Are Current, Popular Therapeutic Models Attractive to and Effective in the Treatment of Men? A Qualitative Study of Clinicians' Reflections on Gender & Psychotherapy
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Authors
Snitkin, Jeremy
Issue Date
1999
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The field of psychology and psychotherapy was long considered a primarily masculine domain, and feminist psychology represents one response to that allegation. There is a growing field that has been referred to as "the new male psychology' and some of its practitioners and proponents, such as Ronald Levant and Joseph Pleck, suggest that though psychotherapy was originally formulated and developed primarily by men, it was by men engaged predominately in the treatment of women. Since psychology is still a relatively new discipline, it continues to be defined and refined through its practice. It is not unreasonable to suggest, therefore, that psychotherapeutic processes, often developed in practice with female clients, may be more amenable to the female psyche and, hence, more attractive to, or effective for, women. Many clinicians seem to agree that concepts such as emotional awareness, empathic support, loving oneself, and being vulnerable - common stock-in-trade for therapists, and especially psychodynamic therapists - are also concepts with which women tend to be far more comfortable than men. This study examines the literature on gender as it affects participation in psychotherapy, regarding both the level and the quality of participation. It surveys 38 practicing California psychotherapists regarding the gender breakdown of their caseload, any observed differences between males and females with regard to participation in therapy, and any conscious or unconscious differences in how clinicians work with male clients compared to female clients. Through these surveys, and in-depth interviews with five of the clinicians, the study attempts to answer the question, "Are current, popular therapeutic models attractive to and effective in the treatment of men?" In the process of investigating these issues, the study also examines the recent history, current status, and potential developments in what could be characterized as an awakening of men's consciousness. This includes the mythopoetic, profeminist, father's rights, and men's liberationist trends, as well as special phenomena such as the Promise Keepers and the Million Man March.