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Turkish Counselors’ Perspectives toward Feminist Therapy Semra Ucara, Yelda Yildizb, Meltem Dursun-Bilgina, Sule Bastemurb a d
Ministry of Education, Istanbul, Turkey
Yuzuncu Yil University, Educational Sciences Department, Van, Turkey
Abstract The purpose of this study is to analyze Turkish psychological counselors’ perspectives towards feminist therapy (FT). Even though this therapy model has important implication to development of counseling theory, feminist therapy is not a commonly used therapy approach in Turkey. The interview questions were prepared by researchers. To collect data, interviews were carried out with 16 Turkish psychological counselors who are working as a counselor at least for one year and actively see clients. Findings were analyzed with content analysis. The results indicate that counselors have a limited theoretical background about FT and their knowledge about FT was based to feminism movement. To apply FT to counseling field in Turkey, conducting more research is needed. © by Elsevier Ltd. This is an openLtd. access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license © 2016 2016Published The Authors. Published by Elsevier (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of Future Academy® Cognitive Peer-review under responsibility of Future Academy® Cognitive Trading Trading. Keywords: feminist therapy; counselors’ perspectives; counseling.
1. Introduction Feminist therapy (FT) is a contemporary therapy which developed as a grassroots manner and responds to women’s needs (Brabeck & Brown, 1997). The beginning of the therapy is based on feminism collaboration and movements against traditional women’s role (Corey, 2008) but this therapy approach not only focuses on women’s problem, but is also interested in influence of the sociopolitical, multicultural context on the individuals (Ballou, Hill & West, 2008) and it intends to create social change (Hill & Ballou, 1998). Unlike other traditional therapies, FT strives for an egalitarian relationship; it is structurally founded to enhance client power, authority and autonomy (Brown & Bryan, 2007). FT also focuses on some concepts such as empowering women to live their potential and to help understanding women’s experiences within their social context (Dworkin, 1984; Good, Gilbert & Scher, 1990), female value system, gender, race, ethnicity, diversity, socio-cultural environment, and
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1877-0428 © 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of Future Academy® Cognitive Trading doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.02.139
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sociapolitical factors (Ballou, Hill & West, 2008; Dworkin, 1984; Evans, Kincade, Marbley & Seem, 2005; Israeli & Santor, 2000; Worell & Remer, 2003). According to literature review on FT (Gilbert, 1980), three fundamental principles were mentioned for administration. Then, the study carried out by Worell and Remer (1992) showed a significant overlap of these principles. These are (a) the personal is political (individual change is linked to social change), (b) therapist- client relationship is egalitarian (c) women’s perspectives are valuable. According to Gilbert (1980), therapists should see to the client as a specialist who should inform the client about his/her role and facts in the therapy process. Therapists should use strategies to improve the client's autonomy and power and should be a role model with appropriate behaviors in order to succeed an equitable therapy. While working with clients about the concepts of FT, feminist therapist uses a variety of outstanding techniques including gender role analysis, social identities analysis, cultural analysis, power analysis, and consciousness raising (Ballou, Hill & West, 2008; Corey, 2008; Israeli & Santor, 2000; Worell & Remer, 2003). Being an important difference from other therapists, feminist therapists refuse using concepts and methods of psychological counseling that may contribute to discrimination (Enns, 1993). In the therapeutic process, equal therapeutic relationship and collaboration are expected between therapist and client (Dworkin, 1984; Evans et al., 2005; Kahn, 2010). Therapists should be aware of their own personal attitudes about gender roles towards discrimination that may affect clients (Corey, 2008). In order to understand the clients’ problems, therapists should have a good socioperspective (Ballou, Hill, & West; 2008; Israeli & Santor, 2000; Worell & Remer, 2003). In general perception, FT is only available for women but some feminist therapists routinely work with excluded and oppressed men (Evans et al., 2005). On the contrary, feminist therapists work with men, women, groups, couples, families and children clients (Gladding, 1995; Polat-Uluocak & Bulut, 2011). Patriarchal system or social environment which is not only limit the