The number of women in psychology and personal growth far outnumber men, but as you look at those leading these fields, those numbers drastically flip in favor of men. As a woman in psychology with over 25 years of experience, I am standing on the shoulders of many great women in my field who should be getting more coverage—not because they’re women, but because they are a cut above the rest.
So, in light of Women’s History Month, I want to highlight some of the gender biases we continue to have in our field and celebrate some of the women—known and lesser known—who are powerful healers that have helped hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of people, including me.
While many people think that the wage gap between men and women is an antiquated practice of the past, it is still very prevalent today across all professions. Today, women make up 75% of the total number of therapists in the United States, but they are still only earning 90 cents to the dollar of their male counterparts—a statistic that hasn’t changed since 2011 (U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, 2021).
Gender disparity in the field extends beyond clinical practices and into psychologists working in research, universities, and even in government organizations. Despite the staggering percentage of women in the industry, when it comes to those who achieve national success as speakers, teachers, influencers, and authors, the ones celebrated in the spotlight are largely men.
What’s more, some of those in the spotlight have little to no substantive experience, education, or credibility to speak as an expert on critical subjects; in some cases, I’d argue some go so far as to falsely claim expertise, including doctorate status from bogus universities. And yet, with a few insightful sound bites, they capture a wide swath of followers.
That is why roughly ten years ago, I decided to commit myself to solely supporting all the talented women in my field. Below, I’ve shared a list of some of the powerful women who have inspired my work over the past 25 years, and who have helped bring women to the forefront of our field:
Brené Brown
“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.” – Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. Brené has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and is the host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. Learn more at BrenéBrown.com.
Esther Perel
“When our ability to consider and understand the feelings of others decreases, our relationships suffer.” – Esther Perel
Belgian psychotherapist Esther Perel is a New York Times bestselling author of The State of Affairs and Mating in Captivity. Her celebrated TED talks have garnered more than 20 million views; she is also the host of the popular podcast Where Should We Begin? Learn more at EstherPerel.com or by following @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.
Louise Hay
“Every thought we think is creating our future.” – Louise Hay
Dubbed “the closest thing to a living saint” by the Australian media, Louise Hay is also known as one of the founders of the self-help movement. In the 70s and 80s, Hay was often mocked for assertions about the power of suggestion, manifesting, and more. Later, scientists like Bruce Lipton gave Louise Hay credit for her discoveries. In her first book, Heal Your Body, was published in 1976, long before it was fashionable to discuss the connection between the mind and body. Revised and expanded in 1988, this best-selling book introduced Louise’s concepts to people in 33 different countries and has been translated into 25 languages throughout the world. Learn more at LouiseHay.com.
Women healers we should know more about…
Dr. Kathy L. Kain
Dr. Kain has been teaching and practicing bodywork and trauma recovery skills for more than 40 years. She is widely recognized in the field of trauma as a premier expert. In my life, she is the one who reset my immune system after several bouts of cancer—all in one session. She has not only the training and expertise but the feminine wisdom that doesn’t get the level of credibility it should in our world—the sixth sense to see into your body and to intuitively know what’s needed for that body to heal. She is co-author of Nurturing Resilience: Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma, considered one of the guidebooks for helping practitioners learn how to heal their clients from traumatic experiences. Learn more at SomaticPractice.net.
Adella Theresa Lumiere
Theresa is one of the most gifted bodyworkers in the world. Like Kathy, she has a sixth sense about the body and can not only regulate the nervous system but pinpoint the root cause of unease. Her training and experience extend over 40 years, but her gifts cannot be replicated—she is a true healer.
In recent years, I have decided to solely support women healers in my industry. In most cases, I have found their work more intuitive, more powerful, and more transformative. With so many women making critical contributions to develop the field of psychology into what it is today, we need more people advocating for equity and justice in the divide between how men and women are valued in the workplace.
Join me.
For more information, I encourage you to pick up my book, The Paper Tiger Syndrome, or sign up for notices when workshops will be available later this year.
Stay true to you,
Rebecca A. Ward, LMFT, SEP, PCC