Counselling for women - Janet Perry

Although few in number, organizations which provide counselling services for women have had a tremendous impact on our current understanding of women's psychology and the issues women explore in counselling. Through her examination of these organizations, Janet Perry highlights the emphasis they place on the importance of how services are provided and their exploration of the dynamics of the working relationships of women counsellors.;The organizations included here range from Women's Aid to Women's Therapy Centres and their services are considered in the context of counselling women. The study shows that through a self-reflexive examination of their organizational processes, these agencies have come to a greater understanding of the ways in which women working with women create non-hierarchical and co-operative endeavours, much needed in our individualistic and competitive society. The book illustrates conflicts that arise when both modes seek to exist within one organization - Family Service Units - and the struggle all the agencies have to legitimize these ways of working to a male-dominated system from which funding is often sought.;Aimed at all those involved in counselling and psychotherapy, this study illustrates some of the practical outcomes of these alternative working models.