The voices of clients in general, and of marginalized women in particular, remain largely absent from research on psychotherapy and counseling. This paper presents the process and findings of a critical participatory action research project conducted with former clients of two women's counseling centers in Vienna, Austria. Drawing on social mappings, semi-structured interviews, and group discussions, the study explored the psychosocial conditions that shape women's possibilities for envisioning and pursuing a good life under conditions of structural inequality, including insecure residency status, limited access to childcare and employment, and gender-based violence. Women's counseling centers emerged as important sites for building trust, accessing reliable information, and developing navigational skills for dealing with complex institutional systems. The findings further suggest that envisioning a good life is not solely an individual capacity. Rather, it is a socially situated and demanding process that depends on supportive social, relational, and institutional conditions. The article reflects on the potential of participatory action research to create collective spaces in which marginalized women can articulate experiences, imagine alternative futures, and develop new forms of collective agency. By involving marginalized women as co-researchers, the study contributes to feminist debates on participation, empowerment, and social justice.
The menopausal transition is a critical period marked by physical, emotional, and psychological changes that may heighten anxiety, depression, and stress while reducing quality of life. Expressive writing has been associated with psychological and physical benefits; however, its utility during the menopausal transition remains underexplored. This study examined the effectiveness of different expressive writing approaches for women in this life phase. A total of 144 women aged 40-54 (M = 47.86, SD = 3.03), all undergoing menopausal transition, were randomly assigned to one of five groups: positive writing, negative writing, self-compassion-focused writing, neutral writing, and a non-writing control. Participants completed standardized assessments at baseline, post-intervention (after four consecutive days of 15-minute sessions), and one-month follow-up. Measures included psychological distress, menopause-specific quality of life, self-compassion, and emotion regulation difficulties. Adherence to the writing protocols was independently evaluated by clinical psychologists, and statistical analyses (ANOVA, mixed-design repeated measures ANOVA) were subsequently conducted. Results showed that both positive and self-compassion-focused writing significantly improved menopause-related quality of life across psychosocial, physical, and sexual domains, and enhanced self-compassion. These findings support the use of expressive writing with a positive or self-compassionate focus as a promising, low-cost intervention to support women's well-being during the menopausal transition.
Background: The use of psychedelics for clinical purposes and psychological healing is well-documented across many settings, often addressing trauma or mood disorders. Two gaps remain underexplored: (1) the use of psychedelics for psychological healing by gender-diverse individuals, and (2) the personal therapeutic use of psychedelics in non-clinical settings and how this shows up in psychotherapy as understood by clinicians. We address these gaps by examining how gender-exploring folks report personal therapeutic psychedelic use for psychological healing to clinicians during psychotherapy, as relayed by "key informants" (mental health professionals). Objective: We investigate how accounts of personal therapeutic psychedelic use surface in therapy and shape clients' processes of gender identity exploration and psychological healing, according to their therapists. Materials and Methods: Drawing on semi-structured interviews with five mental health professionals, an inductive thematic analysis was conducted, identifying four themes. Results: Themes were (1) Processing Gender-Based Rejection, (2) Engaging with Gender Role Models, (3) Seeking Exploration and Authenticity, and (4) Striving for Healing through Psychedelics, with subthemes (4a) Navigating Breakthrough Moments and (4b) Accepting Oneself & Reclaiming Power. Conclusions: Findings highlight ways psychedelics may facilitate gender exploration and psychological healing, underscoring the need for more inclusive approaches in psychedelic research and therapy.
Eating disorders are often mischaracterized as affecting primarily White, affluent women, yet prevalence is comparable across racial and ethnic groups. Myths that Black women are immune to disordered eating overlook the historical dehumanization and structural racism shaping their experiences. Many Black women remain undiagnosed or untreated due to stigma and bias. This manuscript applies the Blafemme Healing Framework, a Black feminist wellness model developed by Dr. Della Mosley, to eating disorder treatment, offering culturally grounded guidance for counselors. Integrating this framework with traditional approaches promotes healing, self-determination, and justice for Black women in clinical practice.
