Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons^™

Empathy/Role Taking: A Theoretical Model For Feminist Therapy, Michele Wilson, Gayle Twilbeck Wykle

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Feminist therapy is directed not only at individual, but also at social change. Because of this dual aim of feminist therapy, the symbolic interactionist perspective, which describes individual initiative as a source of social change, is suggested as a theoretical orientation which can provide a useful model for feminist therapy. More specifically, the empathy/role-taking model for the clienttherapist relationship is outlined here.