Theory Approach and Resonation:
In the video, Rampage (Ally & Bacon, 1998) observed “ Feminist counselors look at how power is used and expressed, and how it impacts the client’s presenting problems.” ( 4:19.). Further, in the video, Rampage (Ally & Bacon, 1998) explained “the feminist approach is more of a perspective, rather than a clinical approach in terms of the way the therapist might think about therapy.” (4:17). ). The process of change also resonates with me as clients are not pathologized. Herlihy & McCollum (2011) noted, “External forces are recognized as the root of problems for women. Clients learn self- appreciation and self-value. They rename pathology as coping mechanisms.” (p. 329.). In the video, Rampage (Ally & Bacon, 1998) observed, “Socially constructed gender roles are constraining a system, or person and affecting the problem they are bringing into therapy.” (3;49.).
Specific Interventions and effectiveness
In the video, Rampage ( Ally & Bacon, 1998) using reframing.(27:11) For example, early on in the session, Becky talks about her estranged husband who is emotionally and physically (except for a few brief hours once a week) from Nicholas, and she refers to her family as “broken family” (27:09). Rampage (Ally & Bacon, 1998) clarifies the situation and uses reframing by saying, “the two of you are the family.” (27:16). This was important and effective in empowering Becky to see her situation from a new, more hopeful perspective. Nicholas also needs to heal from having internalized the belief he is part of a “broken family.” (27:02) In watching Nicholas’s non- verbal behavior, you can see the positive impact, Dr. Rampage’s words “the two of you are the family have on him.” (27:20). Nicholas looks up at his mother, and sits in a more serene position. After hearing his mother say the words, “broken family,” (27:02), Nicholas looks sad, and his face, and eyes are cast down, his hand is under his chin. He has been shifting in his chair. In the video, Rampage ( Ally & Bacon, 1998) In the video, Rampage (Ally & Bacon, 1998, also uses the intervention of de-mystifying the counseling process (23:11) by helping Becky articulate her problems and agree to the procedures for the session. She encourages Becky to explain what brought her to counseling. It’s effective as an empowering strategy, as this allows Becky (23;21) to tell her story and begins to talk in detail about Nicholas’s struggles in school. In the video, Rampage (Ally & Bacon, 1998) continues to use reframing (57:30) in discussing how Nicholas handles her sadness at times. Nicholas does not take it personally and admits it’s not his problem, so Dr. Rampage clarifies that Becky is doing a positive thing in having conveyed to Nicholas somehow, that when she’s down, it’s not his problem. (57:30). This is effective in encouraging Becky and important as Becky according to Dr. Rampage “depreciates” herself and lives in a low-status world. (1:17:38).
An insight I gained from Dr. Rampage related her response to Dr. Carlson’s question as to how feminist theory fits in with the DSM-4 that refers to pathologies based on gender. (1:43:48). In the video, Rampage ( Ally & Bacon, 1998), said she did not use DSM diagnosis and believes as the DSM-4 is flexible, there are other ways to describe clients. As a result, she explained she considers the gender lens through which she sees the underlying causes of everything. In terms of managed care issues since there was in 1998 no reimbursement for feminist diagnosis or therapy, she used medical language but attempted not to attach an overabundance of pathology or as little as possible.(1:44:25). In the video, Rampage (Ally & Bacon, 1998) noted, “I find that I never have occasion to use those DSM diagnosis that the histrionic, anti-social, self-defeating personality. There is always other ways of describing people because the DSM-4 is broad enough and lose enough that you can work around that.” ( 1:44: 45.). Before this I had not realized that therapists could be creative in this way and also realized that feminist theory might lend itself to thinking more carefully and considering the gender lens before making a diagnosis.
References
Allyn and Bacon. (Executive Producer). (1998). Family therapy with the experts: Feminist family therapy [Video]. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases
Herlihy, B., & Carroll McCollum, V (2011). Feminist Theory. In D. Capuzzi & D.R. Gross (Eds.),Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (5th ed.). (pp. 313-333). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.