Conceptualization and Models of Muslim Counseling in Ghana

Ghana is a secular state in which Islam is the second largest religion. Counselors who follow principles in Islam and Muslim culture, comprising imams and followers, serve as de facto mental health providers, but their counseling practices have received limited research at...

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Main Authors: Adjeiwa Akosua Affram, Annabella Osei-Tutu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Michigan Publishing 2024-04-01
Series:Journal of Muslim Mental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/jmmh/article/id/181/
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author Adjeiwa Akosua Affram
Annabella Osei-Tutu
author_facet Adjeiwa Akosua Affram
Annabella Osei-Tutu
author_sort Adjeiwa Akosua Affram
collection DOAJ
description Ghana is a secular state in which Islam is the second largest religion. Counselors who follow principles in Islam and Muslim culture, comprising imams and followers, serve as de facto mental health providers, but their counseling practices have received limited research attention. This study examined the conceptualizations and counseling practices of 19 Muslim counselors aged 32–72 (M=57.83; SD=12.95) who follow principles in Islam and Muslim culture in southern Ghana. Qualitative data was obtained using one-on-one verbal interviews. Data was inductively and thematically analyzed. Results were organized around five main areas: (1) counseling inventory, (2) conceptualizations of counseling, (3) counseling models, (4) process considerations, and (5) personal prescriptions. Participants conceptualized counseling primarily as advising. They provided services in nine different languages and utilized advising and mediatorial models of counseling. The counselors attended to religious considerations and socio-gender norms in their counseling. The study fills important gaps in Muslim mental health research. Implications for professional psychology training and practice, as well as mental health research and advocacy, have been discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-36765548b79d4a51a231e68f1b16bef22025-08-20T02:48:41ZengMichigan PublishingJournal of Muslim Mental Health1556-50092024-04-0117210.3998/jmmh.181Conceptualization and Models of Muslim Counseling in GhanaAdjeiwa Akosua Affram0Annabella Osei-Tutu1Health Policy Planning and Management, University of GhanaPsychology, University of GhanaGhana is a secular state in which Islam is the second largest religion. Counselors who follow principles in Islam and Muslim culture, comprising imams and followers, serve as de facto mental health providers, but their counseling practices have received limited research attention. This study examined the conceptualizations and counseling practices of 19 Muslim counselors aged 32–72 (M=57.83; SD=12.95) who follow principles in Islam and Muslim culture in southern Ghana. Qualitative data was obtained using one-on-one verbal interviews. Data was inductively and thematically analyzed. Results were organized around five main areas: (1) counseling inventory, (2) conceptualizations of counseling, (3) counseling models, (4) process considerations, and (5) personal prescriptions. Participants conceptualized counseling primarily as advising. They provided services in nine different languages and utilized advising and mediatorial models of counseling. The counselors attended to religious considerations and socio-gender norms in their counseling. The study fills important gaps in Muslim mental health research. Implications for professional psychology training and practice, as well as mental health research and advocacy, have been discussed.https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/jmmh/article/id/181/Islamic counselinglay counselingpastoral counselingreligion and counselingreligious considerations
spellingShingle Adjeiwa Akosua Affram
Annabella Osei-Tutu
Conceptualization and Models of Muslim Counseling in Ghana
Journal of Muslim Mental Health
Islamic counseling
lay counseling
pastoral counseling
religion and counseling
religious considerations
title Conceptualization and Models of Muslim Counseling in Ghana
title_full Conceptualization and Models of Muslim Counseling in Ghana
title_fullStr Conceptualization and Models of Muslim Counseling in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Conceptualization and Models of Muslim Counseling in Ghana
title_short Conceptualization and Models of Muslim Counseling in Ghana
title_sort conceptualization and models of muslim counseling in ghana
topic Islamic counseling
lay counseling
pastoral counseling
religion and counseling
religious considerations
url https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/jmmh/article/id/181/
work_keys_str_mv AT adjeiwaakosuaaffram conceptualizationandmodelsofmuslimcounselinginghana
AT annabellaoseitutu conceptualizationandmodelsofmuslimcounselinginghana