The embodiment of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema presents challenges for Black women, including negative mental health outcomes like psychological distress and depression. Yet, few researchers have examined the process by which Black women take on this archetype of Black womanhood. In the current study, we explored the nature of the socialization messages Black mothers give young Black women about strong Black womanhood (referred to as strength socialization), and the downstream effects of this socialization process on their wellbeing. A total of 15 Black undergraduate women completed semi-structured interviews pertaining to their perceptions of the messages they received from their mothers about strong Black womanhood, and the potential impacts of these messages on their emotional functioning. Results of thematic analysis revealed that the young Black women perceived receiving messages consistent with the SBW schema. Moreover, the extent to which they adhered to messages supporting the SBW schema or not had implications for their emotional functioning. Implications of study findings are provided for researchers, mental health professionals, and parents.
Plurisexual (a person with more than one gender attraction) people represent the majority of parents under the LGBTQ+ umbrella and embody a unique group of parents with distinctive experiences and outcomes. Past research on plurisexual individuals suggests that there are differences in mental health and relational outcomes depending on the gender and/or sexual orientation of a plurisexual person's romantic partner. However, this research has not been focused on parents who are an important subset of individuals with unique outcomes that may impact well-being. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine differences in resilience, positive identity, parenting self-efficacy, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction among plurisexual parents in different-gender partnerships and those in same-gender partnerships. The present study included a sample of 605 plurisexual parents in a relationship with at least one partner. Data were collected via online social media and Qualtrics Panels. Results indicated that after controlling for age, number of children, and relationship length, partner gender composition (same-gender partnership or different-gender partnership) predicted lower parenting self-efficacy for plurisexual women. There were no differences based on gender of partners for plurisexual men. Findings provide insight into the lived experiences of plurisexual parents and have implications for clinicians working with plurisexual parents and their partners.
Postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PPTSD) is a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder that disproportionately affects women of color. Despite racial disparities in prevalence, treatment, and health outcomes in maternal mental health, there is limited research exploring PPTSD within a Black sample. This study used a reproductive justice framework to examine risk factors for the development of PPTSD in 159 Black women who were within the first year postpartum. Findings include a prevalence rate of 12% for new onset of PPTSD in the context of traumatic childbirth; moreover, 26% of participants endorsed clinically significant trauma symptoms while remaining below the diagnostic threshold. Perceived medical discrimination and history of trauma reliably predicted PPTSD symptoms. Births requiring greater obstetric intervention were associated with greater PPTSD symptoms. Clinical implications and recommendations are provided on systemic, institutional, and individual levels.
Black women initiate and continue breastfeeding at lower rates than any other racial and ethnic group. The current study qualitatively examines barriers to breastfeeding among Black mothers. Participants included 37 Black cisgender mothers stratified by age with varying breastfeeding experiences. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results highlighted maternal guilt, shame, and/or other affective barriers (i.e., concerns about latch/supply, emotional/mental health, external pressures, and pain with breastfeeding). These barriers affected initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. Findings highlight the needs of Black mothers seeking to breastfeed. Considerations for providers and peers seeking to support Black mothers are discussed.
About half of all pregnancies experienced in the U.S. are unintended. Women who have mental health conditions may be more likely to become pregnant unintentionally, yet very little research has examined how they conceptualize their mental health and reproductive decision-making. In this study, 349 women living with a mental health condition responded to an online questionnaire about the intersection of their mental health and a hypothetical unintended pregnancy. Using a content analysis approach, we identified eight qualitative themes from their responses: (a) Cannot care for child, (b) Continuing pregnancy would worsen mental health, (c) Genetic heritability of mental health, (d) Impact of medication, (e) Adoption or abortion would worsen mental health, (f) Mental health makes me resilient, (g) Mental health has no impact, and (h) Mental health impact on decision-making process. These themes highlight participants' concerns about their own mental health, beliefs about pregnancy and parenting, and consideration of their family's well-being. These findings suggest the importance of therapist attunement to the various beliefs and related challenges facing women with mental health disorders who experience unintended pregnancy.
