Implications of women's liberation and the future of psychotherapy.

Abstract

Presents a brief review of personality theories and psychotherapeutic activities to point out how such theories and practices have contributed to the myth of the inferiority of women. Traditional therapy is portrayed as having served to bring woman to accept her oppressed condition rather than encouraging active striving toward self-satisfying goals. Recommendations include training to increase the awareness of sources of oppression in therapists, the education of more female therapists, and such things as assertion training for women and consciousness-raising groups.

Rational emotive behavior therapy women's groups: A twenty year retrospective

“…A major goal that is agreed on by most feminist therapists, of whatever clinical orientation, is to aid the client in making the transition from the childlike, helpless, submissive person she was socialized to be, to an autonomous person with personal strength, independence, and trust in herself and other women (Barrett et al, 1974). It is also considered part of the feminist therapist's role to help the client become aware of the sociopolitical forces that have influenced her life, especially the prevailing attitude that women are less valuable than men, as a means of helping her expand her choices--a role which goes beyond the traditional bounds of therapy to being an agent of social change.…”

Invisible patients, invisible families—a critical exploration of some technocratic trends in family therapy

“…Other writers such as Brodsky (1973) and Kronsky (1971) have pointed out that there may be special advantages for a woman patient to be treated by a woman therapist because such a therapist can serve as a role model as well as facilitating the expression of feelings and the communication of understanding and empathy. Other writers such as Rice and Rice (1973) have attempted to argue that there are possible advantages in having both male and female therapists at different times or together as co-therapists, but this view has been contradicted by Barrett et al (1974) who have convincingly argued that such co-therapist pairs might simply reinforce the stereotyped way in which men normally deal with women and vice versa. It is, of course, a common experience in psychiatry that co-therapy is undertaken by a male psychiatrist-female psychiatric social worker (or nurse) combination, with the psychiatrist playing a leading role, while his coworker takes a back seat.…”

A Feminist Approach to Family Therapy

“…The therapist needs to point out that personhood for the mother as well as other family members is important, that the family need not be either a fortress or a prison. Since women have been raised to believe that their self‐worth and identity is inextricably bound to finding the right husband and caring for a family, they may use therapy to talk about relationships with men rather than about their own identity (3). The family therapist deemphasizes “talking about” in the favor of interaction and can be influential in reinforcing assertive steps toward a sense of self that does not result solely from identification with family goals, family service, and family responsibility.…”