role of women, but also bring some limitations to all of the gender roles. Because men are not privileged in all cultures (Kahn, 2010). When therapist works with women, therapist aims to strengthening women (Ballou, Hill & West, 2008) who feel themselves inadequate (Nichols, 2013). On the other hand, when therapist works with men, therapists help men to move away from the thought of patriarchal system and help them to determine their own definitions of masculinity ( Kahn, 2010). Therapists also help both women and men for shaping their identities and relationships with gender awareness (Corey, 2008; Kahn, 2010). FT works with many different problem areas, and works on different populations. Taking into consideration the researches about the FT, one of the most striking topics is power-sharing between the therapist and client (Douglas, 1985; Hill & Bollou, 1998; Horvath & Greenberg, 1989; Marecek & Kravetz, 1998; Rader & Gilbert, 2005). Also, effective FT techniques (Brown, 2013; Dworkin, 1984; Hill & Ballou, 1998; Israeli & Santor, 2000), issues concerning the validity of feminist therapies (Brown, 2006), gender related problems (Good, Gilbert & Scher, 1990; Kahn, 2010), eating problems (Heenan, 2005), violance (Brown & Bryan, 2007; Burstow, 1992); divorce and marital conflict (Tzou, Kim & Woldheim, 2012), ethnicity (Comas-Diaz, 1987; 1988), gender (Good, Gilbert & Scher,1990; Good & Wood, 1995) are other striking topics. When consulted the researches in Turkey, Aliefendioglu and Ozbilgin (2001) examined women, gender and gender orientation with theoritical and practical dimention of FT; Eyuboglu (2008) evaluated how patriarchal system take a place in psychology; and Polat-Uluocak and Bulut (2011) analyzed the concept of family therapy with the perspectives of feminist therapy.
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The effectiveness of the FT was examined with different cultures (Brown, 1990; Hays, 1996; Kallivayalil, 2007) but there is not enough study which focuses on FT’s effectiveness in Turkish culture. Therefore the purpose of this study is to investigate Turkish psychological counselors’ perspectives about FT. 2. Method In this research, qualitative research design has been used. Qualitative research design focuses on the meanings which are created by the individuals based on their experiences of interactions (Merriam, 1998). 2.1 Sample Being one of the types of purposeful sampling, criteria sampling strategy has been used. Purposeful sampling is a sampling method of qualitative research. It develops a framework of the variables that might influence an individual's contribution to the research area (Marshall, 1996). Participants were selected from psychological counselors who work actively with adult clients since at least one year. 12 of the participants were female, while 4 of the participants were male (N=16).
2.2 Instrument As data collection tool, semi-structured interview was used. The interwiev consisted of the questions below: • • • • • •
Do you use FT approach while working with your clients? (Yes / No) What are your reasons for choosing to use/disuse? What can you say about the FT approach? (What defends / philosophy, who works with, etc.?) Are there any techniques or concepts of FT approach that you adopt in your practices? If your answer is ‘yes’, which ones do you use? What are the advantages and disadvantages of FT approaches for clients? What do you think about FT approach's utility in Turkey? Participants' demographic informations and therapy tendency / training were also asked .
2.3 Process This study was analysed with content analysis of interviews conducted with Turkish psychological counselors. Content analysis is a multi-purpose analyse method (Berelson, 1952; Hsieh & Shannon, 2005) that is a technique that enables researchers to study human behavior indirect way, through of the participants’ communications (Fraenkel & Wallen, 2006). The data were analysed in four steps. (1) coding of the data, (2) theming of the data, (3) organizing codes and themes, (4) defining and interpreting of the findings (Yildirim & Simsek, 2013). 3. Results The research was carried out with 16 Turkish psychological counselors (12 women and 4 men ). According to the demographical findings, six of the participants had an undergraduate degree and ten of them received graduate degree. The average of participants’ age is 31 and the age range is between 23-42. Participants’ business life changes between 1-20 years and the average is 7 years.
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The most widely used training approaches are cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), alternative therapies (play-centered therapy, psychodrama), gestalt therapy, existential- humanistic therapy, and solution focused brief therapy (SFBT). Emerging themes of the answers about feminist therapy are listed below: Table 1. Do you use FT approach while working with your clients?
