Practice of evidence-based psychology and feminist psychology: Initial reflections

Abstract

Considering how crossing and determining factors such as gender, sexuality, race, economic class and other social markers affect people’s experiences in different ways, it is essential to understand that the work of psychotherapists must also be under the control of these variables. Paralleling the growing incentive to value a sensitive professional performance attentive to social factors, psychology, especially in the clinical area, psychology has undergone a growing movement to promote evidence-based practice. One of its objectives is to guide professionals so that they choose intervention procedures that have obtained reliable results
when experimentally verifying the effectiveness of such interventions. This movement also encourages professionals to adapt the best practices available to the specific characteristics of their clients, both at a personal and sociocultural level. The present work intends to articulate a feminist clinical practice with the Practice of Evidence-Based Psychology (PEBP), seeking to understand how a feminist clinic can meet the proposal of the PEBP, considering its core assumptions: the best scientific evidence available, clinical expertise and practice, and characteristics of the client. We conclude that the union between PEBP and feminist psychotherapy,
although with attention to in-depth studies, can promote clinical practice more attentive to inconspicuous social issues.