Beyond the Frying Pan: Addressing Work Issues with Women in Therapy

Abstract

In recent years, mental health practitioners have been exploring how women are balancing work and family. Given how this issue affects women's experiences in the corporate world and at home, marriage and family therapists are attempting to consider this concern as they treat female clients individually and within relational systems. Few articles and studies have examined the issues female employees face in the workplace and how the issues influence the therapeutic process. In this article, the authors examine the organizational, sociological, and cultural challenges women deal with at work and apply these areas to the therapeutic context. The authors present a case study of a female client enduring a difficult work situation, discussing how to view and approach this case from a feminist family therapy perspective.

Feminist theories in contemporary couple and family psychology.

“…In one of the few articles focused on challenges in the workplace, M. M. Miller and Bryan (2005) warned therapists not to overlook women' s problems at work (e.g., sexual harassment, the glass ceiling, unequal responsibility for family that limits time and energy for work). They presented a case study describing how a female employee was treated in a derogatory way by a male coworker.…”

An Exploration of Feminist Family Therapists' Resistance to and Collusion with Oppression

“…Many studies exist where a feminist lens was applied to a certain phenomenon (intimacy, parenting, violence and victimization), yet a detailed account of feminist techniques or recommendations based on experience and observation remain limited. For example, Miller and Bryan (2005) address challenges that women face in the workplace. Through case study, they apply feminist tenets.…”

Sweet, H.B. (Ed.) (2012). Gender in the therapy hour: Voices of female clinicians working with men. New York, NY: Routledge, 308 pp., $34.95.

“…When asked to review this book, I thought, “Oh, here's another text about male privilege.” Given my feminist lens and my past research and writing on gender issues (i.e., Miller & Bermudez, ; Miller & Bryan, ; Miller & Ivey, ), I believed that I knew a lot about gendered experiences. I had moved on to other topics.…”