Intersectional Feminism

 Intersectional Feminism is a core guiding tenet of how Gather & Grow was created, how we envision the structure and collaboration of our practice, and how we work to serve our communities.

While some of our therapists consider this their core theoretical orientation, it can be utilized to inform and in conjunction with other modes of practice.

What is Intersectionality?

  • A person’s social and political identities combine to create different experiences of privilege and oppression. Learn more about the term Intersectionality and feminist legal scholar Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw HERE.

What is Feminist Therapy?

  • This ARTICLE gives a brief description of Feminist Therapy. While this gives a relatively accurate overview two distinctions are important for our practice: (1) We come from a specifically "Intersectional Feminist" lens and don't believe that these two concepts can (or should) be un-entwined from one another. This article, on the other hand, considers this as "one type" of Feminist Therapy. (2) We don't believe that Feminist Therapy is specifically about "women's issues." We hope to support folks in understanding how systemic inequity is problematic for all identities -- that patriarchy hurts mens, transphobia hurts cis-people, racism hurts white folks, etc.

Feminist Therapy Main Tenets

  • The Personal is Political

  • Commitment to Social Change is Necessary

  • There is Wisdom in Narratives of the Minoritized

  • Psychological Distress is a Symptom of Societal Inequity Rather Than Individual Pathology

  • An Egalitarian Therapy Room is Central to Healing

Feminist Therapy Goals 

  • Deconstruct Inequality

  • Empowerment/Increase Agency

  • Change Rather Than Adapt to Unjust Systems

Feminist Therapy Tools

  • Dependent on Client

  • Reframing

  • Bibliotherapy

  • Advocacy

  • Empathy

Books (Previously Linked) on Feminist Therapy: