Friday, May 30, 2008

What Difference Does It Make if Your Client is a Woman or a Man?: Treating Depression, Anxiety Disorders, & Trauma

Men and women have significant differences in physiology, socialization, and status in society that can have a major impact on the psychotherapy process. Women have physiological factors that place them at greater risk for depression, while men have hormonal factors placing them at risk for aggression or anger.

Women and men are socialized with different expectations of themselves, the world, and their likely status. Women are raised to be attuned to interpersonal relations while men are raised to prioritize concrete accomplishments. Men are raised to attribute success to their own skill and effort, while negative outcomes are attributed to bad luck or other external causes. For women, the expectations are exactly the opposite. These differences in socialization have clear impact on the incidence and treatment of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

This workshop will explore gender-specific strategies for treating three very common psychiatric disorders: depression, anxiety disorders, and trauma. This will include consciously using aspects of the gender of the therapist to enhance effectiveness; cognitive-behavioral strategies to correct irrational beliefs typical to males and females; exploration of common pitfalls/transference/countertranference issues when working with female and male clients; and gender-related factors to be aware of when treating personality disorders. Workshop participants will:

• Recognize gender-different social, biological, and psychological factors impacting the causes, frequency, and symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, and trauma
• Recognize gender-different social, biological, and psychological factors impacting the causes, frequency, and symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, and trauma
• Examine cognitive reframing tailored specifically for male and female clients
• Learn to be intentional in using their gender to further treatment goals

Instructor

Elizabeth Hess, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, in private practice, with over 25 years of experience doing psychotherapy, assessment, and presenting on trauma treatment, clinical neuropsychology, and clinical hypnosis. Her focus on gender differences in treatment began when she was getting her Ph.D. and did her dissertation on gender differences in depression and assertiveness. Dr. Hess has worked in both outpatient and inpatient settings with a wide variety of clients, as well as consulting to agencies and performing forensic assessments.