, & to establish informed consent.
-Therapist use this in the best interests of the
client, by considering timing & nature.
-helps to decrease power differentials, useful
for supporting clients, & can be liberating/empowering for clients.
*Also involves a certain quality of presence the
therapist brings to the therapeutic sessions.
Empowerment
heart
of feminist strategies
-Therapist
will pay attention to informed consent issues, discussing ways susan can get
the most from therapy, clarifying expectations, identifying goals, &
working toward a contract that will guide the therapeutic process.
*by
explaining how therapy works & enlisting susan as an active partner, the
process is demystified and susan becomes an equal participant.
*client will learn that she is charge of
direction, length, & procedures in her therapy.”
Perhaps by reading a bit
about these feminist therapeutic techniques, you can better serve yourself and
your community. What are your thoughts?
