Feminism and psychotherapy: A radical idea and a limited method

Abstract

This paper looks at the institution of family from the perspective of dominant theories within the field of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, existential humanism and cognitive behaviourism. Many psychotherapy schools of thought find the way a nuclear family functions an important and even crucial source of various psychological issues. However, psychotherapy looks for sources of these issues in various dysfunctions without questioning the very institution of family. Psychotherapy therefore implicitly accepts a functionalist position. This approach is opposed by radical and marxist feminism as conflict feminist theories. Radical and marxist feminism are heterogonous approaches but they share a view that one of the key areas of patriarchal oppression and exploitation resides within the institution of family. Therefore, a new perspective developed on the point of convergence between psychotherapy and feminism – feminist psychotherapy – as an approach which applies feminist principles in therapy. In our analysis of this perspective, we conclude that psychotherapy must widen its horizons and analyse social inequalities, which have so far been neglected, while feminism provides important insight into the political perspective of the intimate. However, individualism inherent in psychotherapy, unequal distribution of power within the therapeutic relationship and dominant tendencies in science significantly limit the emancipation power of feminist psychotherapy. Therefore, it seems that psychotherapy, with its goals, methods and immersion in the patriarchal system, pacifies feminist ideas even radical ones.