Moving Toward Mutuality: How Adopting a Feminist Framework to Solution-Focused Therapy Can Lead to Empowered Decisions

This paper explores the benefits of incorporating a feminist framework to solution-focused therapy. It is based on the results of a year-long doctoral level clinical practicum experience working with two cisgender female adolescent Latina siblings in a low-income Chicago neighborhood. Clinical work focused on striving for a nonhierarchical therapeutic relationship to promote trust, reciprocity, and mutuality. An intentionally slow approach to the work challenged notions of solution‑focused therapy being a short-term process and allowed for the progressive development of strong, interdependent relationships for the young women. Techniques included language de-construction to challenge affective responses, power dynamics, and assumptions made about self and others. This work helped both young women build confidence and support; they moved away from anger and aggression and toward a balance of connection and autonomy. The ongoing process of trust-building also helped with the identification of concrete solutions and long-term growth.