Helping our Clients find a Sense of Community during Ramadan
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When searching for ways to support our clients, it's important to maintain cultural humility and recognize that the circumstances around religion are not those of stereotypes or simply single-natured.
However, when we see a religious client facing issues of connecting with their religion or finding that sense of community, we can use an elicit-provide-elicit to recommend some potential communities.
During the month of Ramadan, those personal connections become increasingly important. Newly admitted college students living far away from home or even those who just started following the religion are likely to struggle retaining or finding that sense of community. That's where you can assist the client. Try assessing what it is exactly they are looking for in a community, and once you've done this you can proceed to recommend the right community for them!
Client statements to look out for;
I'm having a hard time finding a connection to...
I don't feel like I fit in or am welcome in...
My parents have been bugging me about my religious practice...
What to do;
If you see a statement like these (within your own jurisdiction) look inward and ensure you're maintaining cultural humility while you try to find the 'next step' for your client.
Every religion is different, while this resource focuses specifically on Muslim Americans struggling with a sense of community, it is not to say that these principles or ideas cannot be utilized in other circumstances.
Approach the situation from a direction of curiosity; especially if you are not from this culture. It is extremely important to not come off as 'all-knowing'. Don't be afraid to ask the client follow-up questions, sometimes that discussion alone will help them organize their thoughts. Even if the discussion is foreign to you, strive to be a supporting figure- being a bystander won't help the client.
A potential Elicit-Provide-Elicit;
Hey, I've come across a few communities hosting public Eid celebrations- would you feel comfortable hearing about some of them?
If they say yes; Recommend one of the resources below and talk about the type of warm community it may have (Consider attaching some of the links from the website in a follow-up email after the session).
Finally, Don't forget to ask how they feel about this and gauge the conversation. This could potentially bring back negatives thoughts or not come across how you'd imagine.
I want to give a big thanks to Professor Yi at UWB for BIS316 Multicultural Counseling and this opportunity as a whole. As well as two sources that were integral to my research for this resource.
Being in-Between: A Model of Cultural Identity Negotiation for Emerging Adult Immigrants (JCP)
Cohen, J. A., & Kassan, A. (2018). Being in-Between: A Model of Cultural Identity Negotiation for Emerging Adult Immigrants. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65(2), 133–154. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1037/cou0000265
Some Additional References;
Birken, M., Chipp, B., Shah, P., Olive, R. R., Nyikavaranda, P., Hardy, J., Chhapia, A., Barber, N., Lee, S., Pearce, E., Lloyd-Evans, B., Perkins, R., McDaid, D., Stefanidou, T., Shafran, R., Pitman, A., & Johnson, S. (2023). Exploring the experiences of loneliness in adults with mental health problems: A participatory qualitative interview study. PLoS ONE, 18(3), 1–22. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0280946
ENVIRONMENTALISM AND ISLAM: A STUDY OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES.
Vasi, J. (2010). Environmentalism and Islam: A Study of Muslim Women in the United States. Research in Social Problems & Public Policy, 18, 451–484. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1108/S0196-1 152(2010)0000018017
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