Dilemmas of Power and Equality in Marital and Family Counseling: Proposals for a Feminist Perspective

The author compares the assumptions and practices emerging from family systems and feminist counseling. Three major areas of convergence and divergence are examined: (a) the nature of problem definitions, (b) notions about power and appropriate sex roles in relationships, and (c) characteristics of the therapeutic relationship. A feminist perspective, which attends to societal concerns as well as issues within the nuclear family, has the potential for improving marital and family counseling. Suggestions are provided for integrating family systems and feminist concepts.