In feminist therapy, how are personal issues interpreted in relation to broader social contexts?

• A. Personal issues have societal and political roots.
• B. Mental illness definitions are reformulated
• C. The therapist maintains the expert role
• D. Oppression is ignored

Answer: (A)

In feminist therapy, personal issues are understood as arising from and being shaped by broader social structures rather than existing only within the individual. This perspective highlights power, inequality, and oppression, so distress is seen as often rooted in societal forces like gender norms, discrimination, and systemic unfairness. By connecting what a client experiences to these social contexts, therapy can validate their experiences, explore how social conditions contribute to their feelings and behaviors, and empower them to respond—whether through personal coping, challenging norms, or seeking broader change. For example, anxiety about job advancement can be tied to gender-based barriers rather than simply labeling the person as anxious or deficient.

This framing contrasts with approaches that view mental health issues as solely within the person or that place the therapist in an expert-giving role, and it would be inconsistent with feminist therapy to ignore oppression. Therefore, the interpretation emphasized is that personal issues have societal and political roots.