How Intersectional Feminism Creates Safer Therapy Spaces
- Her Time Therapy Team
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
As a feminist mental health practice, we at Her Time Therapy know intersectional feminism isn’t just a talking point—it’s a framework for how we care for the clients we serve: because your identity isn’t one-dimensional, and your healing shouldn't be either.
We believe you deserve therapy that sees the whole of who you are. But traditional therapy models have often focused on a narrow experience—usually white, cisgender, straight, and middle-class. That leaves a lot of people feeling unseen, invalidated, or even harmed.
This post will help you understand how intersectional feminism can transform the therapy experience. We’ll also show you how a more inclusive, affirming approach to mental health care can lead to deeper healing. So let’s break down what intersectional feminism is, why it belongs in therapy, and how it may offer the support you didn’t know was possible.
What Is Intersectional Feminism, Anyway?
Intersectional feminism is the idea that gender inequality doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
Coined by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, “intersectionality” is a way to understand how different forms of oppression—like racism, classism, ableism, and homophobia—intersect and overlap, shaping each person’s experience of the world.
Hear more from Crenshaw herself about intersectionality:
In short: being a woman isn’t experienced the same way by all women. For example:
A queer Latina single mother may face very different challenges than a white, straight, married woman.
A Black trans woman may experience overlapping forms of violence, exclusion, and erasure that aren’t addressed by mainstream feminism.
A disabled woman navigating mental health treatment might feel invisible in both feminist and disability spaces.
Intersectional feminism asks us to zoom out and consider how systems of power affect people differently. It’s not about ranking oppression—it’s about acknowledging complexity.
Why Intersectionality Belongs in Therapy
If your therapist doesn’t recognize the multiple layers of your identity, your care might fall short.
Too often, therapy centers individual behaviors without naming or exploring systemic issues like racism, fatphobia, or transphobia. That can lead to clients internalizing blame for challenges that are actually rooted in larger societal problems.
Intersectional feminism in therapy:
Names the water we’re swimming in (like white supremacy and patriarchy)
Validates how oppression can impact your mental health
Helps you untangle what’s yours to carry and what’s been placed on you by the world
At Her Time Therapy, when we bring intersectionality into therapy, we’re not just treating symptoms—we’re treating the whole person in context.
What Does Intersectionality in Therapy Mean for You?
Intersectional feminist therapy means:
You don’t have to leave parts of yourself at the door
You get to unpack how systems of oppression shape your mental health
Your therapist works to be aware of their own privileges and biases
You’re met with affirmation, not assumptions
It also means we’re always learning. Intersectionality is a lens, not a checklist. No therapist will get it perfect all the time, but a good one will be open, curious, and committed to doing better.
Supporting Considerations: How It Shows Up in Session
Here are a few real-life ways intersectional feminism shapes the therapy we offer:
1. Culturally Responsive Care
We don’t assume what works for one culture or community will work for everyone. We take time to understand your background, traditions, language, and lived experiences.
2. Body Liberation
We honor all bodies and actively challenge fatphobia in clinical spaces. If your body has been pathologized or policed, we hold space for that grief and anger.
3. Trauma-Informed and Social Justice-Oriented
We understand trauma isn’t just personal—it’s often political. From intergenerational trauma to state violence, we make room for the big picture.
4. Affirming Queer and Trans Clients
We affirm and celebrate LGBTQIA+ identities. That includes advocating for gender-affirming care and checking our language and assumptions.
5. Accessible Therapy Models
We offer sliding scale spots, support groups, and free consults because we know that access to healing is a justice issue.
Want to learn more about what to expect from working with us? Read about our feminist approach to therapy here.
Final Thoughts
Therapy isn’t just about coping—it’s about liberation.
When your therapist sees all of you—not just your symptoms—you get to heal on your own terms. Intersectional feminism gives us the tools to hold space for complexity, nuance, and truth. And we believe every person deserves that kind of care.
If you're ready to be seen and supported in a deeper way, we’re here.
Book your free consultation with a feminist therapist who honors your full story.
Call/Text (720) 255-1667 | info@hertimetherapy.com | www.hertimetherapy.com
This post was written collaboratively by the Her Time Therapy team of clinicians. As a feminist practice, we are committed to creating inclusive, trauma-informed spaces where all clients feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Our therapists bring a range of specialties and lived experiences to their work—but we share a deep belief in the power of healing, authenticity, and community.
*Disclaimer: This blog does not provide medical advice and the information contained herein is for informational purposes only. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a licensed health provider before undertaking a new treatment or health care regimen.
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