This exploratory study intended to determine what approaches were useful for engaging and treating Muslim clients from the perspective of experienced therapists. Despite the growing population of Muslims in the United States, there remains a dearth of research on how to work therapeutically with these clients. To increase participation in treatment and decrease premature termination, the current literature suggested the importance of building rapport with Muslim clients and the value of discussing religion in therapy. This study aimed to investigate these factors in addition to discovering other critical recommendations for treating Muslim clients. Fifteen interviews were conducted with mental health providers, including psychologists, a social worker, and a psychiatrist. Additionally, they completed a survey to examine their opinions on the relevance, effectiveness, and likelihood of using 40 recommendations acquired from the literature along with their knowledge and use of common Islamic beliefs and practices. The interviews were analyzed by the Grounded Theory Methodology (Corbin & Strauss, 2008). Respondents first provided information about the common and distinctive problems faced by Muslim clients, their unique presentation styles, the stigma of seeking help, and the possible misconceptions of therapy. Results from the interviews indicated several major themes: the Importance of Knowledge, the Avoidance of Assumptions, the Significance of Rapport Building, the Incorporation of Religion, the Inclusion of the Family, and the Consideration of the Community. In regard to building rapport, the following ways were identified to connect with Muslim clients: provide psychoeducation about therapy, respect religion, normalize their experience, demonstrate empathy, convey openness to learning, and be less formal and more disclosing. Additionally, the three most recommended methods for including religion found in the study were to understand the impact of religion in the client’s life, suggest religious practices as a way to cope, and use Islamic knowledge to counter maladaptive beliefs and behaviors. Results from the survey revealed that therapists endorsed many but not all of the recommendations found in the literature. Implications for mental health providers working with Muslim clients and future research are suggested. Notably, it is especially critical for therapists to consider the wide diversity within the Muslim community.
Subject (authority = RUETD)
Topic
Clinical Psychology
RelatedItem (type = host)
TitleInfo
Title
Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Identifier (type = RULIB)
ETD
Identifier
ETD_5304
PhysicalDescription
Form (authority = gmd)
electronic resource
InternetMediaType
application/pdf
InternetMediaType
text/xml
Extent
vii, 197 p. : ill.
Note (type = degree)
Psy.D.
Note (type = bibliography)
Includes bibliographical references
Note (type = statement of responsibility)
by Zaynab Khan
Subject (authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Muslims--Mental health services--United States
Subject (authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Mental health personnel and patient--United States
Subject (authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Psychotherapy--Religious aspects--Islam
RelatedItem (type = host)
TitleInfo
Title
Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Identifier (type = local)
rucore10001800001
Location
PhysicalLocation (authority = marcorg); (displayLabel = Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)
Rutgers University. Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
AssociatedObject
Type
License
Name
Author Agreement License
Detail
I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.