Women's issues involve looking at developmental
tasks women experience throughout a lifetime and viewing these
tasks from a woman's perspective. Of course everyone in life
goes through developmental tasks and often encounter difficulties
in life, however, when working with women, these issues are
viewed from the perspective of how each woman was socialized
and the specific roles she plays in her family and in her
life. Class, race, spirituality and sexual orientation are
also incorporated into the therapeutic process.
Common developmental tasks for women starting
at age 18 and extending to the end of life, include: finding
a job; developing their own values; finding employment; dating;
having a committed relationship or getting married; having
children; balancing work- children - chores – time with
friends – exercise/self-care - and their partner; learning
to communicate their needs; caring for elderly parents; empty
nest syndrome and reconnecting with their spouses; finding
out who they really are; retirement; and death and dying.
Issues women typically face when going through
life, include: learning to build their self-esteem and assertiveness
skills; learning to say "no"; learning to stand up for themselves;
learning how to manage their stress; learning self-care and
learning to speak their mind. They may also experience, depression,
anxiety, grief and loss. Additionally, they may be survivors
of sexual abuse or adult children of alcoholics.
Roles women are often assigned are: daughter;
niece; sister; mother; wife; granddaughter; partner; spouse;
aunt; grandmother; employee; co-worker and manager. Learning
what it means to be in these particular roles and how to navigate
them, can also be part of therapy for women.
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