This collection of essays considers the role of spirituality and religion in the lives of American women from various ethnic backgrounds, showing how faith empowers those in populations often marginalized in the United States. Religion and spirituality are sources of strength and resilience for many women, particularly ethnically diverse women. This thought-provoking text examines this psychological trend, exploring the specific ways in which women from diverse backgrounds have benefited from their faith traditions, the various spiritual pathways they have chosen, and the impact of those choices on their lives. Essays in this informative compilation show how women from African American, Latina, American Indian, Asian American, and Caucasian backgrounds recover from difficulties and traumas with the help of their faith. Contributors consider why women are more likely to endorse religious engagement than men; why ethnically marginalized women tap into spirituality for comfort more than any other population; and why many believers embrace religion as a coping mechanism throughout their lives-from adolescence to older adulthood. The work suggests ways for counselors, leaders, and religious figures to utilize this knowledge to bolster the well-being of those they serve. Compares commonalities and differences across cultures Features many different religions including folk practices, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, and Santeria Offers a multi-disciplinary perspective through coverage of cultural studies, psychology, and women's issues Includes personal vignettes to demonstrate the power of faith and religion

Understanding multicultural feminist perspectives is vital for clinicians working to effectively help women in therapy. Feminist Reflections on Growth and Transformation: Asian American Women in Therapy provides therapists with valuable insight and research into the identities of Asian and Asian American women, all toward the crucial goal of being more effective when providing therapeutic help. In-depth explorations into the women's personal experiences and psychological issues provide an empowering multicultural feminist viewpoint that challenges assumptions and stereotypes about their identities while presenting innovative therapeutic approaches. Identity is made up from several factors, such as worldview, beliefs, values, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, age, and religious orientation. Feminist Reflections on Growth and Transformation: Asian American Women in Therapy explores how these common factors impact psychotherapy approaches for women of Asian American backgrounds. This unique text presents the current research, what the data mean for adjusting clinical strategies, and personal accounts from Asian and Asian American women. Each chapter is extensively referenced. Topics in Feminist Reflections on Growth and Transformation: Asian American Women in Therapy include: breaking free of the passive, subservient stereotypes defining gender identity cultural and identity issues emotional parity negotiations in Chinese immigrant women's marital relationships suicide as a means of agency rather than simply a cry for help the use of feminist and multicultural principles with survivors of domestic violence research on Asian American lesbians' health integrating multiculturalism and feminism in the treatment of eating disorders innovative therapeutic approach based on Hindu understandings of Shakti approaches to work on body image and eating disorders group counseling with Asian American women training multicultural feminist therapy practitioners Feminist Reflections on Growth and Transformation: Asian American Women in Therapy is an insightful exploration of the culturally sensitive knowledge and skills clinicians need to work more effectively with female clients of Asian ancestry. This stimulating work is important reading for therapists, counselors, psychologists, and others in the mental health and social work fields.

Radical Visionaries documents and honours those feminist therapy pioneers of the 1970s who moved the mental health establishment, and possibly the world, through radical action, to begin to consider women as fully human. It is remarkable today, even in these difficult times, to realize how far we have come, and to know it was these women who galvanized this move forward toward self-exploration and equality. As we move into the current era of feminism and social justice, it is imperative to pause to consider how these 'second wave' feminist pioneers gave us feminist therapy and all that followed from it. From the earliest stages of the movement, feminists used consciousness raising, which moved into the notion of the egalitarian therapy and ultimately led toward a cultural shift towards female empowerment and the groundswell of women into clinical psychology programs. These founding feminist therapists impacted structures including the criminal justice system, divorce proceedings, domestic violence services, education, medicine, and banking. This book highlight these women's stories, told by the pioneers themselves, as they forged the trail for those of us who follow them. This book was originally published as a special issue of Women & Therapy.

Feminist Therapy with Latina Women highlights the principles of feminist and multicultural counselling and therapy with Latinas and Latin American women, providing both theoretical approaches and applied frameworks. The authors are all experienced therapists and researchers with a deep understanding of the issues relevant to this particular population. In presenting their expertise, they discuss individual concerns and social context, applying it concretely to the personal and collective lives of Latina women. Chapters focus on the intersecting principles of feminism and multiculturalism, providing a much needed contribution to the field, with topics including domestic violence, eating disorders and body image, addictive behaviours, sexuality, immigrant and refugee experiences, and balancing the multiple roles of work and family. This book was originally published as a special issue of Women & Therapy.

Radical Visionaries documents and honours those feminist therapy pioneers of the 1970s who moved the mental health establishment, and possibly the world, through radical action, to begin to consider women as fully human. It is remarkable today, even in these difficult times, to realize how far we have come, and to know it was these women who galvanized this move forward toward self-exploration and equality. As we move into the current era of feminism and social justice, it is imperative to pause to consider how these 'second wave' feminist pioneers gave us feminist therapy and all that followed from it. From the earliest stages of the movement, feminists used consciousness raising, which moved into the notion of the egalitarian therapy and ultimately led toward a cultural shift towards female empowerment and the groundswell of women into clinical psychology programs. These founding feminist therapists impacted structures including the criminal justice system, divorce proceedings, domestic violence services, education, medicine, and banking. This book highlight these women's stories, told by the pioneers themselves, as they forged the trail for those of us who follow them. This book was originally published as a special issue of Women & Therapy.

Feminist Therapy with Latina Women highlights the principles of feminist and multicultural counselling and therapy with Latinas and Latin American women, providing both theoretical approaches and applied frameworks. The authors are all experienced therapists and researchers with a deep understanding of the issues relevant to this particular population. In presenting their expertise, they discuss individual concerns and social context, applying it concretely to the personal and collective lives of Latina women. Chapters focus on the intersecting principles of feminism and multiculturalism, providing a much needed contribution to the field, with topics including domestic violence, eating disorders and body image, addictive behaviours, sexuality, immigrant and refugee experiences, and balancing the multiple roles of work and family. This book was originally published as a special issue of Women & Therapy.

Understanding multicultural feminist perspectives is vital for clinicians working to effectively help women in therapy. Feminist Reflections on Growth and Transformation: Asian American Women in Therapy provides therapists with valuable insight and research into the identities of Asian and Asian American women, all toward the crucial goal of being more effective when providing therapeutic help. In-depth explorations into the women's personal experiences and psychological issues provide an empowering multicultural feminist viewpoint that challenges assumptions and stereotypes about their identities while presenting innovative therapeutic approaches. Identity is made up from several factors, such as worldview, beliefs, values, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, age, and religious orientation. Feminist Reflections on Growth and Transformation: Asian American Women in Therapy explores how these common factors impact psychotherapy approaches for women of Asian American backgrounds. This unique text presents the current research, what the data mean for adjusting clinical strategies, and personal accounts from Asian and Asian American women. Each chapter is extensively referenced. Topics in Feminist Reflections on Growth and Transformation: Asian American Women in Therapy include: breaking free of the passive, subservient stereotypes defining gender identity cultural and identity issues emotional parity negotiations in Chinese immigrant women's marital relationships suicide as a means of agency rather than simply a cry for help the use of feminist and multicultural principles with survivors of domestic violence research on Asian American lesbians' health integrating multiculturalism and feminism in the treatment of eating disorders innovative therapeutic approach based on Hindu understandings of Shakti approaches to work on body image and eating disorders group counseling with Asian American women training multicultural feminist therapy practitioners Feminist Reflections on Growth and Transformation: Asian American Women in Therapy is an insightful exploration of the culturally sensitive knowledge and skills clinicians need to work more effectively with female clients of Asian ancestry. This stimulating work is important reading for therapists, counselors, psychologists, and others in the mental health and social work fields.