Find Hope and Healing in Islamic Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy
Spiritual care and psychotherapy for spiritual crisis, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.
DEFINITIONS, CONCEPTS, TERMS
Introduction to Islamic Spiritual care & Psychotherapy
Islamic chaplaincy or spiritual care is one of the helping professions (like social work, nursing, etc.) that aims to nurture a person's psychological, emotional or spiritual well-being. The specific focus is on addressing a person's spiritual or religious needs as he or she copes with illness, loss, grief, or pain. Those in the field also serve as faith representatives in public settings, including healthcare centres, the military, educational institutions, etc.
Islamic psychotherapy, on the other hand, treats individuals who suffer from severe mental health conditions, spiritual crises and emotional challenges.
In the field of mental health, the terms "psychotherapy" and "counselling" may be used interchangeably. However, in Ontario, the two terms have theoretical and practical differences. The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) defines psychotherapy as “the assessment and treatment of cognitive, emotional, or behavioural disturbances by psychotherapeutic means, delivered through a therapeutic relationship based primarily on verbal or non-verbal communication." Counselling, on the other hand, refers to general advice-giving, information-giving giving and general support.
This website aims to provide a glimpse into significant scholarly contributions to Islamic spiritual care & psychotherapy to highlight the historical and contemporary landscape in the field that attempts to integrate psychology and Islamic sciences with clinical mental health practice. We hope out attempts will Insha'Allah serve as one of the resources for scholars, researchers, and clinicians interested in Islamic spiritual care & psychotherapy, Muslim mental health, and the intersection of religion, spirituality, and psychology.
Philosophy, Expertise, Approach
Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy
Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy are based on theories and interventions that rely on Islam's fundamental religious and spiritual sources, such as the Qur'an, Sunnah, hadith, and the works of classical and contemporary Muslim scholars. These sources are used to help clients achieve personal growth and maturation. Islamic spiritual
Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy are based on theories and interventions that rely on Islam's fundamental religious and spiritual sources, such as the Qur'an, Sunnah, hadith, and the works of classical and contemporary Muslim scholars. These sources are used to help clients achieve personal growth and maturation. Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy incorporates practices like tarbiyya, which involves nurturing individual potential; ta'lim, which entails gaining knowledge; and ta'dib, which focuses on developing good social and moral manners and personal conduct in crisis situations. These practices are essential components of Islamic psychotherapy.
Expertise
Philosophy
Philosophy
Muslim therapists trained in Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy can assist individuals experiencing maladjustment who may find solace in an Islamic context. During the therapy, the clients get a chance to address emotional, spiritual or mental health concerns and gain insight into a path to spiritual healing, self-purification, and
Muslim therapists trained in Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy can assist individuals experiencing maladjustment who may find solace in an Islamic context. During the therapy, the clients get a chance to address emotional, spiritual or mental health concerns and gain insight into a path to spiritual healing, self-purification, and forgiveness. Integrating Islamic customs into psychotherapy is essential in serving Muslim patients. By weaving together these sources, Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy provide a unique approach to better address the mental health needs of Muslim patients. Additionally, it educates clients on the Islamic faith, spirituality and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).
Approach
Philosophy
Approach
Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy practices are not new concepts but have been practiced for some time. Rather than relying on a singular method, it combines contemporary psychotherapeutic and Islamic healing techniques to help individuals overcome their issues and lead fulfilling lives. This holistic approach encourages individual
Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy practices are not new concepts but have been practiced for some time. Rather than relying on a singular method, it combines contemporary psychotherapeutic and Islamic healing techniques to help individuals overcome their issues and lead fulfilling lives. This holistic approach encourages individuals to delve into their cognitive, behavioural, emotional, spiritual, and religious aspects. In sum, Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy are a blend of traditional counselling and psychotherapy with the core principles of Islam.
'Lord, increase me in knowledge!' Qur'an, 20: 114
About Us
.This website is a personal initiative of Dr. Nazila Isgandarova and her team to summarize resources on evidence-based Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy literature. Dr. Isgandarova is an Associate Professor and SPE Practicum Director at Emmanuel College at Victoria University in the University of Toronto. She is an accomplished researcher, registered psychotherapist, and social worker focusing on psychotherapy, counselling, and spiritual and religious care in healthcare settings. Dr. Isgandarova is passionate about serving her clients, especially immigrant and refugee families, and encouraging women to reflect deeply on their inner lives and spirituality, helping them connect with their emotional and spiritual selves. She focuses on violence prevention, justice, social support system reform, housing, food insecurity, and racial and religious bias. For this purpose, she supports community organizations such as CASC, CCMW, AWSC, One Voice, and Women to Women. She has received awards for her contributions to the field, including the Champion for Diversity Award by the Ontario Government, the Order of Vaughan and the Forum for Theological Exploration research award.
