Feminist Therapy (Theories of Psychotherapy Series®)

"Feminist therapy came into existence toward the end of the 1960s. Feminist practice is psychology derived from the realities that lie outside, beneath, and at variance from the visions of the dominant patriarchal mainstream. It is an integrative and competency-based paradigm that perceives human beings as responsive to the problems of their lives, capable of solving those problems, and desirous of change. It is also a politically informed model that observes human experience within the framework of societal and cultural realities and through the dynamics of power informing those realities. This book represents an attempt to synthesize feminist therapy's heritage and roots, theory, and modes of practice as they stand in the early 21st century. The model of feminist therapy described in this book is strongly influenced by multicultural and global feminism and by the politics of the social justice movements of feminism, multi-culturalism, and other similar movements working to transform society. Feminist therapy and feminist therapists face the next eight decades of the 21st century wondering how transformations of our understandings of sex and gender, of power and relationships, and of the social and political context of therapy will transform our practice. As a model for psychotherapy, feminist therapy continues to offer the concept that psychotherapy can, and should, be liberatory and that liberation is not simply a freedom from distress but a move toward the power of being able to know and name one's experiences of oppression as well as those of joy."--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved) "Feminist therapy came into existence toward the end of the 1960s. Feminist practice is psychology derived from the realities that lie outside, beneath, and at variance from the visions of the dominant patriarchal mainstream. It is an integrative and competency-based paradigm that perceives human beings as responsive to the problems of their lives, capable of solving those problems, and desirous of change. It is also a politically informed model that observes human experience within the framework of societal and cultural realities and through the dynamics of power informing those realities. This book represents an attempt to synthesize feminist therapy's heritage and roots, theory, and modes of practice as they stand in the early 21st century. The model of feminist therapy described in this book is strongly influenced by multicultural and global feminism and by the politics of the social justice movements of feminism, multi-culturalism, and other similar movements working to transform society. Feminist therapy and feminist therapists face the next eight decades of the 21st century wondering how transformations of our understandings of sex and gender, of power and relationships, and of the social and political context of therapy will transform our practice. As a model for psychotherapy, feminist therapy continues to offer the concept that psychotherapy can, and should, be liberatory and that liberation is not simply a freedom from distress but a move toward the power of being able to know and name one's experiences of oppression as well as those of joy."--rové l'editor In this second edition of her popular book, Laura S. Brown reviews the history, theory, empirical basis, and practice of feminist therapy, a groundbreaking approach that not only listens to, but privileges, the voices and experiences of those who have been defined as "other" by dominant cultures. Feminist therapy has evolved significantly from its early days. Originally it functioned primarily as a corrective against the sexist approaches of the era, whereas now it has become a sophisticated, postmodern, technically integrative model of practice that uses the analysis of gender, social location, and power as a primary strategy for comprehending human difficulties. Feminist therapy is no longer just for women—it has grown to encompass work with women, men, children, families, and larger systems. New to this edition is an updated discussion of the sociopolitical environment for women and other marginalized groups, updated research, and more inclusive terminology and discussion of transgender and nonbinary individuals. In this second edition of her popular book, Laura S. Brown reviews the history, theory, empirical basis, and practice of feminist therapy, a groundbreaking approach that not only listens to, but privileges, the voices and experiences of those who have been defined as "other" by dominant cultures.Feminist therapy has evolved significantly from its early days. Originally it functioned primarily as a corrective against the sexist approaches of the era, whereas now it has become a sophisticated, postmodern, technically integrative model of practice that uses the analysis of gender, social location, and power as a primary strategy for comprehending human difficulties.Feminist therapy is no longer just for women — it has grown to encompass work with women, men, children, families, and larger systems.New to this edition is an updated discussion of the sociopolitical environment for women and other marginalized groups, updated research, and more inclusive terminology and discussion of transgender and nonbinary individuals.