Counselling women on helping behaviour
Date
1984
Authors
Witwicki, Cynthia Gayle
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The care and concern that women express towards others (women's helping behaviour) was conceptualized as a strength of women. It was suggested that, when women's experience is examined within the context of their relationships with others, women's helping behaviour contributes to the development of both the self and others. Cognitive-behavioural therapy is one counselling approach that addresses the interaction between the self and others. Donald Meichenbaum's version of cognitive-behavioural therapy was therefore examined for its utility in representing the nature and intent of women's helping experience. It was found that Meichenbaum's theory, in general, is compatible with developing women's helping behaviour into a strength. A counselling manual was developed based on Meichenbaum's theory. The manual details a cognitive-behavioural approach to counselling women's helping behaviour as a strength, emphasizing the interaction between the self and others using feminist therapy principles.