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.

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.
• Two chapters contributed by Khawla Abu-Baker, the first Ph.D. family therapist among Palestinians in Israel, that address Arab families in the United States and family therapy with Arab and Muslim women.

Marwan Dwairy, D.Sc., is professor of psychology in Emek Yezreel Academic College and Oranim Academic College. He is the author of many articles and books on cross-cultural psychology.

“Deals directly with the consequences of simplistic stereotyping of Arabic and Muslim people following the 9/11 events and the threat of terrorism.”
— From the Foreword by Paul B. Pedersen, Professor Emeritus, Syracuse University

“Religion plays a major role in the mental life of Arabs and Muslims, and to address this aspect in counseling and psychotherapy is a welcome intervention. I congratulate Dr. Dwairy for his impact on the progress of psychotherapy in our region.”
Ahmed Okasha, Director of WHO Collaborating Center, Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University

“An excellent resource for mental health professionals working with Middle Eastern clients around the world. This text is well researched, and the author has extensive experience with this clientele and with the research literature in the counseling and psychotherapy field.”
Farah A. Ibrahim, psychologist and professor, Oregon State University

"Outstanding...Dwairy presents a compelling historical and sociopolitical context...a must-have reference for any clinician working with Arab/Muslim clients..."
Sylvia Nassar-McMillan, North Carolina State University