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Pare-8/What-She Wants/January, 1981-
Finding a Feminist Therapist
By Maureen Wells
It's time for new beginnings and resolutions. If one of your resolutions involves psychotherapy, it is important to know how to recognize a good feminist therapist.
A feminist therapist, unlike other therapists, identifies sexism and its effects on women. One of the goals of feminist psychotherapy is social change. This is emphasized through discussion of the ways in which traditional roles can be changed to enhance women's rights and choices.
Many feminist therapists, committed to feminist principles-including self-help, collective rather than hierarchical structures, and equal sharing of resources, power and responsibility choose therapeutic strategies consistent with these principles. A feminist therapist is aware of the oppressive aspects of therapy itself. This can be eliminated by changing the modes of therapy that place women in a subordinate position to an authoritarian therapist. For example, the seating arrangement in a therapist's office needs to be one of equality, not with the therapist sitting behind a desk. Also, when the therapist's comments are opinions, they need to be stated as opinions. The client should be told to trust herself and do what she feels is best for herself. Feminist therapists select therapeutic strategies that emphasize the client's power and responsibility.
Some women are afraid that a "feminist” therapist will be hard, strident and dogmatic, and want her clients to become that way. All the false stereotypes of "feminists" in general have been just as falsely applied to.feminist therapists. A feminist
Women's Growth Cooperative:
therapist does not imply an ogre who hates men and forces women to abandon marriage. Rather the title is intended to mean that she will be open to explore with women their urge to develop an identity that does not sacrifice its autonomy to the wishes and demands of men and children.
How do you know you have a good feminist therapist? This is a difficult question. In interviewing therapists, women's groups have found it next to impossible to devise questions about women that could not be sidestepped by a therapist who might want to give the impression that she is sympathetic to the issues raised by the women's movement.
When you first seek therapy, you may be experiencing self-hate, lack of confidence and an urge to run from your problems. Thus it may be difficult to evaluate the therapist. But it can be done. Trust yourself and try to look objectively at the therapist's actions and words. Look for hidden or blatant limiting assumptions about women. Ultimately, the question may have to be asked, Is the therapist destructive? If so, you must quit. Many people go to a number of therapists before they find the right one. Be honest with yourself as to why you are disappointed with them. Check to see if your expectations are realistic.
If you rely completely on the label of "feminist therapist," you may have a therapist with all the proper attitudes and she still may not be a person you can work with. Most people who have had good experiences with therapy simply felt that their therapists were good human beings-caring, warm, (continued on page 9)
Experiences in Personal Learning
Groups:
Women's Awareness and Support Group (Daytime): A chance to discuss women's issues, insights and experiences with other women in an environment of mutual support. Six Wednesdays beginning March 18, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Visual Mirrors-Art Therapy for Women: Take a break from your usual verbal and intellectual modes of communication and expression. Use simple art materials in a context of structured exercises to enhance self-discovery and for problem-solving. Four Wednesdays beginning February 4, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Personal Growth Group: An opportunity to share experiences, problems, and the special dimensions of being a woman. Each woman will be encouraged to identify her strengths and goals and to use the group to do her personal growing in the areas she chooses. Six Monday evenings beginning January 26, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Divorce Support: Day and Evening Groups: For women who are considering, are in the process of, or are recently divorced. We will focus on the emotional aspects common in divorce and develop practical steps toward independence.
Day group: Six Monday mornings, 10:00-12:00 Evening group: Six evenings, 7:00-9:00 Beginning January 26
Lesbian Support Group: Coming out is an ongoing lifetime process. This group is for lesbians who are in the process of being more open with themselves, family, friends or others, and are trying to establish a sense of "community" with other women. Six Tuesdays beginning January 27, 8:00-10:00 p.m.
Personal Growth for Lesbian Women: For women who have had previous group experience. A more advanced group for women living a lesbian life style. Six Thursdays beginning January 29, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Manage Clinic: Learn principles of massage and how to deliver and receive a healing touch. Four Thursdays beginning February 19, 8:00-10:00 p.m..
Workshops:
Group Leadership Skill Development: A workshop for women whose career or volunteer involvements, now or
potentially, place them in positions of leadership. Lecture, discussion and laboratory experiences are designed to teach and develop leadership skills that facilitate group participation, open communication, goal setting, decision making and conflict resolution. Participants will assess their personal leadership styles, analyze organizational versus personality issues and use the group to problem-solve issues they face within their own organizations. Two Saturdays, March 21 and 28, 10:00-3:00 p.m.
Introduction to Rebirthing: Most of us began life by holding our first breath and continued thereafter to hold rather than release fear and tension. Many people have found the breathing practice known as Rebirthing to be a powerful, simple and direct process for releasing past negative conditioning and present tension stored in the body/mind. Saturday, March 14, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Assertiveness training: Learn positive ways to express your needs and feelings, to stand up for your rights without being either hostile or submissive. Saturday, February 28, Sunday, March 1, 10:00-3:00,
Female and 40(plus)-What is there for us? Feeling left out in the Age of Liberation? Facing changes? Want to talk about it? Join with us to discover the strengths and talents you possess and find support for making your own unique choices. Saturday, February 14, 10:00-3:00.
Counseling:
Getting help can make the difference between using your energy to bottle up your feelings or freeing it to help you grow and participate in the way you desire. Our counselors bring a wide range of disciplines and mental health experiences and the common desire to help women heal themselves.
Call us at 321-8582.
If there is a group or workshop which you cannot take or we are not offering at this time, we will be glad to place your name on a waiting list ́until there are enough to make up a group.
The staff members of the Women's Growth Cooperative are: Iris Bishop, Rita E. Coriell, Pat Hoornstra, Mary Ann Huckabay, Merrily Kaplan, Wegi Louise, Wendy Passov, Mickey Rosenshein.