Writing a Canadian Writing a Canadian distance course in distance course in Feminist Family Feminist Family Therapy: is this Therapy: is this really possible?really possible?

Dr. Deborah Foster Dr. Deborah Foster &&

Dr. Karen NielsenDr. Karen NielsenAthabasca UniversityAthabasca University

The ContextThe Context

So we begin to write a So we begin to write a Canadian course on Canadian course on

Feminist Family Feminist Family TherapyTherapy

We went looking for a Canadian text – NONEWhich led us into a conversation about what this means

Society & CultureSociety & Culture

•Class, gender, and power are Class, gender, and power are critically relevant dimensions critically relevant dimensions in the field feminist family in the field feminist family therapytherapy

•Construction of meaning Construction of meaning based on our cultural based on our cultural narrativesnarratives

Society and CultureSociety and Culture

• Canada has traditionally been seen Canada has traditionally been seen as a country that emphasizes as a country that emphasizes universalistic values in social universalistic values in social welfare (although it is changing)welfare (although it is changing)

• USA : more individualistic values USA : more individualistic values with social welfare based on “the with social welfare based on “the market place”market place”

• Different political and Different political and racial/immigrant historyracial/immigrant history

IF ……IF ……• Culture/Cultural narratives is importantCulture/Cultural narratives is important

AND …AND …• Family is the main source of socializationFamily is the main source of socialization• Many families need/want counsellingMany families need/want counselling

THEN WHY ….THEN WHY ….• Why is there a dearth of feminist family Why is there a dearth of feminist family

therapy being published in Canada in therapy being published in Canada in recent yearsrecent years

• And what does it say about our ability to And what does it say about our ability to prepare new therapists to work from a prepare new therapists to work from a feminist perspectivefeminist perspective

SINCE ….SINCE ….• If we are not publishing in this area, If we are not publishing in this area,

how do we expect the primary societal how do we expect the primary societal messages towards women to changemessages towards women to change

AND …AND …• We think it IS important to take culture We think it IS important to take culture

into account when counselling into account when counselling minorities such as Lesbians, Aboriginals minorities such as Lesbians, Aboriginals and Immigrantsand Immigrants

THEN …THEN …• Why not familiesWhy not families

IF …IF …• We believe as feminists that the We believe as feminists that the

external is a source of troubled external is a source of troubled families problems, shouldn’t we be families problems, shouldn’t we be providing therapy that looks at our providing therapy that looks at our “external”?“external”?

AND … AND … • Often their ‘external’ is influenced Often their ‘external’ is influenced

by cable TVby cable TV• For example, many students believe For example, many students believe

women are equally as physically women are equally as physically violent as men. Whose external is violent as men. Whose external is this?this?

Inclusion and ExclusionInclusion and Exclusion

• Concern over issues of inclusion and Concern over issues of inclusion and exclusion: Family Therapy texts that are exclusion: Family Therapy texts that are written in USA seldom have any content written in USA seldom have any content on working with First Nations Peopleon working with First Nations People

• In Alberta there are currently about In Alberta there are currently about 6000 children in care, of which about 6000 children in care, of which about 5000 are Aboriginal/Métis AND ‘Family 5000 are Aboriginal/Métis AND ‘Family Group Counselling’ is the current buzz Group Counselling’ is the current buzz wordword

• Intersectionality – of race, culture, Intersectionality – of race, culture, gendergender

• We really wanted to make this a We really wanted to make this a Canadian course but in the end we Canadian course but in the end we were forced to go with an American were forced to go with an American textbook and American articles textbook and American articles from American Journals. We have from American Journals. We have been able to find a few articles that been able to find a few articles that do allow students to see themselvesdo allow students to see themselves

So if you or someone you know is So if you or someone you know is doing Feminist Family Therapy then doing Feminist Family Therapy then ask them to ….ask them to ….

•Publish!!Publish!!

What do you thinkWhat do you think