Recovering Drug-Dependent Mothers’ Perspective on Gender-Sensitive Therapy

Abstract

This study examined issues of gender-sensitive therapy, such as relational self, motherhood, and single-gender treatments from the perspective of recovering drug-dependent mothers. Using a social constructionism framework, 25 recovering drug-dependent mothers in different stages of recovery were interviewed and 5 of them were followed for another 2 years. The results challenge the argument presented by advocates of gender-sensitive therapy in the addiction field and underscore the importance of context, especially the therapeutic narrative that elicited an alternative construction of gender, motherhood, and gender-sensitive therapy. The findings suggest possible new directions for addressing therapeutic issues and the need for additional research.