Introduction

This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part looks at a wide variety of alternatives to the traditional mental hospital inpatient service. These models range from methods quite acceptable to the mental health field, to those which challenge the mainstream. The part reviews a number of such alternatives, including day treatment, outpatient care, independence training, hostel living, and a nonprofessional group home. Feminist therapy contains an ‘analysis of the forms of social, economic, and political oppression that affect women individually as well as a group. Feminist therapy’ discusses how that model is ‘better defined by the political awareness and social commitment on the part of the therapist than by the particular set of techniques she uses.’ The feminist therapist deals with social issues which affect her own values and perspectives.