Feminist Therapy

In Feminist Therapy, Laura S. Brown explores the history, theory, and practice of this groundbreaking approach. Feminist therapy not only listens to, but privileges, the voices and experiences of those who have been defined as "other" by dominant cultures. Feminist therapy thus shifts the value of knowledge claims from those of culturally appointed experts to the expertise of the oppressed. This is a perspective that, when made central to analysis and practice, is potentially transformative of everything about therapy-as-usual in dominant cultures.

In the four decades since its inception as an approach, the theory has evolved significantly from psychotherapy for women, where it functioned primarily as a corrective against the sexist approaches of the era, into a sophisticated, postmodern, technically integrative model of practice that uses the analysis of gender, social location, and power as a primary strategy for comprehending human difficulties. Feminist therapy has become a practice that encompasses work with women, men, children, families, and larger systems.

In this book, Dr. Brown presents and explores this approach, its theory, history, the therapy process, primary change mechanisms, empirical basis, and future developments. This essential primer to feminist therapy, amply illustrated with case examples, is perfect for graduate students studying theories of therapy and counseling as well as for seasoned practitioners interested in understanding this approach.

How to use the Theories of Psychotherapy Series^® in combination with APA Videos

Series Preface

1. Introduction: Feminist Therapy — Not for Women Only
2. History
3. Theory
4. The Therapy Process
5. Evaluation
6. Future Developments
7. Summary and Conclusions

Glossary of Key Terms

Suggested Readings

References

Index

About the Author

Laura S. Brown, PhD, ABPP, is a clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice in Seattle. Her publications span the fields of feminist therapy theory and practice, ethics, multiculturalism, lesbian and gay issues, and trauma.

She is the winner of the 1995 APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Public Service, and the Sarah Haley Award for Clinical Excellence from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, as well as the Association for Women in Psychology's Distinguished Publication Award, and the Carolyn Wood Sherif Award of the Society for the Psychology of Women.

She is past-president of APA Division 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women) and 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues), president-elect in 2009 of APA's Division 56 (Trauma Psychology), and the founder and director of the Fremont Community Therapy Project, a low-fee feminist therapy training clinic.