Counseling and Psychotherapy with Arabs and Muslims

The long shadow of September 11 has awakened a widespread desire to understand more about Arab and Islamic cultures. As an Arab who learned western psychology, Marwan Dwairy has first-hand experience with the dilemmas involved in adapting western psychotherapy to the needs of Arab and Muslim clients. Drawing from his 25 years of clinical and educational experience, this original volume will help to deepen knowledge and avoid stereotyping among counselors, therapists, social workers, and other mental health professionals. The book features: a presentation of Arab and Muslim history, peoples, and cultures, including the education and socialization of their children; systematic revision of the approaches involved in child development, personality, psychodiagnosis, psychopathology, and psychotherapy, with direction for when and how to apply each intervention approach; innovative techniques and models of diagnosis and intervention specifically designed for Arab and Muslim clients, such as using the physical environment as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool and using metaphoric and indirect intervention methods; and, two chapters contributed by Khawla Abu-Baker, the first PhD family therapist among Palestinians in Israel, address Arab families in the United States and family therapy with Arab and Muslim women.