Female clinical psychologists' reflections on the construction of gender in psychotherapy

Abstract

This research is qualitatively aimed at investigating how female clinical psychologists reflect on the construction of gender in psychotherapy. The motivation behind such research was to investigate how gender influences the co-construction of reality within this space. Female clinical psychologists were interviewed due to the historical prejudice of the female gender in psychology. Where previous research has been directed towards patients' experiences of gender, this study aimed to understand the psychotherapist's understanding of it. Gender has been treated as static within psychology. In addition, feminist constructionist writers have argued for a more analytical engagement with gender in the field. This is important in the South African context, as previous research has indicated psychologist may be ill equipped in their training to deal with gender and gender-based violence. This study is positioned from a social constructionist epistemology. It is concerned with constructions of gender through talk-as-interaction. It considers the usage of language as the vehicle of such construction. Therefore the method of analysis used here is conversational analysis, as to consider just how these psychologists construct gender. Hence, this research is of a descriptive nature. Some of the finding of this research indicate that gender is not only present in psychotherapy, but important in its work. Even though gender was difficult to describe outside of anatomical difference, these therapists indicated how it affected their therapeutic work. This was described through gendered projections and transference. These psychologists believed that their limited training affected their initial work with gender, often requiring them to learn about it in vivo.