The Lifespan as a Feminist Context: Making Developmental Concepts Come Alive in Therapy

Abstract

A central tenet of feminist therapy is that it is necessary to see and understand women in context. All people live their lives within a developmental context; but, curiously, this powerful aspect of their context is often overlooked. This brief article draws explanatory concepts from five major developmental theories—those of Erikson, Gilligan, Jung, Levinson and Loevinger. To teach women trainees to fully grasp the relevance of the developmental context, they learn to apply these concepts to their own lives. Women therapists can use developmental understandings to enlarge their empathic connection with clients, and to underscore and normalize the necessity of change.

KEYWORDS:

• feminist therapy
• lifespan development
• training therapists