Bias, discrimination, stereotyping – unfortunately, almost everyone faces them at least once in their life. And do you know why this is concerning? Well, they can greatly affect your mental well-being. The tough battle against bias sometimes makes you biased – you start feeding victimhood. Besides, you may constantly feel sorry for yourself.
This trauma can eventually lead to a degraded quality of life. If you are experiencing any of these, don’t worry. Feminist therapy can help you get over these unpleasant feelings. Keep scrolling to find out how it works…
What is the Therapy About
Let’s keep it simple – it’s an integrative psychotherapy. Its keen focus remains on the common mental challenges women come across in their day-to-day lives. For instance, since childhood, you have known yourself as a whimsical person. As such, people around you, including your family, have always pointed at you for every little mistake, or maybe they have put the blame for everything that has gone wrong on you.
This constant stress can affect your mental wellness. You may lack confidence, and when this phase continues for long, you become desperate. You start feeling like answering back to everyone. And somehow, you start believing that this all has happened to you because you are a woman (in most cases).
The day this feeling hits, you get into an undeclared war against all men and sometimes other women around you. This extreme expression of feminism may not be good for your relationship and social wellness.
In such a scenario, you need a doctor who can help you heal and get back to the mainstream of life.
Note: Only women don’t suffer from this issue. Sometimes, LGBTQ people and men who have seen their close ones suffer can also develop this psychological issue.
The History and Common Trends of Feminist Therapy
This particular therapy came into the light in the late 1960s. Initially, it was a way for women to help other women. At that time, society was highly male-dominated. So, the context of the therapy was different. Today, the treatment has changed its nature a lot. Now, couples, families, and people of different ages and genders reach out to psychologists to get the therapy.
Generally speaking, anyone who seeks help to understand gender’s role in their relationships and emotional life can get this therapy.
What Issues Does it Address?
From feminist family therapy to individual treatments – it helps out all. And what are the most common issues it addresses? Well, they include:
- Body image
- Disability concerns
- Sexual abuse
- Relationship challenges
- Bipolar disorder
- Post-traumatic stress
- Overthinking
- Anxiety
- All sorts of personality disorders
Remember, you can get one-on-one private sessions from the best psychologist in India. Likewise, you can choose to get treatment in a community setting (LGBTQ organisations, domestic violence centres, etc.)
What to Expect From the Therapy
The treatment usually turns out to be helpful when you are addressing the factors that impact your mental wellness. And the outcomes?
Empowerment: You will learn to admire your good traits. You will fall in love with yourself once again. Your life will be yours. As such, you will take control of your life and start making big decisions. And the best part? Those decisions will be in line with your values.
Focus on social context: You will relearn how different social contexts work. You will relearn how the social context works. That said, you will understand the gender roles properly. Plus, you will be able to figure out how societal expectations and power dynamics can impact your experiences, emotions, behaviours, etc.
Besides these, you will also learn to acknowledge the influence of operation in your life. Such operations include racism, sexism, and many other forms of discrimination. The most beautiful part of this therapy is it makes you learn inclusiveness. You will start admiring diversity. Most importantly, you will understand societal norms sometimes affect everyone – not just women.
How Does the Therapy Work
Whether it is feminist family therapy or individual therapy, the treatment follows a definite structure. First, it figures out what’s exactly wrong with you. Why are you struggling to control your emotions? What has affected you this much? Why do you hate societal norms so badly?
Once your therapist gets the answers to these questions, they will encourage you to look beyond those norms. They will also ask you to re-explore yourself. What’s your identity? What are your strengths? Why do you feel negative about yourself? When you get these answers, they will help you find a way, depending on the severity of your condition.
Remember, these sessions are highly personal, and the treatment plan may alter depending on your experiences, trauma, etc. Overall, it follows a result-driven pattern. The said pattern wants to help you acknowledge your power.
How Do You Choose Your Therapist
The treatment is only fruitful when you get it from the right therapist. But how do you know if your therapist is good at this job? Well, it’s easy!
- First, check if they have a licence to practise psychotherapy.
- Does your therapist value the principles of social justice? Are they sensitive to social variables and cultural expectations? If not, they may not be the right person.
- Remember, your therapist shouldn’t show more interest in instructing or detecting changes than in helping you explore your challenges and their root causes.
- Your doctor/therapist must be an excellent communicator. You should clearly understand what they are suggesting you to do.
Remember, an all-inclusive psychotherapist can give you the therapy. They don’t require a separate/exclusive accreditation.
Talk to your Doctor Today
So, that’s a wrap for now. Don’t have the time to do all the homework to find a good therapist? Reach out to Dr. Dipti. Many people have received therapy from her, and some of them claim she is the best psychologist in India. Book an appointment today and step forward to a better and holistically healthy future.
About Author
The writer, Dr Dipti Yadav, is a talented psychologist and clinical therapist. She has over 20 years of experience in tackling different mental health issues. Presently, she practices at the Wellbeing Help in Gurugram, India. The versatile doctor has helped many adults, children, and families to get over/control the symptoms of trauma, autism, abuse, etc.