Addressing Sexism and Bias in Mental Health Therapy

Woman sitting in a chair, looking out a window

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the American Psychological Association is making sure that women of diverse backgrounds feel heard and validated by their therapists with revamped guidelines for the treatment of girls and women in the era of #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter. The new guidelines help therapists to:

  • Recognize women’s resilience and use affirmative approaches;
  • Understand multiple layers of identity and oppression (race, disability, sexuality, economic background, etc.);
  • Be aware of contradictory messaging around what it means to be a woman;
  • Confront their own personal and institutional biases;
  • Offer diagnosis only when necessary and use unbiased assessment tools; and
  • Know about alternative forms of healing, including indigenous methods and community resources.

To continue reading visit: The Representation Project


The Representation Project is a partner of the ERA Coalition and the Fund for Women’s Equality.

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