Women Men
Yes f 4 2
% 33.3 50
No f 8 2
% 66.6 50
When the responses of the first question “Do you use FT approach while working with your clients? (Yes / No) What are your reasons for choosing to use/disuse?” analysed, 4 women and 2 men participants indicated that they use FT approach while 8 women and 2 men participants indicated that they don’t use it. When the reason of use or disuse of this therapy categorized, the first theme was revealed to be functionality. While some of the participants found FT functional, others found it disfunctional. Second theme was the suitability of the study area. Participants stated that when they work with women, FT is more suitable for topics such as gender roles, social pressure, divorce and so forth. Third theme was the feeling of FT’s key concepts more close to themselves. Participants indicated that as FT emphasize women’s right, women’s socio-cultural status, gender inequalities, they feel themselves more close to FT’s key concepts. Fourth theme was suitability for the masses. Fifth and final theme was knowledge level. Participants indicated that they did not have enough knowledge and education about FT. When the responses of the second question “What can you say about the FT approach? (What defends / philosophy, who works with, techniques, etc.)." was analysed the first emerging theme was the basic concepts. Participants’ answers about this theme were evaluated and it emerged that about FT approach, fifteen participants stated the concept of gender roles; seven participants stated the concept of women's empowerment; three participants stated the concept of social pressure; five participants stated the concept of women's rights; five participants stated the concept of gender inequality; and one participant stated the concept of individual cultural sensitivities. Second emerging theme is the studied group. In this theme, five participants stated that this therapy is for both female and male clients; one participant stated that FT is suitable for all clients; one participant stated that it is suitable for more women than men; two participants stated that FT works best with LGBTQ; four participants stated that FT works best with couples and families; two participants stated that FT works best with children and adolescents; and one participant stated that FT works best with people who have specific qualifications (high socio-economic and cultural level of individuals who also have cognitive competence). Third emerging theme is the study subject areas. In this theme, five participants stated social pressure situations; three participants stated increasing women’s power; nine participant stated family and couple problems; fourteen of the participants stated problems which affecting to women (career, body image, harassment - rape, women's rights, and honor); five
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participants stated gender roles; four participants stated gender inequality; and four participants
stated minority issues as the study subject areas that FT works. When the responses of the third question “Are there techniques or concepts of FT approach that adopts in your practices? If your answer is ‘yes’, which ones do you use?” were analysed, eleven participants stated that they don’t use any techniques of FT approach; five participants stated that they don’t use FT’s techniques but they adopt some of the basic concepts (gender roles, empowerment of women) for some situations during the sessions. Participants don’t know FT’s techniques so that it couldn’t be reached any theme about FT techniques. When adopted concepts are looked first emerging theme is the study subject areas (divorce, women rights, rape etc.) and second emerging theme focus on thegender role (social gender roles, being woman, social justice etc.). When the responses of the fourth question “What are the advantages and disadvantages of FT approaches for clients?” were analysed, as advantages, eighteen participants stated empowering women; three participants stated equality; three participants stated that it works with abuse, rape, murder, and related problem areas; three participants stated gender roles; four participants stated minority rights; one participant stated being a flexible approach; and two participants stated gender sensitivity. The first emerging theme was the woman rights (empowering women, equality etc.), the second theme was the resulting problems for being a woman (rape, murder, abuse etc.), the third theme was the differences (ethnicity, gender roles or sensitivity).As disadvantages, seven participants stated lack of techniques, being able to work with only particular groups, low desirability, clients’ difficulties to perceive the FT; and being not appropriate for some cultures. Ten participants stated that gender roles may change after FT, so women be in the front than men which cause messes. The first emerging theme was the inefficiencies resulting from the community (unsuitability to culture), the inefficiencies resulting from the FT (lack of techniques, work with only particular groups, women be in the front than men which cause messes), .), the third theme was the the inefficiencies resulting from the clients (low desirability, clients’ difficulties to perceive the FT). When the responses of the fifth question “What do you think about FT approach's utility in Turkey?" were analysed, six participants stated that this approach can be used in Turkey because Turkish culture needs this approach. The first theme was the usable and the secont theme was the usability under certain condition. Eight participants stated that if psychological counselors are educated about this therapy at the counselor education program, it can be used in Turkish counseling profession. However, they indicated that FT can be used only for specific issues and groups. 4. Discussion When the Turkish psychological counselors’ perspectives of FT are analyzed, it was observed that lack of theoretical knowledge causes problems. It was also observed that counselors express their opinions about FT with using their knowledge and perceptions about feminism. When the answers for the basic concepts of FT were analyzed, gender roles, women's empowerment, social pressure, women's rights, gender inequality, and cultural sensitivity were found as prominent concepts. Additionally, counselors lack of knowledge about FT’s study subject areas such as minorities and men. When participants’ answers were analyzed about study subject areas and preferred groups, counselors think that this approach is more applicable to women because of social pressure, increasing women power, gender roles and gender inequalities. Participants also believe that FT is more suitable for family and couples therapy.
