Monitor on Psychology - September 2011 - (Page 74)

Treating Muslims there’s a serious shortage of Muslim psychologists in the United States, says Hisham Abu-raiya, PhD, of tel Aviv University. And that means non-Muslim psychologists have to be prepared to work with Muslim clients. Unfortunately, says Mona M. Amer, PhD, co-editor of “Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues and Interventions” (forthcoming from Routledge), many attempts to prepare non-Muslim psychologists focus on educating them about the history, religion and culture of Muslim communities. “they don’t necessarily get into the specifics of what can or should be done differently when serving a Muslim client,” she says. Amer, Abu-raiya and others offer several practical suggestions: • Recognize Muslims’ diversity. “You can’t make assumptions about, ‘this is the way all Muslims are,’” says Amer. Psychologists must recognize the diversity in the Muslim-American community when it comes to such factors as ethnic background, history and immigration status. Muslim Americans include African-American converts, members of long-settled Arab communities and immigrants from areas as diverse as the Middle east and India. • Don’t avoid religion. Instead, invite Muslim clients to engage in a religious conversation, AbuRaiya and co-author Kenneth I. Pargament, PhD, of Bowling Green State University recommend in a 2010 article published in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice (Vol. 41, No. 2). Ask about Islam’s role in clients’ lives and what it means to them, for example. Also ask about use of religious coping methods, such as praying, reading the Koran or going to a mosque. • Ask more questions. to better understand each client, says Wahiba Abu-ras, PhD, of Adelphi University’s School of Social Work, “ask how long they’ve been here, whether they’re having any problems with their neighbors or with the community.” • Reach out. Because the stigma associated with mental health problems is so strong within the Muslim community, says Abu-raiya, psychologists should reach out to the Muslim community. Presentations, workshops and the distribution of written materials at mosques and similar venues can help dispel suspicion. —R.A. CLAy harassment, says psychologist Hisham Abu-Raiya, PhD, an assistant professor in the Bob Shapell School of Social Work at Tel Aviv University. In a 2011 paper published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (Vol. 3, No. 1), Abu-Raiya and his co-authors surveyed 138 Muslims living in the United States. Most reported experiencing at least one stressful event related to their Muslim identity, such as anti-Muslim comments, special airport security checks and discrimination. Participants used both religious and non-religious means of coping with these stressful events. Most Muslim youth are comfortable with their “hyphenated identities” as both Muslims and Americans. “They seem to be pretty happy sitting on the hyphen. They don’t feel the need to pick one over the other.” selcuk R. siRin New york university The non-religious coping strategy of reaching out to others — both Muslims and non-Muslims — resulted in positive changes, such as personal strength and an appreciation of life. Those who isolated themselves from others experienced greater depression and anger, the researchers found. The 9/11 attacks also prompted study participants to intensify their religious practices, whether that meant praying, fasting, attending a mosque or reading the Koran. But when it comes to religious coping strategies, says AbuRaiya, the specifics matter. “Positive religious coping was, ‘I feel the love of God or Allah,’ ‘I prayed to get consolation,’ ‘I read the Koran’ or ‘I sought support from others at a mosque,’” he explains. “Negative religious coping methods were things like, ‘I felt God was punishing me because of bad actions I did or because of a lack of devotion.’” Monitor on psychology • septeMber 2011 74

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - September 2011

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court hears psychologists on prison and video game cases
Antipsychotics are overprescribed in nursing homes
New MCAT likely to recognize the mind-body connection
A $2 million boost for military and families
In Brief
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE
On Your Behalf
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Speaking of Education
SCIENCE WATCH
An uncertain future for American workers
Advocating for psychotherapy
PRACTICE PROFILE
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Seared in our memories
Helping kids cope in an uncertain world
APA and Nickelodeon team up
Muslims in America, post 9/11
Bin Laden’s death
‘They expect us to be there’
Answering the call of public policy
Candidates answer final questions
APA News
Division Spotlight
New leaders
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Disaster relief training
Honoring teaching excellence
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011