Abstract:

Women experience depression at twice the rate of men. Research suggests that social factors play a role in this gender difference. Because of this, Feminist Therapy may be particularly effective in treating women's depression. In the present study, six women who met criteria for Major Depressive Disorder received an integrated treatment of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy and Feminist Therapy for up to twenty sessions and completed several measures and an open-ended interview at pre-treatment and post-treatment. Most participants showed reduced depressive symptomology and increased empowerment/social consciousness, but only a few participants showed improved interpersonal functioning. Most participants noticed and appreciated therapists' self disclosures, as well as the collaborative/egalitarian nature of the therapy relationship.