Dropbox 6 PSYC 460

View of Human Nature - This theory is different from most other therapies. Many of the other therapies came from historical periods where social arrangements were assumed to be rooted in a person’s biological base gender. Because men were considered to be the norm they were the only ones who were studied. The constructs of feminist therapy is fair, spans the entire life, is flexible, and multicultural. Feminist Perspective on Personality Development – When a person is born the gender role expectations influence the identity of that person from birth and become ingrained in the personality. Very young children develop gender schemas. These schemas are internalized and they continue in a sexist society.
Principles of Feminist Therapy – The following core principles form the foundation for the practice of feminist therapy:
Unique Focus of Solution-focused brief therapy – focusing on what is possible and not how the problem emerged.
Positive Orientation – Optimistic assumption that people are healthy and competent and have the ability to figure out solutions that can make their lives better. Therapists assist clients in shifting from the problem to a world with new possibilities.
Looking for What is Working – The focus is not the problem but instead on what is working in the client’s life.
Basic Assumptions Guiding Practice – Clients are capable of behaving effectively. There are advantages to having a positive focus on solutions and on the future. There are exceptions to every problem, or times when the problem was absent. Clients often present only one side of themselves. Clients are asked to look at the other side of the story. Change is inevitable. Clients desire change, they can change, and they are doing their best to make change happen. (Alcoff, 1995)
Feminist therapy focused on viewing problems in a society instead of on a more