Inequities in the division of household labor between spouses are well-established, particularly among heterosexual couples. However, while quantification of physical labor (e.g., doing dishes, folding laundry) is straightforward, the measurement of the cognitive and emotional labor that goes into running a home (e.g., planning, organizing, delegating) is not. The present study, therefore, aimed to develop a comprehensive measure of this mental labor, the Mental Load Scale (MLS), for use among cohabitating couples and to determine the mental health and relationship consequences of mental load. To this end, an online questionnaire was developed and administered to 569 adults (56% women) who were currently in a cohabitating romantic relationship. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the MLS has three distinct subscales: invisible burden, logistical responsibility, and emotional labor. Further, an examination of the relationship consequences of mental load indicated that women endorsed higher levels of all three facets of mental load, and that women reported poorer relationship and mental health outcomes when mental load was high. The MLS is an important tool for researchers and clinicians who wish to measure this "invisible" construct among individuals and couples and mental load, as well as its negative effects, falls disproportionately to women.
This qualitative study explored the experiences of Latinx, larger-bodied women navigating infertility through an intersectional lens and phenomenological framework. The research question guiding our study is: What are the experiences of Latinx, female-identifying, larger-bodied individuals with fertility challenges? Participants described forms of oppression in medical and cultural systems and weight-based discrimination. Findings revealed two primary themes that provide insight into participants' lived experiences at the distinctive juncture of these identities: institutional primary-level oppression and secondary-level oppression. The study underscores that counseling from an intersectional lens means creating spaces where all aspects of identity are considered; an intersectional approach highlights how systemic oppression contributes to client distress and helps counselors more fully support client healing.
Given the increased use of surrogacy as a means of having a child, more research is needed on the experience of Postpartum Depression (PPD) among surrogates. This article presents case studies from qualitative interviews with surrogates to develop an initial understanding of the lived experience of Postpartum Depression (PPD), as well as to highlight a number of unique factors that might contribute to and buffer against the experience of PPD and related symptoms among this group of women. These case studies are selected to explore the personal narratives of a small sample to investigate phenomena in unique or complex situations in which little research has been conducted. Several factors emerged with regard to the experience of PPD in surrogate pregnancies. These factors spanned psychological, interpersonal, financial, and medical aspects of the surrogacy and postpartum experience. The factors included: relationships with the intended parents, finances, pressures to be mentally healthy, and self-care post-delivery. The article will include presentation of the extant literature, several case studies, and findings with regard to experiences of PPD among surrogates. Clinical implications for feminist practice based on the results are also discussed.
Although psychedelic therapies are increasingly heralded for their mental health benefits, emerging evidence suggests that these benefits are not equally distributed. In particular, prior research has shown that women experience diminished therapeutic returns compared to men. To better understand the structural and social factors that may underlie this disparity, this study examines whether unequal household labor and caregiving responsibilities-especially among single mothers-help explain gender differences in psychedelic outcomes. Using data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2008-2018; N = 484,732), this study tests interactions between six forms of psychedelic use, gender, and parental status in predicting psychological distress. Results indicate that while psychedelic use is associated with reduced distress among parents, this effect is primarily observed in men. Women, particularly those who are single parents, experience little to no reduction in distress and, in some cases, experience greater distress. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating unequal caregiving burdens and broader social context into psychedelic research and practice. Without addressing the everyday responsibilities disproportionately carried by women, especially mothers, psychedelic therapies may reproduce rather than relieve existing mental health disparities.
Dating anxiety in young adult women who date men may be influenced by traditional feminine socialization, which emphasizes male validation, thinness, physical beauty, and romance. We explored relations between conformity to feminine norms, dating anxiety, and personal empowerment among 323 women. Thinness, investment in appearance, and sweet and nice feminine norms predicted increased dating anxiety, while care for children predicted decreased anxiety. Personal empowerment mediated associations between several feminine norms (romance, appearance, domesticity, and childcare) and dating anxiety. Findings highlight the salience of beauty and romance-based norms to women's dating anxiety and support feminist therapeutic interventions that promote psychological empowerment and consciousness-raising.
