Psychotherapy with Muslim believers

What is it about?

Therapy studies concerning psychotherapists’ handling of religious needs of US-American patients in psychotherapy showed that highly religious people tended to have negative expectations considering psychotherapists‘ handling of religiosity. Moreover, highly religious people were also less willing to seek psychotherapy than less religious people. This pilot study explored whether in Germany highly religious people (Christian and Muslim) also showed a lower willingness to seek psychotherapy than less religious and non-religious people. Furthermore, it was tested whether the expectations towards psychotherapists‘ handling of religiosity could operate as an explanation for this interrelation. 1002 university students from across Germany took part in the online survey. The hypotheses from the US-American studies were confirmed: Highly religious people were less willing to seek psychotherapy than less religious and non-religious people. This interrelation was partly mediated by the expectations towards psychotherapists‘ handling of religiosity. Practical implications of these findings are being discussed.

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Why is it important?

research on psychotherapy witrh muslims is neglected in Germany

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