Читать книгу Counseling the Contemporary Woman - Suzanne Degges-White - Страница 23

Although feminist therapy arose out of the movements to forward women’s equality, this form of therapy is also useful when working with virtually all clients, as each of us bring with us an intersectional identity (Wolf, Williams, Darby, Herald, & Schultz, 2018). In 2000, Root introduced the construct of intersectional identities; this construct expanded the notion that gender alone could account for different experiences in a patriarchal society.

In essence, the benefits of this clinical orientation are found in the way clients are viewed in context and in relation to other entities in their world—not just as isolated individuals with stand-alone, idiosyncratic problems. Additionally, the therapy process is described as gender fair, meaning that language chosen is gender fair and all genders are treated with the same level of respect (Worell & Remer, 2003). Feminist therapy is flexible and multicultural, making it applicable to all individuals, regardless of their unique, diverse identities. It focuses on interaction between the individual and the environment. It also takes a lifespan perspective that honors the development and change that humans exhibit as they grow, learn, and mature. The thread that runs through all aspects of feminist thought and feminist therapy is the drive toward client empowerment.