The aim of this systematic review is to identify the common elements present in psychological interventions grounded in a feminist perspective-a therapeutic approach that challenges androcentric biases and promotes social justice, equality, and empowerment. Based on a comprehensive search of scientific databases conducted between 2013 and 2023, 24 articles meeting rigorous methodological criteria were selected. The findings reveal four key principles: (1) a therapeutic relationship based on collaboration and the redistribution of power; (2) the therapist's critical self-examination regarding their values, personal history, and potential biases; (3) the de-pathologization of traditionally feminized behaviors and the inclusion of sociocultural context as a component of psychological distress; and (4) the establishment of therapeutic goals guided by feminist values such as autonomy, critical consciousness, and social action. These results contribute to the development of a unified framework for feminist-informed clinical practice, as well as the design of tools and instruments to support its effective assessment and implementation. The review highlights the need to continue developing inclusive and culturally sensitive interventions committed to social transformation.
This article focuses on feminist leadership in the American Psychological Association (APA), tracing the "herstory" of the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP) as an exemplar of a successful feminist approach to leadership development in the Association. Our central assertion is that feminist leadership principles and practices should be incorporated into all leadership development efforts in APA. We begin with discussion of the unique challenges facing organizations in our contemporary world that render traditional leadership approaches ineffective. We suggest a feminist leadership approach as a more appropriate alternative, defining its core components and highlighting its fit with APA's strategic plan and leadership development goals. We then discuss the creation, implementation, evolution, success, and current challenges of the LIWP, and we conclude with three recommendations for APA to support its current leadership development efforts.
Fear of fatness is a crucial target in the treatment of eating disorders, but misconceptions of this construct impede recovery for clients of all sizes. This collaborative autoethnography explores lived experiences of fear and feelings of fatness in anorexia nervosa, offering a thin client's and a fat client's perspectives. We examine how clinical psychology's medical model reinforces fears of fatness in eating disorder treatment. Integrating our identities as both researchers and former clients, we challenge the idea that "feeling fat" is a thin woman's cognitive distortion requiring correction. We propose that therapeutic approaches like exposure therapy can be enriched with fat liberation, fostering more attuned and effective treatment for eating disorders.
This article highlights interdisciplinary contributions to Latinx Feminism to address the complexity of multiple positionalities (e.g., gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality immigration, socioeconomic status) historically invisible in mainstream feminism and feminist psychology. Latinx feminists are taxed with the duty to raise awareness, dismantle the combined effects of imperialism, colonialism, and misogyny, and develop anti-colonial futures. The authors draw from multiple sources of conocimiento (knowledge), and discuss constructs to help understand Latinx feminist psychology from a contextual lens (e.g. Nepantla, harbor mind and puente a & eacute;reo). Feminist Liberation Psychology is presented as an example of a decolonial approach to address structural discrimination in psychology, and as a method to use clinically through conscientization and testimonios to facilitate collective healing. Examples of collectives of Latinas engaging in this community-based healing work include Indigenous Latinx and AfroLatinx groups, Mujeres de Maiz and Mujeres de la Ca & ntilde;a de Azucar. Finally, psychospiritual concepts of culturally-centered feminist empowerment, such as Sacredness and Spirita, are presented as a form of feminist spirituality and spiritual activism.
Research on psychotherapeutic support for premenstrual change (PMC) is limited. This review synthesizes recent literature on psychotherapeutic modalities for PMC through reviewing the efficacy/effectiveness and client/participant acceptability of these modalities. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty studies investigated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one investigated emotion-focused couples therapy, two investigated motivation-based therapies, nine investigated relaxation techniques, and two investigated expressive therapies. All studies reported efficacy and/or effectiveness, yet only seven reported on acceptability. Findings highlight a research gap in client perspectives and the dominance of CBT. Future studies should develop and critically assess tailored therapies that reflect the multifaceted nature of PMC.
This article builds upon the intellectual contributions of Black women psychologists, including former members of the Committee on Women in Psychology, and presents a call to action to establish the psychology of Black women as a distinct discipline of psychology. The authors define the psychology of Black women as a discipline that is focused on understanding and improving the lives of Black women and girls through the advancement of strengths-based psychological science, clinical practice, and social justice advocacy. The authors present a critical analysis of contemporary research relevant to this discipline and future directions that may advance the psychology of Black women within the field of psychology.
