| This research was an exploration into the subtleties and complexities associated with establishing and maintaining therapeutic connection in feminist therapy, from a client's perspective. Seven women clients were interviewed, and through qualitative analyses of their experiences, three main themes emerged—‘On My Side’, ‘Therapist Expertise’, and ‘Mutuality’. These themes identified different dimensions of the therapeutic alliance and their impact on connection. ‘On My Side’ described the means by which a client felt seen and valued by her therapist, which was contextualized, and dependent upon, a therapist's belief system and her social locations (e.g., gender). ‘Therapist Expertise’ encompassed all the ways in which a therapist facilitated the work with the client. Fundamentally, however, expertise was embodied in the therapist's presence, not the role or position she held. ‘Mutuality’ described how client and therapist engaged in, and negotiated the shared therapeutic space that is traditionally laden with immutable power imbalances. Generally, clients felt that if the relationship was mutually respectful, the ‘breaks’ in the therapeutic connection were considered part of a “continuum”. These participants also discussed the associations between connection and of a sense of “integration” (as a form of well being). While the themes presented represent some new conceptualizations, this study also explored some of the processes that resulted in their emergence. This attention to therapeutic process, and its links to connection, contributes to the newly developing body of valuable research that has focused on the client's perspective of feminist therapy. These findings are discussed with reference to that literature. Further, the implications of this research for both therapeutic practice and feminist therapy theory are explored. |
