The Experiences of Non-Muslim Caucasian Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists Working with South Asian and Middle Eastern Muslim Clients

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of eight non-Muslim Caucasian Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists working with South Asian and Middle Eastern Muslim clients. Semi-structured interviews were used to examine the challenges and strengths that resulted from ethnic/racial and religious differences with clients of this population, and how the challenges and strengths were managed in therapy. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis and the themes that emerged were organized based on the areas of inquiry, which included: challenges that come from ethnic/racial and religious differences, strategies and recommendations to address ethnic/racial and religious differences and the challenges created by them, strengths that come from ethnic/racial and religious differences, and what therapists needed. Limitations, clinical implications, and directions for future research are discussed.