A Grammar of Power in Psychotherapy.

What is it about?

This book reveals four common patterns of interaction in the therapy partnership, and explains how social power dynamics influence those patterns. Societal issues based in power and privilege inevitably enter the therapy room. In this book I offer an intersectional grammar to unmask the hidden dynamics. Integrating theory, research, and a wealth of clinical narratives, I explore four core situations: when therapist and patient have similar levels of social power, when either therapist or patient has more privilege relative to the other, and when both therapist and patient have similar levels of nonprivilege.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

My main conclusion in the book is that there is no such thing as a completely unbiased or unprejudiced therapist. I want to go beyond the position of splitting into “the bad sexist/racist therapist” versus the “good conscious feminist or culturally competent therapist” toward a more nuanced understanding of power issues in the therapy dyad. Discovering blind spots in oneself is challenging and sometimes quite painful, but on the other hand, revealing new truths about oneself may compensate for such discomfort with the rewards of vital curiosity and honest self-exploration.

Perspectives