The Political is (Still) Personal; on Women’s Mental Health, Post-Roe
Like so many of you, I am still reeling from the Supreme Court's decision to take away a women’s fundamental right to reproductive healthcare. Make no mistake about it:
Roe’s overturn was another collective trauma.
The ruling, while not surprising, was a punch to the gut. It was an assault and an insult to our autonomy and a basic premise.
Women can and should be trusted with their own bodies.
If you are feeling despair, fury, hopelessness, anxiety, numbness, or any combination thereof, please know these feelings are a valid and healthy response to trauma. So many women (and folx with uteruses) feel threatened and powerless right now.
For women in red states, with marginalized identities and/or with fewer resources, that threat is heightened.
And for women in blue states like California, we may be wondering what to do next. How do we use our privilege to help other women who have already been impacted by restricted or no access to healthcare? As a female therapist with a California-based practice, I understand these challenges both professionally and personally
Feminist Therapy is Essential, Now More Than Ever
It’s for these reasons, women-centered psychotherapy is essential right now, and that’s where Feminist Therapy comes in. Feminist Therapy, unlike many other therapeutic approaches, centers on the nuanced experiences of women and girls and recognizes that one’s emotional health hinges not only on a strong sense of self and nourishing relationships but on a society where everyone feels safe and respected.
Forming a Collaborative Relationship
That starts in the therapy room by creating a therapeutic relationship that feels collaborative, and respectful and acknowledges the client as the expert of their own experience. You’d think those tenets would be more commonplace than they actually are.
My Approach to Feminist Therapy in California
To be clear, I’m not speaking for all feminist therapists here or the field at large. Instead, I’ll share some values and principles that I incorporate into my own Feminist Therapy practice, which focuses specifically on the support of self-identified women and girls in California.
These values and principles include:
Honoring an individual's cultural, political, and social experiences
Recognizing the importance of relationships and interconnection in our lives
Recognizing the political as personal and working toward political/social change
Focusing on and cultivating strengths and resiliency, while honoring painful experiences
Practicing self-compassion
Creating partnership & authenticity in the therapeutic relationship
Cultivating joy, purpose, and meaning in our lives
Exploring creativity & spirituality as a means for healing and growth
I share my approach here because as I've written many times before, I believe Feminist Therapy is revolutionary, just as I believe healing is our birthright. Both are needed now.
Women and Girls Deserve Support
These continue to be trying times, and women and girls deserve support tailored just to them. Too often people shy away from therapy because they fear their experiences won't be fully honored. It feels safer to push through on their own, despite the pain it may cause, not realizing there is a therapeutic frame that is in line with their own values and experiences. Therapy for Women in California can help.
Feminist Therapy is Here to Help
I expect in the coming weeks I’ll write more in detail about women’s mental health and how to care for ourselves in a post-Roe era, but for now, I wanted to offer that women-centered support is available and that we don’t need to get through this on our own.
If you're interested in knowing more about Feminist Therapy, and the work I do, or are in need of support during this trying time, don't hesitate to reach out.
Till next time, wishing you health & ease,
Jessika
Begin Feminist Therapy in California
My approach is holistic and tailored to meet each client’s specific needs. Wherever you are at this moment, I'm in this with you - warm, direct, and transparent in the process. And I love the work I do. Let’s get started!
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Other Services Offered By Jessika Fruchter, LMFT- Therapy For Women And Girls
In addition to providing Feminist Therapy in California, I also offer online therapy for women, therapy for teen girls, and expressive arts therapy for women and teen girls in California.
Other Services Include:
Groups and Workshops for Women:
Magic happens when women come together! I offer new groups and workshops quarterly, both online and in-person. Topics and themes have included:
Therapeutic Writing
Mask Making
Tarot Practice for Developing Intuition
Women’s Circles
Clinical Consultation For Therapists:
I specialize in collaborating with clinicians who want to integrate expressive arts therapy or psychospiritual practices such as tarot therapy, dreamwork, altar making, and ritual, into their practices. I also offer training on these topics. To learn more about my offerings for clinicians visit: www.mycreativepractice.com.
Training For Psychotherapists:
I have a passion for providing creative and useful training to teams on the front line of community mental health. Past training has focused on trauma-informed expressive arts therapy interventions and burnout prevention. Training may also be developed/tailored based on the unique need of the team. Contact me here.
Books And Blogs:
Check out my first book project for teens published in September 2021. For articles and essays about women’s mental health and wellness, check out my blog, Say More and you can also subscribe to receive the latest updates.
