People from all cultures, backgrounds, and religious beliefs can suffer under the weight of mental health issues. Traditionally, therapists kept religion out of their office, focusing instead on their client’s mental well-being. But, since spirituality can play such a significant role in a person’s overall health, more and more mental health professionals are now beginning to incorporate the person’s religious and spiritual beliefs into their treatment plan.

For many Christians, Muslims and Jews, God is the central part of understanding themselves and their core values. God is the highest priority and the highest solution to any problems they may face. Instead of finding religion as an antithesis to the discipline of psychology, many therapists are now realizing that religion can and should form a large part of the solutions to underlying mental health issues of their clients.

The Primary Agent of Change in Therapy

Typically, the client is considered to be the primary agent of change in therapy. Muslims believe that human beings are instructed to internally strive (jihad) and make all efforts to beneficial change. However, they also believe that it is the will of God that ultimately decides whether or not that change materializes.

I and other therapists that help Muslim clients always strike the balance of guiding them on their personal journeys toward health and well-being, empowering them to identify behavioral patterns and make necessary changes, all while including God’s divine plan into our treatment plan.

My Commitment to My Muslim Clients

I make the following commitments to all of my Muslim clients:

I Recognize Your Diversity

I recognize the rich diversity in the Muslim-American community.

I Never Avoid Religion

I invite my Muslim clients to engage in religious conversation and to share with me any religious coping methods they currently use, such as praying, reading the Koran, etc.

I Respect Your Personal Journey

As with all my clients, I never take a one-size-fits-all approach to your treatment plan. I respect that your mental health journey is unique to you, your background, culture, and religious influences.

If you or someone you love has been curious about exploring treatment options but was not comfortable with the idea because of your religious beliefs, please reach out to me. I’d be more than happy to discuss how I might help.

 

SOURCES:

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-therapy/201109/the-varieties-religious-therapy-islam
• https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/09/treating-muslims
• https://www.apa.org/monitor/oct06/reaching

July is BIPOC mental health month. The event was established in 2008 as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in an effort to create awareness of the unique struggles faced by underrepresented groups in the United States. Campbell was an author, teacher, and mental health advocate with a mission to shine a light on the mental health issues of minority communities.

BIPOC mental health month seeks to continue the visionary work of Campbell by developing public education campaigns that bring awareness to as many people as possible while also addressing the needs of BIPOC.

Traditional Roadblocks Keeping BIPOC from Receiving Treatment

According to the Mental Health America organization, over 15 million BIPOC have reported they struggle with mental health issues. Unfortunately, many of these people face roadblocks to seeking the treatment they so desperately need.

A Stigma

Far too often people in the BIPOC community refuse to seek help for their mental health issues because they belong to a culture that has a social stigma surrounding therapy. For instance, in some BIPOC communities, admitting you need help means you are “crazy” or “weak.”

Lack of Access

Often, people within the BIPOC community do not speak English. If these people live in smaller, rural communities in the United States, they may not have access to clinicians who speak a foreign language. In addition, according to the American Psychological Association, 86% of psychologists in the United States are White. With so few BIPOC people becoming therapists themselves, it can then be hard for others within their community to find a therapist who understands their culture and specific challenges.

Lack of Resources

Individuals within the BIPOC community often face a lack of resources to even begin learning about mental health and the specific issues they may be facing. One such resource is the National Alliance of Mental Illness. If you are a member of the BIPOC community, please share this resource with others.

If you or someone you know is a part of the BIPOC community and suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, or any other mental health disorder and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me.

RESOURCES:

• https://themighty.com/2020/07/bipoc-mental-health-month-things-to-know/
• https://mhanational.org/BIPOC-mental-health-month
• https://www.neomed.edu/ccoe/mental-health-resources/bipoc/