The man, or the boy, in his development is psychologically deterred from incorporating serving characteristics by an easily observable fact: there are already people around who are clearly meant to serve and they are girls and women. To perform the activities these people are doing is to risk being, and being thought of, and thinking of oneself, as a woman. This has been made a terrifying prospect and has been made to constitute a major threat to masculine identity.
~ Jean Baker Miller, MD
Key Concepts
There is no one founder of feminist
therapy. This therapy has been an effort
by many.
v
Jean
Baker Miller, MD – Clinical professor of psychiatry at Boston University School
of Medicine and director of the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at the
Stone Center, Wellesley College.
v
Carolyn
Zerbe Enns, PhD – Professor of Psychology and participant in the Women’s
Studies and Ethnic programs at Cornel College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.
v
Olivia
M. Espin, PhD – Professor Emerita in the Department of Women’s Studes at San
Diego State University and at the California School of Professional Psychology
of Alliant International University.
v Laura
S. Brown, PhD – Founding member of the Feminist Therapy Institute and a member
of the theory workgroup at the National Con ference on Education and Training
in Feminist Practice.
Ø
View
of Human Nature – This theory is different from most other therapies. Many of the other therapies came from
historical periods where social arrangements were assumed to be rooted in a
person’s biological base gender. Because
men were considered to be the norm they were the only ones who were
studied. The constructs of feminist
therapy is fair, spans the entire life, is flexible, and multicultural.
Ø
Feminist
Perspective on Personality Development – When a person is born the gender role
expectations influence the identity of that person from birth and become
ingrained in the personality. Very young
children develop gender schemas. These
schemas are internalized and they continue in a sexist society.
Ø
Principles
of Feminist Therapy – The following core principles form the foundation for the
practice of feminist therapy:
1.
The
personal is political – Based on the assumption that the problems that clients
bring to counseling starts in a political and social context.
2.
Commitment
to social change – Feminist therapy not only focuses on change in the
individual but also social change. The
goal is to free men and women from the constraints that come from gender-role
expectations.
3.
Women’s
and girl’s voices and ways of knowing are valued and their experiences are
honored – Distress is identified when women’s perspectives are considered.
4.
The
counseling relationship is egalitarian – In feminist therapy attention to power
is central. Feminist therapists believe
all relationships should strive for equality or mutuality.
5.
A
focus on strengths and a reformulated definition of psychological distress –
Feminist therapists talk about problems in the context of living and coping
skills rather than pathology. If a
diagnosis is given or used the client collaborates with the therapist in making
the decision.
6.
All
types of oppression are recognized – Therapists acknowledge that social and
political inequalities have a negative effect on all people. Feminist therapists help the individual
client make changes and also strive for social change.
Therapeutic
Goals
Ø
Become
aware of their own gender-role socialization process.
Ø
Identify
the messages the client tells themselves and then how to replace those messages
with self-enhancing beliefs.
Ø
Understanding
how sexist and oppressive societal beliefs and practices influence them in
negative ways.
Ø
Acquire
skills to bring about change in the environment.
Ø
Restructure
institutions to rid them of discriminatory practices.
Ø
Develop
a wide range of behaviors that are freely chosen.
Ø
Evaluate
the impact of social factors on their lives.
Ø
Develop
a sense of personal and social power.
Ø
Recognize
the power of relationships and connectedness.
Ø
Trust
their own experience and their intuition.
Techniques
Used
Ø
Self-Disclosure
– The therapist chooses when to share personal experiences with the
client. This involves a certain quality
of presence the therapist brings to the sessions.
Ø
Gender-Role
Analysis – Therapist examines the outcome of gender-role expectations on the
psychological well being of the client.
This begins with the client identifying the societal messages they
received about how woman and men should act.
Ø
Gender-role
intervention – The therapist reacts to the client’s concern by comparing it to
society’s expectations for women. The
focus is to give the client insight into how social issues are affecting them.
Ø
Power
Analysis – This is to help clients understand how too much or not enough access
to power and resources can influence the client’s reality. The therapist helps the client focus on the
kinds of power that they can exercise and challenge the gender-role messages
that might be getting in the client’s way of exercising the power.
