Theories of Counseling: Feminist Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Running head: THEORIES OF COUNSELING
Theories of counseling
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THEORIES OF COUNSELING 1
Introduction
This report is focused on two main therapies which are feminist and other is Cognitive
behavioural therapy. These two theories are considered as most important therapies which can
bring positive change in the life of the individuals. Feminist therapy is mainly based on the
improvement of the women who are facing various challenges related to the surround around
them. Cognitive behavioural therapy is mainly focused on the mental stability of the individual.
In addition to this, strength and weakness of both these therapies are explored in order to
understand the possible improvement in their process.
Overview of feminist therapy and understanding of problem
Feminist therapy is considered as one of the most important approaches which are interlinked
with psychotherapy. It is mainly gender-based and is focused towards the issue or challenges
faced by the women in terms of stressors like stereotyping, perception, domination and other
aspects which are connected to their mental stability (Kaschak, 2016). This therapy is based on
offering a sense of equality between therapist and client. This helps in providing empowerment
to the client by which they can understand the social aspects which contribute to these problems.
By exploring these aspects, client can develop better understand related to their mental
situations.
This therapy was basically evolved in 1960 mainly for women but after understanding its
benefits, this therapy got various famous among couples, families, and individuals of all age and
genders in order to understand the importance of gender-linked with the emotions and
relationships within individuals (Wolf et al., 2018).). This therapy offers great benefits to those
individuals who are being treated differently because of their color, gender, economic conditions
like refugees, disabilities and gender preferences.
This therapy has addressed problems like incest, sexual exploitation, eating disorder and figure
images. This therapy is mainly practiced in private or in group or in the community setting like
health clinic for women, domestic violence centers and LGBTQ community. This therapy helps
the client to better understand themselves in terms of strength and make it as useful tool for their
image building in the society (Carr, Green & Ponce, 2015). In this therapy mainly make use of
tools like role-playing, assertiveness training to aid clients in developing their image and increase
their self-esteem related to cultural and gender expectations. In case of family, this therapy helps
in identifying the challenges that are faced by parents when they loved one are suffering from
this issue (Davis, Ancis & Ashby, 2015). This therapy is more personalized as compared to other
therapies which make it more beneficial in terms of consultation.
This therapy is not only personal but it is also partisan in nature because of it emphases on
variety, gender matter and sexism in individual as well as social context. It offers power to those

THEORIES OF COUNSELING 2
individuals who are being suppressed by the majority of cultures in terms of voice and honor. Its
main purpose is to explore the skills and strength in suppressed individuals in order to make
them independent on others (Porter & James, 2016). Feminist therapy played a very important
role in exploring the impact of social culture and norms on the struggle of common individual
living in that society by reframing the issue faced by the person in the context of the social
environment instead of seeing it as a personal behaviour pattern.
Strength and weakness of feminist therapy
Strength
Feminist therapy helps in identifying the possible role of social culture and norms which actually
forces the person in a weak mental stage. It also helps in understanding strength and skill within
the person which can be helpful for the person which is feeling suppressed in terms of social
context.
Feminist therapy helps in exploring the power relation between the client and the consultant in
order to motivate their inner capabilities to face the environment around them and it also helps in
removing the inequality which is being raised due to race, color and cultural differences within
the individuals. Feminist therapy act as one of the power tools in the hands of the present world
by which change can be introduced in the society related to the cultural behaviour instead of
forcing the person who is suffering from mental stress to adjust in the present social situation.
Weakness
It seems that feminist therapy is trying to create the concept of maleness with an offensive
manner. It also acts as a dysfunctional discernment in terms of gender role in society. This
therapy is mainly connected with the interaction of the client with those individuals who do not
belong to the loving state of the society for them.
This feminist therapy also introduces the feeling of generalization and contempt in society. One
of the main weaknesses associated with this therapy is that it is trying to overlook the biological
differences between the formation of men and women and try to put the imaginary belief of
equality among men and women (Boggan, Grzanka & Bain, 2017). This therapy rejects the truth
that body structure of men and women are the difference as per the nature of the environment
which is impossible to change.
Reason to select feminist therapy
One of the most important reasons to select feminist therapy is its uniqueness from other
therapies in terms of exploring the basic difference between personal awareness and political