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Removing Barriers to Therapy with Muslim-Arab-American Clients

Smith, Jennifer
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1319727578

Abstract Details

2011, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology.
Extensive research has shown that members of ethnic minority groups tend to underutilize mental health care services. In light of both the great amount of trauma that many Muslim Arab Americans have experienced and the amount of discrimination this population has faced especially since September 11, 2001, their relative underutilization of therapeutic services could mean deprivation of the enrichment and aid that mental health care could provide. The assumption underlying this study was that a greater cultural understanding of Muslim Arab Americans’ reasons for not choosing psychotherapy could help inform designs for more successful outreach efforts between mental health practitioners and people of Muslim-Arab-American backgrounds. This study elicited the attitudes of a select group of Muslim Arab Americans toward psychotherapy and explored their beliefs as to why members of this group of Americans tend not to use mental health services. Three semi-structured focus groups of Muslim-Arab-American participants provided the data for thematic analyses. Participants' comments during focus group discussions were consistent with the literature reviewed, and included themes of (a) culturally influenced conceptions of mental illness (including biologically based, spiritual/supernatural, and environmental causes); (b) acknowledgement of therapy as a potentially useful practice; (c) views of psychotherapy as unnecessary (and preferences for spiritual healing, help from friends and family, and/or medical advice); (d) views of psychotherapy as an ineffective practice; (e) perceived conflicts between psychotherapy and Islam; (f) adherence to a model of external locus of control; (g) adherence to a model of internal locus of control; (h) fear of stigma and shame; (i) cultural attitudes toward interpersonal openness and secrecy; (j) mistrust of mental health workers (regarding confidentiality, lack of cultural knowledge, biases, and motives); (k) lack of awareness of mental health services; (l) lack of access to mental health services; and (m) suggested solutions. Strengths and limitations of the study, as well as suggestions for further research, are addressed.
Susan Hawes, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Gargi Roysircar-Sodowsky, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Barbara Belcher-Timme, Psy.D. (Committee Member)
107 p.
Clinical Psychology; Multicultural Education; Psychology; Psychotherapy
Arab; Muslim; multicultural psychology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, J. (2011). Removing Barriers to Therapy with Muslim-Arab-American Clients [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1319727578

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Jennifer. Removing Barriers to Therapy with Muslim-Arab-American Clients. 2011. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1319727578.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Jennifer. "Removing Barriers to Therapy with Muslim-Arab-American Clients." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1319727578

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1319727578
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.