A feminist approach to therapy is not a specific style of practicing therapy as much as it is a way of recognizing the need for one's experiences to be understood within a socio-cultural and political context. What this means varies among individuals, but our practitioners are aware of the impact that discrimination and oppression may have had on a client's life, including, but not limited to gender, race, class, size, religion, sexual orientation, age, and health issues.
A hallmark of a feminist approach to therapy is the egalitarian relationship between client and therapist where the client is viewed as the expert in her, his, or their experience, needs, and values, and the therapist is seen as the expert in facilitating therapy. The relationship between the client and therapist minimizes the power differential and serves as a model for subsequent relationships as it familiarizes the client with shared power in relationships. The client is encouraged to recognize her, his, or their own strengths and to set her, his, or their own goals for therapy; reflecting that she, he, or they will essentially become her, his, or their own rescuer and is ultimately responsible for change.