Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Terri M. Davis
Second Advisor
John McNeill
Third Advisor
Joey Tadie
Keywords
Feminist therapy, Complex PTSD, SMI
Abstract
Feminist therapy emphasizes empowerment through an egalitarian therapeutic relationship and collaborative approach of understanding symptoms and treatment. Feminist therapy can be used with all types of clients, including those with severe mental illness (SMI) as well as complex posttraumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD) which refers to the unique presentation of those who have experienced chronic developmental trauma (Herman, 1992). This case example focuses on a feminist therapist’s work with a young woman who has both SMI and complex PTSD, resulting in struggles across several domains. Feminist therapeutic interventions of developing an egalitarian relationship, exploration of intersectional multicultural dynamics, building empowerment, supporting community engagement, and implementing relational boundaries were utilized in her treatment demonstrating the applicability of feminist therapy when treating clients with SMI and complex PTSD.
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Extent
41 pgs
Recommended Citation
Watanabe, Mimiko, "Feminist Therapy with Severe Mental Illness and Complex Trauma: A Case Example" (2020). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 341.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/341
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