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Participants who stated that they used FT, commonly use this approach for supporting well-known therapy approaches. Even though participants state that they use therapy’s techniques; they indicate the name of some of the basic concepts of FT (gender roles, women’s empowerment, etc.) rather than the name of techniques. 4 main themes about the reason why counselor use FT are functionality, suitability to the study area, finding FT's concept more close to themselves, and suitability for masses. Most expressed themes of the reason why counselor use FT are suitability for masses and suitability to study area. The reasons why counselors don’t prefer using FT have been categorized into four themes. When frequency of expression examined, knowledge about FT, suitability for masses, functionality and findings of FT concepts have been appear to be more close to themselves. According to participants’ assessments about FT’s advantages and disadvantages, it reveals that there is limited knowledge about FT. It has been found that expressed basic concepts of FT such as gender sensitivity, women's empowerment and gender equality concepts have shown up to be advantages of FT. As disadvantages, participants stated that traditional cultures are not ready for using FT, using FT without any other well-known therapies would not be sufficient, and the misconception of FT’s not having its own techniques. Referring to the literature, FT is an orientation that is effective in different situations and populations (Evans et al., 2005), gender sensitivity, to aim strengthen individuals without gender discrimination (Surrey, 1991), to address the power issue in the therapeutic relationship (Douglas 1985; Hill & Bollow, 1998; Marecek &Kravetz, 1998; Rader & Gilbert, 2005). Nonetheless it is stated that theoretical framework of FT discusses and therapist can impose their values (Corey, 2008). Opinions about FT’s utility in Turkish society are divided into two different points. One point is that FT can be used in Turkish society because it is needed. Other point is opposite to the first one; Turkish society is not ready to use FT yet; it can only be used in the profession if certain conditions are provided. Because of the patriarchal structure of Turkish society, women remain in the background. 39.3 % women are exposed to physical violence and 15.3% women are exposed to sexual violence in Turkey (TUIK, 2008). Regarding the employment rate, the men’s employment rate is more than 2.4 times than women's employment rate (TUIK, 2013). The number of illiterate women is more than 5 times than men (TUIK, 2013). According to the findings, it is believed that feminist therapy is more than a preference for the Turkish society, it is a necessity. FT’s emphasis on gender roles, gender discrimination, identity development, equality, an strengthening issues are effective elements on considering FT as a necessity in Turkish society. When the survey’s results are evaluated as a whole; the main findings of this research are as following. FT is perceived as feminism and participants’ lack of knowledge about FT is results from their incorrect and inadequate knowledge of feminism. This research has concluded that feminist therapy was not adopted by the Turkish counselors which overlap with Unlu (2000). Although numerous studies take place related to FT in international literature (e.g. Douglas, 1985; Hill & Ballou, 1998;Corey, 2008; Evans et al., 2005; Hill & Bollou, 1998; Horvath & Greenberg, 1989; Israeli & Santor, 2000; Marecek & Kravetz, 1998; Rader & Gilbert, 2005; Tzou, Kim & Woldheim, 2012; Worell & Remer, 2003), limited researches about FT in Turkey (e.g. Aliefendioglu & Ozbilgin, 2001; Polat-Uluocak & Bulut, 2011; Eyuboglu, 2008; Unlu, 2000) may be related to this approach’s not being adopted in counseling field in Turkey.
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When FT is applied in Turkish culture, it may appear to be both effective and ineffective. Because FT is an approach which is effective in different situations and populations (Evans et al., 2005), sensitive to gender (Philpot, Brooks, Lusterman & Nutt, 1997), works important issues such as sexual harassment, incest, and rape, it can be adapted to Turkish culture but cultural structure may stay away from this therapy because of its vision adopted. As a result of this study shows that Turkish school counselors lack of training about FT. They indicated that they were more research about FT would contribute to the field of counseling in Turkey. It is believed that to be needed to give place to FT both in terms of training and practice and scientific studies psychological counseling field in Turkey. It is considered to be useful for those working in the field of psychology that giving more space to FT as a subject in university, following the international literature on this approach and also conducting scientific work in this direction for FT in Turkey. Thus, it will be seen that what is the point in the FT's to be more functional in Turkish community or What kind of work can increase the functionality with neither point.
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