ABSTRACT
Although women are more likely to be counselors and more likely to obtain treatment than their malecounterparts, the vast majority of treatment modules have been created from a male-based perspective. Issues facing women, such as motherhood, sexual trauma, societal expectations, and vocational inequities, have an impact on treatment attendance and adherence for both mental health and substance use diagnoses. Many women may suffer in silence when living with various mental health diagnoses as their focus is on providing care for their families. This chapter reviews the unique needs of women living with co-occurring mental health and substance use diagnoses. This chapter reviews various ways treatment can be adjusted to focus on femaleclient-centered treatment, which includes groups specific to women. As women are primary caretakers of family, this chapter will also discuss various treatment options for pregnant mothers and mothers of young children as they attempt to recover from co-occurring diagnoses. Finally, this chapter will review unique biological factors thatwomen experience thatcan exacerbate certain mental health- and substance use-related diagnoses.
