Abstract
Using the example of a feminist ideological framework, this research explored the influence of practitioners' personal belief/value systems upon their therapeutic practice. The impact of this on the practice of 73 psychoanalysts, clinical and counselling psychologists, and counsellors was assessed, whilst also attending to the role played by the practitioners' theoretical orientations. As well as using pre-existing questionnaires, in quantifying the level of feminist practice evidenced by the participants, a third instrument was constructed. The construction of this third measure and its psychometric properties are evaluated and discussed. Statistical analysis revealed a series of relationships between the variables, particularly with regard to feminist identity and feminist practice. Indeed, following multiple regression analyses, feminist identity was found to predict feminist practice. Theoretical orientation, however, was not found to relate to feminist identity or to predict feminist practice. In light of these findings the implications for counselling psychology are discussed, with suggestions made for future research.