Understanding the family therapist experience of gender, privilege and power in the therapeutic relationship with Muslim women
[Thesis]
Asmaa M. Alotaiby
Smith, Craig W.
Saint Louis University
2016
145
Committee members: Pettinelli, Doug; Smith, Lee
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-369-48400-7
Ph.D.
Counseling and Family Therapy
Saint Louis University
2016
This study explored the experience of family therapists from diverse cultural backgrounds and diverse clinical settings in proving care to Muslim women. Based on individual phone interviews with eleven therapists across the nation, the study revealed diversity in the individual therapists' perspectives with respect to issues of gender, privilege, and power. As a Saudi Arabian citizen who obtained her education and clinical training in the United States of America, the researcher's personal and professional experience brought to light the attendance to power and privilege issues involved in the therapists' narratives. To understand the family therapists experience of gender, privilege and power in cross-cultural therapy with Muslim women, a descriptive phenomenological method was used for the study to answer the research general questions. Namely, what is the experience of family therapists in respect to gender, privilege, and power in the therapeutic relationship with Muslim women? And what do therapists do to make their practice more applicable and suitable to work with Muslim women? Information shared by the therapists indicated positive and successful relationships with Muslim clients, in which the results challenged the traditional notions regarding the matching and fitness between the therapists and the clients. An analysis of participants' interviews suggested themes and sub-themes. Those sub-themes included (a) recognition of limitations and privilege, including accessibility, appreciation, and privilege/gender/women issue; (b) awareness and accountability issues for the therapists, including adjustment to practice, ongoing support, and social justice; (c) collaboration and learning, including awareness of diversity and acculturation and cross-cultural exchange; (d) contemporary lens to therapy in respect to current issues and global connection; and (e) stereotypes and connection to media, including stereotype and Islam phobia. Limitations of the study and implications for future study are discussed.