Presentation Information
[O-1-01]Faith and Therapy: Psychologists’ perspectives on working with Muslim clients
*Mariam Salie, Shaheen Ashraf Kagee (Stellenbosch University (South Africa))
Keywords:
Muslim mental health,Psychotherapy,Islam,culture,religion
Muslim mental health (MMH) is an under-researched topic in SA, and while there are a few studies which have been published, it is dated and focused largely on Muslim mental health professionals. This abstract is for a PhD sub-study which explored the experiences of psychologists providing psychotherapeutic treatment to Muslim clients. The aim of the study was twofold, a) to explore the experiences of psychologists working with the Muslim community, and b) to explore the explanatory models of mental health conditions held by Muslim clientele. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants, who were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Participants were qualified clinical and counselling psychologists with several years of experience working within the Muslim communities of the Western Cape, South Africa, in both public and private healthcare. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and interpret the data. Three key themes emerged, namely: a) the community context, b) the Muslim client, and c) the culturally informed psychologist. Participants highlighted the importance of understanding the community context which informs discourses on mental health, influenced largely by the history of South African Muslims and their culture. Secondly, participants reported on how religion and culture influence Muslims’ conceptualisation of MH, the therapeutic space and clients’ commitment and engagement in therapy. Lastly, participants reported on strategies they utilise when working with Muslims and some recommendations for enhanced therapeutic practice. This study aims to address the research gap by contributing to the body of knowledge in South Africa on Muslim mental health, and contribute to developing culturally sensitive, inclusive care.