Barbie, Patriarchy & Liberation

a continuing education workshop

The Barbie Workshop Therapists

  • Meghan Klein Toups, PhD, LPC

    Meghan Klein Toups is a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of the private practice Merge Wellness where she specilaizes in the holistic treatment of anxiety in women. Meghan is a professor in the psychology department of Kennesaw State University where she teaches various classes including Psychopatholoy and Psychology of Sex and Gender.

  • Amy Howard, MS, LMFT

    Amy Howard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. She is also certified as a Sex Therapist by the American American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). Amy specializes in helping people with relationship and sexual problems and is the owner and founder of Atlanta Couples and Sex Therapy.

about the workshop…

Movies and media in general are important agents of socialization and reflect social, political and cultural values of a particular time period. "Barbie" earned more than $1.38 billion worldwide to become the highest-grossing film ever from a female filmmaker at the domestic box office; and is the largest worldwide film release of 2023. Given its incredible success and its obvious exploration of gender dynamics and patriarchy, it seems pertinent for clinicians to explore the psychological underpinnings of the film, uncover how the themes about gender, power and systemic injustice relate to personal identity, as well as considering its relevance for psychotherapeutic work. In this workshop, we will explore particular moments in the film that highlight social and gendered issues in order to gain an understanding of the ways in which we can have these culturally informed discussions to help empower and liberate clients from oppressive systemic pressures and inequities.

(3 CORE CE Hours for LPC, LMFT & LCSW)

Interested in joining us?

If you would like to receive updates on our upcoming workshops, please enter your information here. We will let you know when to expect our next Barbie workshop!

kind words about the wokshop…

  • “This was awesome! You captured the themes from the movie and added a historical perspective that was so helpful! Thank you!”

    JF

  • “Not only was it an enjoyable presentation/conversation, I walked away with tools, insight, and a deeper appreciation of this film!”

    KB

  • “I particularly loved the content on anger. Such helpful reminders of the societal messages women receive that shame women for normal expressions.”

    anonymous