Unveiling perspectives: Systematic review of therapy experiences among UK Muslims and compassion views in British Muslim women

Abstract

Abstract

Chapter 1
The first study is a systematic review exploring the experiences and views of UK Muslims in their experiences of therapy, reviewing available literature on Muslim therapy experiences in the UK. Understanding therapy experiences can help to engage and treat UK Muslims within mental health services. A systematic search was conducted on electronic databases, including both qualitative and quantitative papers. Inclusion criteria included both counselling and individual therapy modalities, with both adult men and women in the UK. 7 papers met the inclusion criteria for the review. Data was extracted using a standardised data extraction form and analysed using a textual narrative synthesis.
Results indicate the importance of incorporating religious beliefs in therapy, strengthening therapeutic alliance and further therapist training to increase effectiveness of therapies. Most studies included in the review were qualitative. Quality of the studies was assessed and found to be adequate. Findings indicate the hope of Muslim clients for change within mental health services, willingness to engage in therapy, and the need for service design and delivery adaptation to increase both engagement and effectiveness.

Chapter 2
The second study explores the lived experiences and views of compassion within British Muslim women across three flows, Compassion Towards Others (CTO), Compassion From Others (CFO) and Self Compassion (SC). 10 participants were interviewed, and transcripts analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Compassion Engagement and Action Scales (CEAS, Gilbert et al. 2017) were used to gain an understanding of the levels of compassion within the sample. 3 Group Experiential Themes (GET) themes emerged, i) holistic compassion, ii) self-compassion and identity, and iii) conflicts in compassion. Islamic and cultural understandings influenced views and motivations for providing compassion across the three flows. Participants provided more CTO, received less CFO, and offered themselves the least SC. Religion influenced their ability to provide SC and receive CFO, through judgment, and discrimination experiences. Participants experienced conflicts when providing compassion, balancing religious beliefs with western values whilst living as Muslims in Britain and combining their intersectional identities. Understanding of compassion was consistent with Western definitions, and scores on the CEAS were comparable to the general UK population. Findings suggest that therapeutic compassion approaches would work well for British Muslim women, but that cultural and faith-based adaptations are necessary to provide utility within this population.

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