"Briefly, feminists believe the personal is political. Basic tenets of feminism include a belief in the equal worth of all human beings, recognition that each individual's personal experiences and situations are reflective of and an influence on society's institutionalized attitudes and values, and a commitment to political and social change that equalizes power among people. Feminists are committed to recognizing and reducing the pervasive influences and insidious effects of oppressive societal attitudes and society" (Chappell 2000). In its current incarnation, feminist therapy's stress upon liberating individuals from oppressive social attitudes does not just pertain only to gender, but all negative social attitudes. Thus, at its most universal, feminist therapy's central tenant that the personal and political are intermeshed, and that one's political reality creates one's cognitive reality, can be applied to many contexts beyond gender.
Although it deals with the psychology created by oppression, feminist therapy still stresses personal choice and empowerment, especially for women who are often encouraged to 'put themselves last.' But community-spiritedness is also important, given how collective action, as opposed to rampant individualism, has played an important role in the history of the women's...
In this sentiment feminist therapy also echoes reality therapy, in which the therapist must "remain non-judgmental and non-coercive, but encourage people to judge all they are & #8230;Is what I am doing getting me closer to the people I need? If the choice of behaviors is not getting people closer, then the counselor works to help them find new behaviors that lead to a better connection" (Reality therapy, 2008, International Journal of Reality Therapy). Feminist therapy would also ask: is what I am doing getting me closer to the person I would like to become, and getting me away from the constructed self that norms about gender have tried to 'push' or compel me into assuming? Reality and feminist therapies are positive ways of helping clients, their advocates would stress, because they both create a healthier self-image yet encourage the client to engage with and communicate more fruitfully with others.
Works Cited
Chappell, Marcia. (2000). Feminist therapy code of ethics. Feminist Therapy Institute.
Retrieved August 14, 2009 at http://www.feminist-therapy-institute.org/ethics.htm
Reality therapy. (2008). International Journal of Reality Therapy.
Retrieved August 14, 2009 at http://www.journalofrealitytherapy.com/realitytherapy.htm
