The Islamic Family Institute offers a 2-year certification in Islamic Psychology and Counselling. This comprehensive course is a series of courses enabling the student to understand Islamic Counselling in theory and practice based on Quran and Sunnah. Upon completion, the student should be able to apply the acquired knowledge and help Muslims in different life situations.
Islamic counselling is a branch of knowledge which is separate from clinical counselling. Its roots are in the knowledge of Islam and only benefits from some of the empirical knowledge of conventional psychology. Therefore, this course does not qualify the student to conduct clinical counselling or give diagnoses. However, upon completion of this certification, one should be able to conduct Islamic counselling professionally.
Duration: 2 years
Weekly:
5 hours lectures (terms 1 to 3)
1 live session weekly (recording available)
Fee:
59 € monthly
Scholarships and financial aid available
Venue: online
Next intake:
July 4th 2022
Registration Deadline:
July 10th 2022
Course Structure
1st Term
Introduction to Islamic Psychology
Models of Western Psychology and its Limitations
Aqidah (Islamic Theology)
Seerah
Tafsir for Counselling
In the first term, the students are introduced to Islamic psychology and counselling, its sources and objectives while making a clear distinction between Islamic and Western psychology.
Furthermore, the students should develop a strong foundation in Islamic knowledge by studying the fields of aqidah (Islamic theology according to Imam at-Tahawi), seerah (biography of Prophet Muhammad, pbuh) and the tafsir (explanation) of some verses which are commonly used in Islamic counselling.
2nd Term
Islamic Ethics and Morality
Tazkiyyah & Tibb al-Qalb
Marriage and Family Issues
Child and Youth Psychology
Stress, Anxiety, Depression
Child Abuse and Neglect
In the second term, the focus is placed on the classical works of Islamic psychology, ethics and morality along with their application in modern times.
Furthermore, aspects of personality development, marriage, family, childhood, adolescence and common psychopathology are well elaborated from an Islamic perspective and how Islamic counselling can help in many situation.
3rd Term
Counselling Techniques
Understanding the Client
Counselling Sessions & Plans
Psychopathology
Fiqh regarding Counselling
Ruqiyah
In the third term, counselling skills, methods, and techniques are discussed and then applied and trained in case studies. These skills and techniques include mirroring, paraphrasing, reflection, reconstruction, active listening skills and much more.
Additionally, some fiqh (legal) issues related to counselling will be clarified such as confidentiality, male female relations, fiqh of marriage and divorce, fiqh of janazah (burial), etc.
4th Term
Practical Training with Supervision
During the fourth and final term, the students will practically train the acquired skills with real clients. Each student is expected to complete at least 100 hours of supervised counselling within 6 months. Under certain circumstances, one can wave hours (such as if one already has experience in counselling and/or chaplaincy).
Moreover, the students will learn some basic strategies to establish one's own counselling service so the students can offer professional Islamic counselling upon completion.
Teacher:
Mirah Malaika
Islamic scholar, Islamic counsellor and Muslim chaplain
Ijazatul Alimiyyah, BA (Islamic Studies), BSc (Islamic Psychology),
GD (Islamic Studies), CPsy, MA Student (Islamic studies) and Ifta Student
Academic Advisor:
Prof. Dr. G. Hussein Rassool
PhD, MSc BA FRSPH, ILTM, FIAIP Cert Ed. Cert. Couns. Cert. Consultation & Supervision Dean of Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Professor of Islamic Psychology, Director of Research & Publications, Director & Clinical Consultant of ICS International Open University
FAQ
Who is the program for?
This program is primarily focus for sisters and brothers who want to professionally offer Islamic Counselling at their own counselling service, at mosques, and Islamic centres. The program is developed in such a way that those who work/study fulltime or take care of their families/children can take part in the course.
How much time do I have to invest weekly?
The required time is about 7 hours a week, namely 5 hours for pre-recorded classes and 2 hours for weekly live sessions. You can watch the pre-recorded classes at the time of your convenience as long as you fulfil your weekly assigned classes. There are only two live sessions held during the weekend which serves Q&A and personal development which is of paramount importance for Islamic counsellors. Therefore, attendance is very important.
Which platform is used to study the courses?
We use our own campus website. Live sessions will be held on Jitsi.
I am already an Islamic scholar or a psychologist, can I wave some courses?
Islamic Counselling is a unique field in which there are many elements from both psychology/counselling and Islamic theology/studies. Therefore, all courses include important knowledge regarding theological, legal, and psychological aspects. Waving courses will deprive you of valuable information which we don’t think is appropriate considering the conciseness of the curriculum.
However, if you have experience in counselling, one can decide how many hours of practical training can be waved on an individual basis.
What can I do after this certification?
After you have completed the course successfully, you have gathered enough knowledge and experience of Islamic counselling to be able to take in clients with the most common issues such as mild depression, mild anxiety, lack of contentment in life, marital issues, family related issues, domestic abuse, bereavement.
Please note that you will not be able to conduct psychotherapy in which serious psychopathological problems are treated such as schizophrenia, PTSD, and anorexia nervosa. However, an Islamic counsellor can supplement the treatment and psychotherapy of a conventional psychologist, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist by bringing the Islamic perspective into the therapeutic process.
As an Islamic counsellor, one can be employed as an Islamic counsellor by Islamic centers, mosques, Islamic schools and other organisations. Furthermore, all students are trained how to establish their own counselling service as well.
The demand for Islamic counsellors who conduct counselling according to the principles laid out in the Quran and Sunnah is very high - and the ummah needs counsellors who can help quickly and effectively.