Teaching Feminist Counseling Skills: An Evaluation

Abstract

Feminist counseling was analyzed into four core skills: social analysis, androgyny encouragement, self-disclosure, and behavior feedback. A 5-week feminist skill-training program was developed for 45 counselors divided into two groups, matched on years of counseling experience and scores on Spence and Helmreich's Attitude Toward Women Scale (AWS). Training of the second group was delayed for 5 weeks to provide a control for the training of the first group. Participants' attitudes and skill levels before, after, and at a 5-week follow-up were monitored. Counseling simulations were used for skill monitoring. Training resulted in significant increases in social analysis and self-disclosure skills as well as increments in AWS scores. Social analysis skill increments were the only changes maintained at follow-up. Ma? Russell ti an associate professor,

The Inclusion of Women's and Gender Issues in Counselor Education Programs: A Survey

“…The extent to which they are doing so is not known, however, nor is it clear what models they favor. Teaching about gender issues has received scant attention in the counselor education literature (e.g., Cook, Warnke, & Dupuy, 1993: Russell, 1986: Van Buren, 1992. Insight into current teaching practices on gender issues can help to gulde counselor educators in addressing CACREP recommendations pertaining to gender in their own programs.…”

Comparison of Feminist Versus Psychoanalytic/Dynamic and Other Therapists on Self-Disclosure

“…Some research has examined the variable of self-disclosure as it relates specifically to feminist therapy. Evaluating the effectiveness of training persons in feminist-therapy techniques, Russell (1986) examined trainee outcome after a program in feminist microcounseling skills, including self-lsclosure. Trainees completed a 5-week feminist skill-training program using counseling simulations.…”

“…This effect had &minished during the follow-up period, however. Russell (1986) suggested that the selfdisclosure skill is likely a part of the repertoire of most counselors and that training temporarily augments skill prevalence.…”

“…The literature most relebant to the development of the inventory included Brown (1991), Brown and Walker (1990), Gray, Alterman, and Litman (1988), Greenspan (1986), Lewis et al (1983), Margolies (1990), Russell (1986), and Webster (1986). Statements we could identify that indcated content to be disclosed and beliefs about self-dsclosure were selected from this literature to develop items for the inventory.…”

“…From a feminist perspective, self-disclosure is one means by which to equalize (as much as is possible) the power relationship within therapy (Brown, 1991;Brown &Walker, 1990;Enns, 1992;Greenspan, 1986). Some feminist therapists (Brown, 1991;Brown & Walker, 1990;Greenspan, 1986;Lerman & Porter, 1990;Russell, 1986) also believe self-dsclosure empowers the client and fosters a sense of solidarity for her or him. Greenspan (1986) suggests that selfdisclosure( s) of feelings toward clients aids clients in viewing their own situations with less shame.…”