Ø
Bibliotherapy
– This is non fiction books, autobiographies, psychology and counseling
textbooks, self-help books, educational videos, films and some novels that can
be used as a resource. When reading
material is provided it increases knowledge and decreases the difference in
power between client and therapist.
Ø
Assertiveness
Training – This is teaching assertive behavior.
Women benefit from this because they are more aware of their
interpersonal rights, transcend stereotypical gender roles, change negative
beliefs, and implement changes in their daily lives. The client and therapist work together to
deem what is culturally appropriate and then the client decides when to use
what they have learned.
Ø
Reframing
and Relabeling – This is a shift from blaming the victim to focusing on social
factors and how they contributed to the client’s problem.
Ø
Social
Action – Once clients are grounded in feminism the therapist will suggest that
the client volunteers, educating society about gender issues, and lobbying
lawmakers. This is a way for the client
to feel more empowered.
Ø
Group
Work – Clients transition from individual therapy to a group format. Clients share their experiences with others
and this helps the client see that they are not alone in the way that they
feel.
Check out this empowering video on Feminist Therapy:
Postmodern Therapy
In the 1970's and in early 1980's, a startling discovery was made that almost
every problem contains an element of solutions. ~ Insoo Kim Berg
In
the 1970's and in early 1980's, a startling discovery was made that almost
every problem contains an element of solutions. ~ Insoo Kim Berg
This
therapy does not have a single founder.
There are several people who have had a major impact on this approach.
v
Insoo
Kim Berg (1935-2007) – Co-developer of the solution-focused approach. She was the director of the Brief Family
Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
v
Steve
de Shazer (1940-2005) One of the pioneers of solution-focused brief
therapy. For many years he was the
director of the research at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, where
solution-focused brief therapy was developed.
v
Michael
White (1949-2008) Cofounder of the narrative therapy movement.
v
David
Epston (b 1944) Cofounder of the narrative therapy movement.
Key Concepts
Ø
Unique
Focus of Solution-focused brief therapy – focusing on what is possible and not
how the problem emerged.
Ø
Positive
Orientation – Optimistic assumption that people are healthy and competent and
have the ability to figure out solutions that can make their lives better. Therapists assist clients in shifting from
the problem to a world with new possibilities.
Ø
Looking
for What is Working – The focus is not the problem but instead on what is
working in the client’s life.
Ø
Basic
Assumptions Guiding Practice – Clients are capable of behaving
effectively. There are advantages to
having a positive focus on solutions and on the future. There are exceptions to every problem, or
times when the problem was absent.
Clients often present only one side of themselves. Clients are asked to look at the other side
of the story. Change is inevitable. Clients desire change, they can change, and
they are doing their best to make change happen.
Therapeutic
Goals
Ø
Goals
are implemented by the client with the assistance of the therapist.
Ø
Client
expresses early on what they would like to see from their therapy.
Ø
Realistic
goals are concentrated on.
Ø
Modest
goals are viewed as the beginning of change.
Ø
Clients
are encouraged to engage in solution talk, rather than problem talk.
Techniques
Used
Ø
Pretherapy
Change – Therapists asks the client what they have done since the initial call
for therapy or since their last session.
They are encouraged to rely less on their therapist and more on
themselves and their resources.
Ø
Exception
Questions – Questions are asked about the times when problems did not
exist. This reminds clients that
problems are not all-powerful and have not existed forever.
Ø
The
Miracle Question – “If a miracle happened and the problem you have was solved
overnight, how would you know it was solved, and what would be different?” Changing the doing and viewing of the
perceived problem changes the problem.
Ø
Scaling
Questions – When changes in human experiences are not easily observed, and to
assist clients in noticing that they are not completely defeated.
Ø
Formula
First Session Task – Homework that is completed by the client in either the
first or second session.
Ø
Therapists
stop the session 5 to 10 minutes before it ends to do a summary for the client.
Ø
Terminating
– From the very beginning of therapy the therapist mindful of working toward
termination. When clients develop
concerns at a later date they can ask for more sessions.
Ø
Application
to Group Counseling – Facilitators create opportunities for the members to view
themselves as being resourceful. The
group leader works with members to develop well-formed goals as soon as
possible.
