Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to understand how therapists were experiencing the #MeToo movement, both personally and professionally. In an anonymous online survey (via Qualtrics) sent to multiple therapist listservs and Facebook pages, training programs, and personal contacts, we asked therapists to respond to four open-ended questions about (a) their personal reactions to the #MeToo movement, (b) their clients’ reactions, (c) their subsequent interactions with clients, and (d) their ideas for change going forward. The convenience sample of 59 consisted of mostly liberal and feminist psychologists and counselors. They identified with diverse gender, racial/ethnic, and sexual orientation statuses, but most (78%) identified as women and over half (59%) as European American/White. We analyzed written narratives using grounded theory and consensual qualitative research methods. Six higher-order themes emerged: personal histories and reactions to the movement, complexities of response (optimism and concern), societal context shared by therapists and clients, clinical realities impacted by #MeToo, using standard and context-specific therapeutic strategies, and future directions (what therapists can do). We discuss findings in light of shared trauma (or shared reality), in which participants navigated their histories of sexual violence and media exposure while responding to clients, friends, family, and colleagues with similar experiences. Participants noted the need for increased self-care, as well as growth areas for the field, including the need for therapists to have increased awareness of issues of gender and power, intersectionality, and sexual violence treatment. Implications for the field and future research are discussed.

摘要

本研究的目的是了解治疗师如何在个人和专业方面体验#MeToo 运动。在发送给多个治疗师列表服务器和 Facebook 页面、培训计划和个人联系人的匿名在线调查（通过 Qualtrics）中，我们要求治疗师回答四个开放式问题，这些问题是：（a）他们对#MeToo 运动的个人反应，（ b) 他们客户的反应，(c) 他们随后与客户的互动，以及 (d) 他们对未来变革的想法。59 名便利样本主要由自由主义和女权主义心理学家和顾问组成。他们确定了不同的性别、种族/民族和性取向状态，但大多数 (78%) 确定为女性，超过一半 (59%) 确定为欧洲裔美国人/白人。我们使用扎实的理论和一致的定性研究方法分析书面叙述。出现了六个更高层次的主题：个人历史和对运动的反应、反应的复杂性（乐观和担忧）、治疗师和客户共享的社会背景、受#MeToo 影响的临床现实、使用标准和特定背景的治疗策略，以及未来方向（治疗师可以做什么）。我们根据共同的创伤（或共同的现实）讨论调查结果，其中参与者在回应具有类似经历的客户、朋友、家人和同事时浏览他们的性暴力和媒体曝光历史。参与者指出需要增加自我保健以及该领域的增长领域，包括治疗师需要提高对性别和权力问题的认识，交叉性和性暴力治疗。讨论了对该领域和未来研究的影响。