The Effectiveness of Postmodern Feminist Empowering Counseling for Abused Women: A Perspectives of Thai Abused Women

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to explore the perspectives of Thai abused women regarding the effectiveness of postmodern feminist empowering counseling (PFEC) for them. The research and data collection was done in nine months. The setting of the study was a tertiary hospital located in the lower Northern area in Thailand. The participants were six abused women.  The research instruments consisted of semi-structured interviews. The findings showed that the abused women, who received counseling, achieved changes in three aspects; (a) men and women are equal, (b) being abused is not fate, and (c) feeling powerful. These findings suggested that the PFEC process proposed can be utilized by counselors to increase perceived empowerment in abused women. Positive adjustments to their lives can be explained by their perceived empowerment and developed through the counseling process.

Keywords: abused women, postmodern feminist counseling, PFEC, empowerment