ABSTRACT
Experiential family therapy is based on humanistic psychology and therapeutic models like Maslow, Perls, and Rogers and the communication and family systems theory of Bateson, Jackson, and Watzlavick (Becvar & Becvar, 2006). Experiential family therapy, which is based on the humanistic and experiential perspectives, developed mainly in reaction to the way behaviorism overlooked the internal and emotional experience of individuals and paid attention to only measurable and observable behaviors. Further, even though humanistic therapists liked the psychodynamic aspects of psychoanalysis, they did not like the Freudian focus on the client’s past. Humanistic therapists believe that clients change when there is an authentic and truthful conversation about the experience of the client and therapist, during the session, and in the context of an empathic and honest therapeutic relationship (Nichols, 2013). This model can be very useful in working with Muslim families due to its powerful humanistic and systemic perspectives, which work well for people from collectivist cultures. In order to apply experiential family therapy in working with Muslim families, we need to have a good understanding of the main concept of family system theory along with the experiential family therapy model.
