Feminist and family systems therapy: Are they irreconcilable?

There has been surprisingly little interchange between family systems and feminist clinicians up until this time despite the obvious overlap of concerns and clientele. The most striking theoretical differences are in the views of causality, the locus of change, the value placed on insight and strategy and the therapist's use of power. However, techniques of modeling and reframing, contextual concepts of pathology and emphasis on be havioral change are shared in common by feminist and family systems clinicians. This paper urges more dialogue and integration of the two camps in order to expand our flexibility and effectiveness with a variety of families.