Feminist therapy is a holistic method of psychotherapy that is focused on the issues that women face because of stereotyping, bias and discrimination, and other issues and how they can affect their mental well-being. The basis of the therapy is the notion that health is intrinsically linked to a person's identity in their social and cultural contexts as well as the political climate within which they live.

The therapeutic relationship, which is based on the equal treatment of both the client and therapist and their ability to create a genuine connection, allows clients to comprehend certain social influences that can contribute to their mental health issues, identify and assert their own distinctive identity, and identify and develop their own personal strengths to enhance their lives and the lives of other people.

What is the process of Feminist therapy?

Feminist therapy aims to make the marginalized perspective the center of attention, and contemporary feminist theory and therapy usually address the issues of minorities; bisexual, lesbian, gay transgender, gender-specific people; those with special needs, immigrants, refugees; and so on. Anyone who has experienced discrimination may be able to get a treatment that will bring about social change as well as address mental health issues.

A lot of women have faced systematic discrimination and oppression for long periods of time. The result of this discrimination can be various gender-specific challenges and stressors, like the victimization of women and violence, inaccurate portrayals of women in media outlets, the lack of access to resources or opportunities as well as inequities in the workplace. Other groups who aren't able to be included, like those of color and members of the LGBT community, are often faced with similar issues.

Online Counsellors who specialize in gender issues typically work from the belief that oppressed women and other groups are susceptible to mental health issues because of the psychological strain resulting from these challenges. Online Therapy is geared towards supporting people who are in treatment to overcome the limitations and limitations. Gender roles, socialization as well as identity development, and self-concept are all considered during therapy to encourage self-confidence.

Techniques utilized in Feminist Therapy

Since feminist therapy isn't an operationalized or manualized type of therapy, there's no set of rules to be employed.  Your therapist and you will discuss your interconnected identity and the ways they show on the inside of the therapy space, which can help you to understand how you react when you are in similar circumstances outside therapy.

The key techniques utilized in feminist therapy are self-disclosure and psychoeducation, as well as reframing, power analysis as well as social action. Seven essential techniques used in feminist therapy include:

1. Self-disclosure/Equalitarian Relationship: Feminist therapy holds that a true relationship is vital for the therapy process. Therefore, when it is beneficial for the client, the therapist uses the appropriate method of self-disclosure. In the course of their relationship, therapists might ask for and solicit to hear feedback from their clients.

2. Psychoeducation: Because the development of a sense of power within oneself is the goal of psychoeducation, it can assist clients to gain knowledge on the issues that come up during therapy.

3. Analysis of power: Power analysis is used to examine social standing and how privilege and power influence a client's perceptions and self-worth, decisions, and behaviors.

4. The reframing process: In women's therapy, reframing is the process of placing a client's behavior or experience in the larger context of socio-political issues instead of isolated. This helps to normalize the client's experiences and help them remove the stigma associated with thoughts, feelings, and actions.

5. Actions for social change: Social activism may be provided as an intervention when an individual is interested in it and it's suitable. Social action could provide therapeutic benefits in a variety of ways, including social connections to others who share the same values and building a sense that you are in control of your life.

6. Bibliotherapy: Books are often employed to aid in therapy. Online Counsellors may suggest feminist books or other books that he thinks will assist them in working through particular problem or experiences.

7. Empathy: By listening offering support and validation your therapist utilizes empathy to assist you in working through your struggles and empower you to make choices according to your personal preferences.

Feminist Therapy's Goal

The primary objective of feminist therapy is to examine at the differences in power between individuals and to examine the ways they may contribute to the person's personal problems. This is founded on the notion that gender affects everything around our outlook on life as well as our identity and well-being in general. The main purposes of therapy for women are:

• Assisting women in becoming more assertive
• Reclaiming personal power
• Enhancing self-esteem and dealing with body-image issues
• More effective interpersonal and relationship abilities
• Building equal, mutually-relationships between males and females (often employed in feminist therapy or couples therapy family therapy)
• Enabling women and men by helping them to understand the effects of gender-related issues

Feminist therapy is not merely a way to examine those who are " other" to provide an impartial view of the experience. What is more important within Feminist Therapy theory is the radical idea that the voices of marginalized individuals are believed to be the source of the most profound wisdom. This is a shift in the significance of claims to knowledge from the perspective of experts appointed by culture to the wisdom of those who are marginalized. This is a view that if it becomes the central point of research and practice, could possibly transform the way therapy is practiced in dominant societies.

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Contributed by: Dr (Prof) R K Suri Clinical Psychologist and Utkarsh Yadav