Challenges and possibilities in providing care to women in psychotherapies influenced by Behavior Analysis

Abstract Given the growing literature on psychotherapy models adapted for women, integrating these discussions and findings is timely. This study aims to examine the limitations of psychotherapy for women and propose practices to address these challenges through a literature review from the perspective of Behavior Analysis-based psychotherapies. We searched the CAPES Periodicals and PsycNet databases using keywords relevant to the study's objective. The search identified 2,628 items; after screening, 11 were selected for analysis. The results indicate steady growth, with a slight acceleration after 2017. Two broad analytical categories were established: (1) “Challenges in psychotherapeutic care for women” and (2) “Possibilities and suggestions for psychotherapeutic care for women.” The first category comprised the following subcategories: (a) Challenges related to the therapeutic relationship and skills; (b) Challenges in skill acquisition and application; and (c) Contextual and structural barriers to psychotherapy. In the second category, the subcategories analyzed were: (a) Possibilities related to the therapeutic relationship and skills; (b) Incorporation of social, cultural, and biological dimensions; (c) Possibilities for psychotherapeutic interventions; (d) Skill development within the psychotherapeutic context; and (e) Benefits of psychotherapeutic interventions. The findings reinforce the need for a Behavior Analysis-based psychotherapeutic practice sensitive to sociopolitical and cultural contingencies; however, further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of behavior-analytic interventions adapted for diverse groups of women. Furthermore, it is important to reinforce the idea of integrating a feminist perspective into Behavior Analysis; while challenging, this is essential for building a fairer and more equitable psychology.