Mind, Body, Spirit: Muslim Women's Experiences in Therapy

Alia Azmat, Purdue University

Abstract

The field of counseling psychology has made considerable strides in identifying and acknowledging the role of psychologists in attending to system-based harms both in and outside of the therapeutic space. For counselors to effectively address system-based traumatic stress, they must first be educated and trained to recognize and acknowledge it (Bryant-Davis, 2007). As clinicians this recognition means acknowledging our own identities, our own history, and our own complicity in the systems we navigate which cause harm to marginalized communities, being compassionate towards others and ourselves, financially supporting organizations and activist groups, and understanding spirituality can be and IS a strength for many people. This dissertation presents in the form of two distinct chapters conceptually related in nature. The first chapter integrates literature from various fields from an indigenous, womanist, and feminist lens to propose nine principles for counseling psychologists when working with Muslim women. The purpose of the second chapter is to examine Muslim women’s experiences in therapy. The study will explore women’s experiences from social determinants of health perspective—namely, how intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy factors inform women’s experiences at university counseling centers. Participant voices via qualitative analysis of the multiple systems women navigate will include beliefs about self and others, family and community relationship, and the university system.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Ciftci, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Spirituality|Therapy|Clinical psychology|Islamic Studies|Ethnic studies|Mental health|Political science|Psychology|Sociology|Womens studies

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