Encountering Feminism

Dr. Gillian Proctor is an independent Clinical psychologist and person-centred psychotherapist, offering individual therapy and supervision. She is an assistant professor in counselling at the University of Nottingham, providing Counselling for Depression courses to NHS counsellors. She is also an associate lecturer at Huddersfield university and a research supervisor at several other institutions. She has a particular interest in ethics, politics and power and the importance for counselling of the insights from sociology and philosophy to broaden and deepen our understandings of relationships and ethics. Her latest book is 'Values and ethics in counselling and psychotherapy' (2013) published by Sage.I am a clinical psychologist, supervisor of therapy students, teacher and conduct neuropsychological assessments. In each of these areas, feminism and client-centered principles guide my actions and attitudes towards others. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to add writer and editor to the list of activities that give me life. In previous years I have been a campus, youth and music minister and a spirited camp counselor. All of these activities have taught me to listen carefully, to love passionately and to work diligently to create connections between people and between ideas.

This book comprises a collection of papers which explore the relationship between feminist and person-centred theories - their areas of overlap and their areas of divergence. As a feminist and a person-centred practitioner, this is a topic I have thought a lot about, and up until now I have felt extremely frustrated at the paucity of literature on the subject. I was not disappointed. The editors, the Yorkshire-based Gillian Proctor and American Mary Beth Napier, have assembled an appealing cornucopia of essays on the subject, some heavily academic, others written in a more personal sytle. This makes for a varied and surprising read, bursting with ideas and passion. - Postmodernism flowed through this volume, mostly without overt mention, and the interplay between all three of these philosophies provides an exciting and heartening glimpse of a possible future, not just for therapy but for society in general. Encountering Feminism is a shining beacon to light the way to such a future. Yvonne Bates Ipnosis, Number 18, 2005 I thoroughly recommend this book. It re-examines and critiques two abiding philosophies that have influenced my own work and life, reconciles them and shows their relevance to contemporary therapeutic practice. Val Simanowitz, Counsellor & Supervisor, Counselling Psychotherapy Journal, April 2005.

• CONTENTS SECTION I-INTRODUCTIONS Chapter 1 Introduction Gillian Proctor & Mary Beth Napier Chapter 2 Introduction to Feminist Theory and Therapies Mary Beth Napier Chapter 3 An Introduction to the Person-Centred Approach Gillian Proctor SECTION II-THE PERSONAL IS STILL POLITICAL - AND HEALING. PERSONAL REFLECTIONS OF USING PC AND FEMINIST THEORY IN WORK Chapter 4 A Personal Odyssey: Shaping political and feminist principles in the Person-Centered Approach Gay Barfield Chapter 5 An Interview with Dr Maureen O'Hara: A pioneer person-centred therapist and feminist reflects on 30 years of process and progress Interviewed by Gillian Proctor Chapter 6 On Becoming an Activist Rosemary Hopkins Chapter 7 On Being a Feminist Male J. Wade Hannon Chapter 8 In Our Humanity is Our Divinity: Interconnections between feminist spirituality and the Person-Centred Approach Deb Steele SECTION III-AN INTELLECTUAL UNDERSTANDING. NEW THEORIES TO GUIDE OUR ACTIONS Chapter 9 Toward Convergence: Client-centered and feminist assumptions about epistemology and power Carol Wolter-Gustafson Chapter 10 Trusting Our Clients: The Stone Centre model of therapy encounters a non-directive attitude Mary Beth Napier Chapter 11 What Can Person-Centred Therapy Learn From Feminism? Gillian Proctor Chapter 12 Sexual Abuse: The psychiatric response and the construction of better alternatives Clare Shaw Chapter 13 Taking Context and Culture into Account in the Core Conditions: A feminist person-centered approach: Randall D. Ehrbar Chapter 14 Pedagogical Crossroads: Integrating feminist critical pedagogies and the Person-Centered Approach to education Jeff Cornelius-White and Phoebe Godfrey Chapter 15 New Men? - A new image of man? Person-centred challenges to gender dialogue Peter F. Schmid SECTION IV-PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS AND SUCCESS STORIES Chapter 16 Making Sense of Monsters: Working therapeutically with women and children who have experienced sexual violence Edna Davis and Margaret Bird Chapter 17 Making Connections: Domestic violence, feminism and Person-Centred Therapy Sophie Smailes Chapter 18 Woman-Centred Practice Monica Hill