Feminist Family Therapy in Turkey: Experiences of Couple and Family Therapists

ABSTRACT

Gender inequality is a critical phenomenon in Turkey due to being placed at the bottom of The Global Gender Gap Reports. The aim of this study was to understand couple and family therapists’ perceptions and experiences when gender-related topics and gendered dynamics emerged in couple therapy sessions. Interview data were collected from seven female therapists who worked in private practices in Istanbul, Turkey. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to guide the research methods and analyze the data. Results indicated four main themes: (a) gender issues emerging in couple therapy, (b) gender roles as a junction point of universal and local issues, (c) therapists’ dilemmas in therapy, and (d) therapists’ relationships with feminism. Results are discussed in the light of existing literature and in terms of clinical and training implications.

KEYWORDS:

• Couple & family therapy
• feminism
• feminist family
• gender
• therapy
• interpretative phenomenological analysis
• Turkey