Changing our minds

Many women now hear that they should build their self-esteem, embrace their inner child, escape harmful family ties, stop depending on others too much, and transform themselves from within. Therapists often promote the goal of a pure, contented inner self, yet this ideal overlooks the fact that some unhappiness and discontent are ordinary parts of living and do not always call for treatment. Lesbians in particular are encouraged to understand themselves through their weaknesses, shortcomings and anxieties.

The author argues that current feminist psychology and therapy are not only mistaken in practice but conflict with the core principles of lesbian feminist politics. Psychology as a whole, she suggests, sits uneasily with those commitments.

The book accepts that many lesbians feel unhappy and face difficulties that erode their wellbeing. It sets out constructive alternatives to psychological frameworks for understanding and coping with emotional distress.

Written in an accessible, lively style, the book will interest anyone who has undergone therapy or has a loved one who has. It is also aimed at lesbians, feminists, psychologists, psychotherapists, students of psychology and women's studies, and readers interested in the growth of lesbian feminist theory, ethics and practice.