Social Justice in psychotherapy

Vast majority of existing therapeutic methodologies are based on Western paradigm of world perception. This perception implies dominance of White, able bodied, middle or high socio-economic class, heterosexual, men, most often involved in some formal Christian stream.

At the same time therapists claim to be neutral and objective. In fact this neutrality maintain above mentioned dominance.

World Health Organization definition of Health:“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (1948).

Feminist approach was the first to challenge existing social inequality in psychotherapy.

Hooks (1984) defined Feminism as a social movement to end sexism and sexiest oppression

Example of different directions within Feminism (Crawford &Unger, 2000)

Categories Vision of the problem Remedial actions

Liberal Feminism

Radical Feminism

Problem is sexism. Oppression shows up in culture, politics, economy and laws.

Problem is a patriarchal structure of society where men are privileged with the power

Changing the whole system to ensure equal rights for both genders.

Disempowering men through changing social institutions

Example of different directions within Feminism (Crawford &Unger, 2000) (cont-d)

Categories Vision of the problem Remedial actions

Socialist Feminism

Womanism

Problem for multidimensional oppression is global social structure-capitalismMultidimensional e.g. gender, cultural, racial, sexual orientation, abilities and socioeconomic class

Problem is an oppression of White women as well as women and men of colorof

Changing the whole system of capitalism

Eliminating institutionalized racism

Problem: Feministic approach does not attend to the whole complexity of the oppression

Seven types of oppression identified by Tatum (1997)

GenderCultureSocio-economic classPhysical/Mental abilitySexual orientationAgeSpirituality

Two levels of oppression: individual and institutional

Individual InstitutionalPersonal discrimination Policies Education Cultural dominance Spiritual dominance Vocation market Housing etc.

Cumulative, multigenerational impact of both

“Just Therapy” approach developed in the Family Centre in Wellington, New Zealand

Reasons for the word “Just” Emphasise the aim to achieve equality and justice in therapyDirect comprehension of therapy without of gender, cultural etc. constrains

Initial insights

1.Some clients have mental and physical deregulations not because they are not able to cope, but because existing socio-economic circumstances. After treatment clients are going back to the same conditions that cause the problem on the first place.2.Therapists unintentionally promoted all types of oppression by not speaking against them.

Changes introduced in Family Centre to pursue Social Justice in psychotherapy in the content of the sessions and in the Centre operational structure

Openly name applicable to the client types of oppression and assign to them responsibility for client’s health problems

Emphasise client’s ability to survive in spite of external damaging circumstances

Match clients from certain cultural background with the therapist from the same culture or ensure supervision of primary therapist from different culture by theTherapist from client’s background

Create system of supervision by female therapist for male counterparts in a case male therapist is working with female client

Expand concept of therapy into the area of prevention along with treating people with already existing illnesses

Develop Social Policy Research Unit to research social inequalities and supplynecessary information for changing oppressive policies.

Resources:Crawford, M., & Unger, R. R., 2000, Women and gender: A feminist psychology (3rd ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.Tatum, B. D., (1997), “Why are all black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?” New York: Basic books.World Health Organization definition of Health, Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html on Apr. 10, 2013