Just like therapists are trained to maintain an ongoing dialogue about race and ethnicity, we need to do this around issues of gender.

Do not assume that nothing can be done

If a therapist is unaware of the influence of gender in their own lives, it is unlikely that they will be inclined to bring it up in the therapy session. They should be aware of the insights they have about how gender beliefs have affected them, their relationships, and what this means for them in the room with clients.

Reflect upon their own thoughts and beliefs

Curran, J., Parry, G. D., Hardy, G. E., Darling, J., Mason, A.-M., &amp; Chambers, E. (2019). How does therapy harm? A model of adverse process using task analysis in the meta-synthesis of service users' experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00347 

 How does therapy harm? A model of adverse process using task analysis in the meta-synthesis of service users' experience

A therapist who is impersonal and detached towards their clients or pressures them to partake in treatment are all qualities of a Therapist that results in a decreased or non-effective treatment. 

Poor Therapist Qualities

- Ask for recommendations 
- Read reviews
- Speak to past/current clients

Steps to Choosing a Good Therapist 

* More training on the topic of gender
* Do not assume that nothing can be done
* Reflect upon their own thoughts and beliefs

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

* Potential reasons why clients seek therapists of a certain gender
* Does therapist gender matter?
* Practice implications
* Therapist development/Training/Supervision

Gender matching in therapy

Blow, A. J., Timm, T. M., & Cox, R. (2008). The role of the therapist in therapeutic change: Does therapist gender matter?. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 20(1), 66-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/0895280801907150

The Role of the Therapist in Therapeutic Change: Does Therapist Gender Matter?

* Client comfort
* "Just because"
* Unconscious reasons
* Gender bias

Potential reasons why clients seek therapists of a certain gender

* Effect of therapist gender on outcome and process in general psychotherapy
* Effect of therapist gender on outcome and process in couples and family therapy
* Effect of client gender on outcome and process in general psychotherapy
* Effect of client gender on outcome and process in couple and family therapy

Does therapist gender matter?

Although research shows that therapist gender has minimal effects on therapeutic outcomes, client preference should be taken into consideration when possible. 

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