Therapy without faith: Muslim clients' experience of religious exclusion and minimisation in therapy

The integration of religious beliefs is considered an essential component of evidence-based practice; however, clients from faith-based communities frequently report that their beliefs are overlooked in therapy. While existing research primarily centres on therapists' perspectives, there is limited understanding of how Muslim clients themselves make sense of therapy when their religious identity is not acknowledged, particularly within mental health systems often grounded in Western psychological models. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the mental healthcare experiences of Muslim therapy users in the UK who received therapy where their religion was perceived as minimised or excluded, despite its personal significance.

A qualitative approach was adopted, underpinned by a critical realist epistemology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 Muslim participants, aged 18-56 years. These interviews were conducted remotely via Teams and subsequently transcribed for analysis. Data analysis was performed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Three overarching themes were generated through the analysis: feeling powerless and unseen when attempting to bring Islam, shaking my foundation and feeling compelled to choose between my faith or therapy. Participants described a significant emotional impact when Islam was excluded or minimised.

These findings highlight the need for therapists to actively explore and integrate clients' religious worldviews, and for services to consider culturally responsive practices. The findings also suggest a need for enhanced cultural competence training and systemic changes to improve the therapeutic experience for Muslim clients. This study offers insight for developing more inclusive and effective mental health practices as well as implications for clinical practice.