The prostitution of psychotherapy: a feminist critique

Historically, psychotherapy has largely failed women and other marginalised people. Created by the mainstream to serve the mainstream, traditional therapy focuses on the individual and works to bring all individuals into line with the status quo. In contrast, feminist therapy (as one of the radical alternative therapies) emphasises the need for psychotherapy to be based in a socio-political philosophy which names oppression as the cause of most of the emotional and psychological distress experienced by individuals. A major emphasis is on change rather than adjustment. Traditional therapy is charged with: (1) reinforcing society's mystifications/lies/deceit; and (2) allowing itself to be used and degraded in service of the mainstream. The role of demystification, honesty and the pursuit of justice as therapeutic endeavours is discussed.