E-2 Development of Islamic Counseling Protocol for Pakistani Muslim Adults to Manage their Mental Health Problems

Abstract

Religion plays a fundamental role in our life.  Therefore, a religious approach is known as a pivotal to be incorporated in counseling session with the clients. Researchers and religious scholars emphases that there is a crucial need to integrate the religious aspects during counseling process.  This qualitative study was carried out to develop the Islamic Counseling Protocol (Counselor/Client Worksheet) for Pakistani Muslims adults in the light of Holy Quran, Al-Sunnah and the relevant literature available in the realm of Islamic Counseling. In this connection, firstly all the methods used in Islamic counseling available in literature review were identified. Secondly, the Quranic Versus were identified in relation to the treatment of mental health problems (stress, anxiety and depression). On the basis of selected versus and methods from the Holy Quran as well as from Al-Sunnah, the Islamic Counseling protocol (counselor client worksheet) was developed for Pakistani Muslim adults to manage their mental health problems (stress, anxiety and depression). The results of this qualitative research proposed 6-sessions of Islamic Counseling to manage the mental health problems of the individuals with stress, anxiety and depression.