Advanced Islamic Spiritual Care: A Graduate-Level Study Deck
292 Questions & Answers
This is a graduate-level study deck on Islamic Spiritual Care (ISC) intended for Muslim spiritual care provider trainees, Islamic psychotherapy practitioners, graduate students in pastoral/religious studies, and qualified clinicians integrating Islamic frameworks into their work.
The 292 questions are organized into 18 thematic sections, moving from foundations through Islamic anthropology, the classical typology of spiritual diseases and virtues, the Qur’anic and prophetic spiritual care model, classical and contemporary scholarship, methods, applied clinical domains (grief, trauma, mood/anxiety/addiction), bioethics, pastoral ethics, special populations, comparative frameworks, and ritual / practical considerations.
Framing & Scope
This mainstream approach to ISC with classical tasawwuf integration — Muhasibi / Balkhi / Razi / Ibn Sina / the Ghazalian / Ibn Qayyim lineage — underwrites most contemporary Islamic psychology (Isgandarova, Sachedina, Keshavarzi, Haque, Rothman, Badri). The mainstream fiqh on issues such as bioethics, end-of-life, and ritual positions is drawn from major contemporary fatwa bodies without committing to a single madhhab. This is study material, not a fatwa. No answer constitutes a legal ruling. This is also not a clinical license: questions touching mood disorders, suicide, trauma, addiction, and OCD / scrupulosity reflect the spiritual/pastoral layer of competence. Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment require appropriate licensure. The spiritual care provider works alongside, not instead of, clinical professionals.
Books
Muslim Women, Domestic Violence, and Psychotherapy Theological and Clinical Issues
Mindfulness Techniques and Practices in Islamic Psychotherapy The Power of Muraqabah
Mindfulness Techniques and Practices in Islamic Psychotherapy The Power of Muraqabah
Muslim Women, Domestic Violence, and Psychotherapy reconciles newly emerging Islamic practical theology with the findings and theories of contemporary social sciences. It is an inquiry about the lived experience of the Islamic tradition and its application in Islamic counseling with Muslim women subject to domestic violence. By incorpora
Muslim Women, Domestic Violence, and Psychotherapy reconciles newly emerging Islamic practical theology with the findings and theories of contemporary social sciences. It is an inquiry about the lived experience of the Islamic tradition and its application in Islamic counseling with Muslim women subject to domestic violence. By incorporating a holistic examination of the worldview, personhood, and understanding of social and religious obligations of Muslim women in counseling, this book shows how practitioners can empower clients facing trauma and abuse to explore feasible solutions and decrease worry, anxiety, and other negative emotions.
Mindfulness Techniques and Practices in Islamic Psychotherapy The Power of Muraqabah
Mindfulness Techniques and Practices in Islamic Psychotherapy The Power of Muraqabah
Mindfulness Techniques and Practices in Islamic Psychotherapy The Power of Muraqabah
Mindfulness Techniques and Practices in Islamic Psychotherapy is a guide for Muslim spiritual care providers, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and others who use spiritual and religious concepts, values, and rituals as novel interventions to offer culturally appropriate mental health services. Chapters lay out the practice
Mindfulness Techniques and Practices in Islamic Psychotherapy is a guide for Muslim spiritual care providers, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and others who use spiritual and religious concepts, values, and rituals as novel interventions to offer culturally appropriate mental health services. Chapters lay out the practice of muraqabah as a strategy for addressing mental and emotional disturbances such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, attention‑deficit disorders, and more. Using hermeneutical data, the book presents the processes and ethics of the muraqabah technique in Islamic spiritual care and psychotherapy.
Islamic Spiritual and Religious Care: Theory and Practices
Mindfulness Techniques and Practices in Islamic Psychotherapy The Power of Muraqabah
Islamic Spiritual and Religious Care: Theory and Practices
The purpose of this book is to help Muslim spiritual caregivers and other healthcare professionals enhance the compassionate care they provide their clients in a variety of institutional settings. This book creates a space for expanding their vision on the theoretical and practical aspects of a rich Islamic tradition towards appropriate
The purpose of this book is to help Muslim spiritual caregivers and other healthcare professionals enhance the compassionate care they provide their clients in a variety of institutional settings. This book creates a space for expanding their vision on the theoretical and practical aspects of a rich Islamic tradition towards appropriate and respectful Islamic spiritual and religious care. Muslim spiritual and religious care givers asses and determine spiritual and religious needs, develop and implement suitable and appropriate spiritual care. By doing so, they empower their Muslims clients and enable them to transcend themselves and connect with the broader context of their lives.
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We love it when our readers share their opinions and perspectives, so feel free to send us a message. We also provide psychotherapy and spiritual care. Most extended health plans offer some degree of coverage for psychotherapy services, depending on your extended health benefits.
Islamic Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy
