Building Bridges: Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Between Family Therapy and Islamic Studies

This case study of a college-aged Pakistani-American woman presents how cross-disciplinary collaboration was used to develop a religiously and culturally sensitive treatment approach for a Muslim client. This client, stalked by her Muslim ex-boyfriend and unwilling to disclose her experiences to her family, experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms. The therapy team invited an expert in the field of Islamic studies to assist in understanding Muslim culture and its impact on treatment. Through weekly individual therapy, the client reported improved mental health and relational functioning.