Other People, Concepts, and Approaches, Essay Example

Feminist approaches to marriage and family therapy are informed by a critique of more traditional approaches as tending to replicate and reinforce gender hierarchies of privilege. Feminist therapy seeks to promote flexible expectations of gender, though it does specifically encourage egalitarianism, empowerment, and mutuality (Werner-Wilson, Zimmerman, Daniels, & Bowling, 1999, pp. 545-546). Contrary to claims that such approaches disadvantage men in the therapeutic alliance, Werner-Wilson et al. found evidence that the application of feminist principles could enhance it (pp. 549-550). Keeling (2007) explains that avoiding split alliances is a key challenge for female therapists, who may end up reinforcing patterns of gender hierarchy in couples’ therapy by accommodating men rather than working with them (pp. 53-56). However, this can be overcome through mindfulness, and the advantage of the feminist approach is precisely the fact that it encourages a more fluid and dynamic view of gender roles, which can be tremendously beneficial in a therapeutic context (p. 56).

Using models such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, feminist therapists can help their clients to understand the ‘parts’ of their selves, and the complexities of their interpersonal relations (Prouty & Protinsky, 2002, pp. 22-23). A big part of this is a consideration of whether, and to what degree, the clients’ problems may have to do with being constrained by gender roles. As Prouty and Protinsky explain: “For example, the burden of patriarchy, criticism or shame can create imbalances for the couple as well as the burden of symptoms” (p. 23). The feminist-informed IFS approach is designed to help clients discover themselves, both with reference to themselves and with reference to other people. Hierarchical ideas are often internalized from society and used to model the self. Thus, IFS therapy invites clients to partake of many more choices for gender expression, which can help them to find better ways of relating to spouses and family members based on mutual respect and egalitarianism (pp. 24-27).

References

Keeling, M.L. (2007). A female therapist’s dilemma: Alliance versus accommodation in feminist-informed couple therapy. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 19(4), pp. 43-70.

Prouty, A.M., & Protinsky, H.O. (2002). Feminist-informed internal family systems therapy with couples. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 1(3), pp. 21-36.

Werner-Wilson, R.J., Zimmerman, T.S., Daniels, K., & Bowling, S.M. (1999). Is therapeutic alliance influenced by a feminist approach to therapy? Contemporary Family Therapy, 21(4), pp. 545-550.