The Clinical Scope of Islamic Psychotherapy: A Grounded Theory Study

This paper presents findings from a study which examined the application of an Islamic model of the soul in psychotherapy. It addresses the clinical scope of an Islamic psychotherapy. Interviews with 18 psychotherapists who believed that they integrate Islamic conceptions of psychology into their practice were analysed using a grounded theory approach. Findings centered on the stages of the soul with which Islamic psychotherapy is concerned and the potential for inter-stage movement, and the relationships between and demarcation of the roles of Islamic psychotherapist and religious guide or shaykh. A data-grounded model of the clinical scope of Islamic psychotherapy is presented.