Skip to main content

Theories with an Agenda

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Psychotherapy, Society, and Politics
  • 765 Accesses

Abstract

In the previous chapters, we encountered three approaches that are all aware of the political purport of the practices of psychotherapy and attempt to advance a therapeutic relationship that takes this into account. Now I would like to take one step closer to psychotherapeutic approaches which have a political agenda at their very core. What they pursue is obviously not a narrow agenda that strives to attain local political objectives, but a general perspective that centers on a fundamental position concerning the power relations in society. The following three approaches share an emphasis on oppressive relations (whether in psychotherapy or in society) and on solidarity with disadvantaged groups. I start off with a short presentation of some basic concepts in order to allow a first acquaintance with the professional approach I propose here.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 19.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 24.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, R., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., & Zuniga, X. (Eds.) (2000). Readings for diversity and social justice: An anthology on racism, anti-semitism, sexism, ableism, and classism. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, L. A. (2007). Theoretical foundations for social justice education. In M. Adams, L. A. Bell, & P. Griffin (Eds.), Teaching for diversity and social justice (2nd ed., pp. 1–14). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. (1996). What is social justice? Perspectives on Multicultural and Cultural Diversity, 6, 1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, D. (2000). The critical psychology project: Transforming society and transforming psychology. In T. Sloan (Ed.), Critical psychology: Voices for change (pp. 21–33). New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, D. R., & Perilleltensky, I. (Eds.) (1997). Critical psychology: An introduction. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, M., & Ballou, M. (1998). Making therapy feminist: A practice survey. In M. Hill (Ed.), Feminist therapy as a political act (pp. 1–16). Binghampton, NY: Harrington Park Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McWirther, E. H. (1994). Counseling for empowerment. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLellan, B. (1999). The prostitution of psychotherapy: A feminist critique. British Journal of Guidance and Counseling, 27(3), 325–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishler, E. G. (1996). Forward. In I. Martín-Baró, A. Aron, & S. Corne (Eds.), Writings for a liberation psychology (pp. vii–xii). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, K. M., Patel, S., Hensler-McGinnis, N., & Kaplan, J. (2006). Empowering undergraduate students to be agents of social change: An innovative service learning course in counseling psychology. In R. Toporek, L. H. Gerstein, N. A. Fouad, G. Roysircar, & T. Israel (Eds.), Social justice in counseling psychology: Leadership vision and action (pp. 59–73). Thousand Oak, CA: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Perilleltensky, I., & Fox, D. (1997). Introducing critical psychology: Values, assumptions, and the status-quo. In D. R. Fox & I. Perilleltensky (Eds.), Critical psychology: An introduction. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prilleltensky, I., & Nelson, G. (2002). Doing psychology critically. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, G. (2006). Opening remarks. In G. Proctor, M. Copper, & P. Sanders (Eds.), Politicizing the person-centred approach (pp. 1–4). Ross on Wye, UK: PCCS Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, E. (2000). Of Rainbows and Differences. In Sloan T. (Ed.),Critical psychology: Voices for change (pp. 1–5). New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Avissar, N. (2016). Theories with an Agenda. In: Psychotherapy, Society, and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57597-5_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics