How do psychological therapy practitioners, in their therapeutic approach, understand and work towards the empowerment of women who have been victims of violence?

Violence against women and women’s oppression are reciprocally related – just as oppressive patriarchal contexts are conducive to violence, violence is also a tool for subjugating women. Women’s empowerment is therefore often cited as a goal for psychological therapies provided to women who have been subjected to violence. However, literature surrounding empowerment within therapy holds various contradictions, gaps and problematic implications for women. Little is known about how UK practitioners navigate these issues. This research explored how practitioners conceptualise and approach empowerment within their therapeutic work with women subjected to violence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 psychological therapy practitioners representing a range of modalities, experienced in working with women subjected to violence. A reflexive thematic analysis, through a critical realist and feminist lens, was used to analyse participants’ reports. Three overarching themes were constructed: understanding empowerment, ‘what I do with clients’, and ‘a hand tied behind our back’: practitioners face barriers to empowering therapeutic practice. Participants predominantly aligned with an individualistic approach to empowerment centred around connection, coping, and reparation; and highlighted systemic barriers to ideal practice. Implications, limitations and suggested further research are discussed.