References
Corey, G. (2012). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (9th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Brooks/Cole.
Insoo Kim Berg Quotes (2012). Retrieved from:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/227781.Insoo_Kim_Berg
The Postmodern Approach doesn’t
make room for focusing on problems. If you
are tired of people whining and complaining about their problems then
whack Dr. Sigmund Freud with a mallet.
Play this fun game and let off some steam:
Family Systems Therapy
In the
investigation of a neurotic style of life, we must always suspect an opponent,
and note who suffers most because of the patient's condition. Usually this is a
member of the family.
~ Alfred Adler
v
Alfred
Adler (1870-1937) was the first psychologist of the modern era to do family
therapy using a systemic approach.
v
Murray
Bowen (1913-1990) was one of the original developers of family therapy.
v
Virginia
Satir (1916-1988) developed conjoint family therapy, a human validation process
model that emphasizes communication and emotional experiencing.
v
Carl
Whitaker (1912-1995) is the creator of symbolic-experiential family therapy.
v
Salvador
Minuchin (b. 1921) began to develop structural family therapy in the 1960’s
through his work with delinquent boys from poor families at the Wiltwyck School
in New York.
v
Jay
Haley (1923-2007) and Cloe Madanes (b. 1941) founded the Washington School of
strategic family therapy in the 1970’s.
Key Concepts
Ø
Communication
within the family is the focus. This
includes verbal and nonverbal communication.
Ø
Relationship
problems are likely to be passed on from generation to generation.
Ø
Adlerian
Family Therapy – the development of children within the family constellation is
heavily influenced by birth order. All
behavior is purposeful. The parents and
children engage in repetitive, negative interactions based on mistaken goals
that motivate all parties involved.
Ø
Multigenerational
Family Therapy – Problems manifested in one’s current family will not
significantly change until relationship patterns in one’s family of origin are
understood and directly challenged. The
cause of an individual’s problems can be understood only by viewing the role of
the family as a unit.
Ø
Human
Validation Process Model – Promote growth, self-esteem, and connection. This
model helps family communicate and interact in a positive way.
Ø
Experiential
Family Therapy – Choice, freedom, self-determination, growth, and actualization
are focuses. The relationship between
the therapist and the family is important.
The goal was not to get rid of anxiety in the family unit but to
maintain or enhance it. The anxiety
would be the motivation for change.
Ø
Structural-Strategic
Family Therapy – An individual’s symptoms are best understood from the vantage
point of interactional patterns, or sequences, within a family. Changes must occur in a family before an
individual’s symptoms can be reduced or eliminated.
Therapeutic
Goals
Ø
Adlerian
Family Therapy – Enable parents as leaders: unlock mistaken goals and interactional
patterns in family; promotion of effective parenting.
Ø
Multigenerational
Family Therapy – Differentiate the self; change the individual within the
context of the system; decrease anxiety.
Ø
Human
Validation Process Model – Promote growth, self esteem, and connection; help
family reach congruent communication and interaction.
Ø
Experiential
Family Therapy – Promote spontaneity, creativity, autonomy, and ability to
play.
Ø
Structural
Family Therapy – Restructure family organization; change dysfunctional
transactional patterns,
Ø
Strategic
Family Therapy -Eliminate presenting problem; change dysfunctional patterns,
interrupt sequence.
Techniques
Used
Ø
Adlerian
Family Therapy – Family constellation, typical day, goal disclosure,
natural/logical consequences.
Ø
Multigenerational
Family Therapy – Genograms; dealing with family of origin issues;
detriangulating relationships.
Ø
Human
Validation Process Model – Empathy; touch; communication, sculpting; role
playing, gamily-life chronology.
Ø
Experiential
Family Therapy – Co-therapy; self-disclosure; confrontation; use of self as
change agent.
Ø
Structural
Family Therapy –Joining and accommodating; unbalancing; tracking; boundary
making; enactments.
Ø
Strategic
Family Therapy – Reframing; directives and paradox; amplifying; pretending;
enactments.
Alfred Adler Quotes, (2012). Retrieved
from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/alfred_adler.html
Corey, G. (2012). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (9th
ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Check out this link to online flash cards. Learn while you have fun:
