CBT- Integrating Islamic Values
Integrating Islamic Values within CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
In my work with Muslim women, I integrate Islamic values within one of the most popular and evidence-based therapeutic approaches called CBT.
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT?
CBT is a short term psychotherapy which focuses on relieving emotional distress by changing patterns of thinking and behaving that are maintaining people’s problems.
It can help with depression, anxiety, OCD, low self esteem, long-term health conditions, relationship difficulties and many other life situations that can cause us to be emotionally distressed or overwhelmed.
CBT is also helpful in managing challenges related to day to day living as a neurodiverse individual for example with ADHD.
CBT emphasizes the link between our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and bodily sensations. It can help you manage difficult feelings and tackle challenges by learning new ways of thinking and behaving.
The way we think about an event or situation affects the way we feel and act. In turn our actions can affect how we think & feel.
As you learn to work through your problems using CBT skills, there will be a strong emphasis on Islamic concepts that will Insha’Allah enhance the work we do in sessions and what you achieve as a result, both during and after the end of therapy.
Skills for life
Would you like to be able to achieve the following?
- Learn skills and techniques to step back from negative thinking and re-evaluate your thoughts
- Effectively deal with difficult feelings and unhelpful behaviours
- Acquire problem solving skills
- Become your own therapist to handle future difficulties.
By practicing what you learn in sessions, CBT aims to equip you to achieve all of the above.
Islamic focus
Working together with your Muslim counsellor you can benefit from a variety of CBT skills and techniques practiced and implemented with a focus on Islamic values. These not only enhance your ability to identify and change negative thought patterns, unhelpful assumptions and self-defeating beliefs but also strengthen your reliance and hope in Allah (s.w.t).
CBT is collaborative and you will be required to try out what you learn in therapy in real life situations (behavioural experiments) and do some work in between sessions.
The skills you will learn in therapy are life long skills that you can make use of now and in the future.
“I was at my lowest mentally and physically when I first started my sessions with Azra, I cannot express how helpful therapy has been for me. What changed my entire perspective right from the beginning was understanding what it was I was experiencing and the normalisation of it. For therapy to be beneficial I have found, that doing the homework set every week is what makes the difference, no matter how exhausting and difficult it may seem, you have to push through. In a time where I was facing so much, I am so pleased to have learnt techniques that I can carry out through out my life if things ever get difficult. I have reclaimed my life, and progressed in the short few months no matter how long they actually felt. Although I am not exactly where I want to be, it’s a journey. I am so pleased to have shared this journey with the guidance of an amazing therapist.”
(Feedback sent by a client for the benefit of those who wish to seek help – 3rd September 2020)