Counselors’ Tips on How to End Haram Relationships
By Monique Hassan
By Monique Hassan
Original posted on AboutIslam here
Temptation is all around us, yet one temptation that proves to be formidable is haram relationships. It is such a growing issue in our Muslim communities that amongst college students in America, 57% of men and 48% of women report engaging in premarital sex.
Our society markets sexuality and relationships outside the context of marriage and family. Although this might seem acceptable for non-Muslims, it is a grave sin and never permissible for us, Muslims.
Is Love Haram?
Love in itself is not haram, it is a beautiful feeling and a blessing. It is not haram to find someone attractive or want to spend time getting to know your potential spouse before marriage. However, we must remember there are halal ways to do this which ensure neither one of you transgresses the limits set by Allah (the most Glorified, the most Exalted).
Ending a haram relationship and staying out of it takes commitment and action. You might be wondering how you can accomplish this if you are already involved.
So, let’s look at 6 ways you can begin this process and hold true to it.
1. Cut the Connection Completely
You may be tempted to remain in contact with them under the false belief that it will somehow lessen the initial pain of separation. It only makes it harder and keeps the temptation in front of you. Imagine if you put drugs in front of a drug addict, it makes the recovery that much harder.
You need to distance yourself from this person, delete all their contact information and block all social media profiles. Do not engage them in anyway; you are detoxing them from your system.
2. Choose Your Friends Wisely
The social circles you choose to be involved with impact you more than you realize. If your friends are supportive of haram relationships and frequently engage in activities which are in opposition to the commands of Allah (swt) then you are setting yourself up for failure.
“A man is upon the religion of his friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.”at-Tirmidhi
Surround yourself with righteous friends that will help guide you and bring positivity into your life. Righteous friends will help you during the healing process after you make the initial step to cut the connection with your haram relationship.
3. Be Honest With Yourself
Ask yourself why you felt the need to get involved with this relationship in the first place. Were you seeking validation to help your self-esteem? Are you a sister who is having difficulty with your Father-Daughter relationship and sought out another male role model in your life? Do you struggle with self-control?
Once you identify why you engaged in these relationships, you are more able to prevent it in the future and grow a deeper understanding of your own self.
As Muslims, we know that haram relationships are a grave sin, therefor to enter into this usually has a reason behind it more than just fun and attraction. Find that area of your life that is creating this weakness, something is making it more difficult for you to control your desires. This takes introspection and honesty.
4. Positive Coping Skills
This step forward is going to test you and you will face some difficult moments. It is important during those tests to have a coping skill which is positive and can keep you on track. Examples of positive coping skills include journaling, nature walks, painting, listening to Quran or cooking.
Find a positive and rewarding hobby to take your mind off the temptation and keep you involved in something beneficial.
5. Fasting and Duaa
Our Prophet (peace be upon him) told us fasting will help assist you in preventing those haram interactions. It makes it easier to control our impulses and keeps us more aware of our faith.
“0 young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes from casting (evil glances). and preserves one from immorality; but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting for it is a means of controlling sexual desire.”Muslim
Alongside fasting, making duaa is a strong weapon in the struggle against shaitan’s influences. Make duaa daily asking for the strength and faith to avoid haram relationships. Ask for guidance and assistance as much as you feel compelled to do so. There is no such thing as making too much duaa.
6. Fine True Love on the Prayer Mat
The purest and most unconditional love is that between you and your creator. No matter how much you have transgressed, you can always turn back to Allah (The Most Glorified, Most Revered) and make true repentance.
{So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.} Quran 2:152-153
Cry your heart out in sujood when it is hard and talk to Allah (swt), let it all out on your prayer mat and find solace in the embrace of your faith.
Final Thoughts
Engaging in these haram relationships will not help you in the future and can leave scars on your heart which will impact your future marriage. Imagine if a Sister has her heart broken by someone she was involved with, that emotional scarring may impact how vulnerable she allows herself to be for her future husband.
A Brother that frequently engages in fornication may find he has a more difficult time staying faithful to his future wife as he has become accustomed to this lifestyle and shaitan will undoubtedly remind him of it.
Let that concept sink into your mind for a moment, these haram relationships can not only hurt the person you claim to care about, they can hurt your future spouse that you haven’t even met yet.
Maintaining a clear heart with consciousness of Allah (swt) will only serve to make you a better spouse one day when you are ready for that step. If you truly seek love and companionship, do it in a halal way in accordance with the guidance of your creator.
Is Islam Compatible With Psychology?
By Monique Hassan
By Monique Hassan
ISLAMIC PSYCHOLOGY
The pen has been lifted from three; for the sleeping person until he awakens, for the boy until he becomes a young man and for the mentally insane until he regains sanity.
If we look back at Islamic History, we see the first large-scale psychiatric hospital built by Muslims in the year 705 AD (86 AH) in Baghdad, Iraq. Shortly after this more were built such as in Cairo.
During the Golden Age of Islam, advancements were continuously being made in a variety of medical fields. Outstanding minds like Mohamed Al-Razi and Abu Zayd al-Balkhi were studying illnesses and making progress in the understanding and advancement of psychology alongside other medical fields. We were utilizing treatments that resembled early cognitive behavioral therapy and psychoanalysis years before these were known as western advancements.
Contrary to some stigmas and attitudes prevalent in today’s society, the patients were not automatically viewed as being influenced by sin or possessed by jinn. Although diseased hearts being influenced by sin is a factor in one’s mental state and we cannot ignore the possibility of jinn, we cannot assume all cases of mental health concerns are related to those variables.
In most cases, therapy alongside faith is not only an effective treatment but it serves double duty as a catalyst to improving one’s own self- awareness and lifestyle choices related to their deen.
We must remember that our brothers and sisters struggling with mental illness are shown mercy and patience from Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). We must strive to show mercy to the ummah if we expect such mercy to be shown to us.
Islamic Psychology Basics
Various theories and treatment models exist within psychology, however, you will notice an overlapping of concepts between what we know to be true within our deen and what we study in psychology.
One of the most famous names in Psychology is Sigmund Freud, who amongst other things, believed that humans were driven by subconscious sexual and biological urges. Freud also proposed that human beings are innately dark and full of desire. Others such as Alfred Adler disagreed with Freud and argued that humans are more driven by social urges rather than innate biological desires. This is a classic nature versus nurture argument.
Islam tells us the full truth, that both of these doctors are correct to some extent. We know that struggling against our inner temptations and thoughts is a form of jihad (struggle). We also know that men and women are biologically different to the point how we perceive and interpret the same situation will not be identical.
We are a product of our environment; we cannot deny the impact of socialization upon our personality. We must also acknowledge we are impacted by our DNA, we can look to stories of twins separated at birth yet when they met up again as adults they have similar jobs and life choices. We are a product of both nature and nurture; we are not exclusive to one.
Our Subconscious
Subconscious influences are described by some within psychology as a set of deep, inner instinctual desires which are then filtered through our moral compass and rationalizations. We can think of it like an iceberg. Below the water lies the dark and mysterious subconscious which has our desires and primal urges. As we move closer to the observable tip of the iceberg we encounter our thought patterns and moral compass. Once we break the surface we see the product of our moral compass critiquing our earthly desires.
From the Islamic perspective, we know that our nafs are part of our self, our subconscious. This is sometimes interchanged with ruh or spirit. Often nafs is designated for the soul inside of the body whereas ruh refers to the soul being outside of the body. In Quran, one’s inner self or nafs, are described in 3 stages.
Nafs that influence evil, Nafs al-ammara bissuu (primal, raw desire, pleasure seeking)
Nafs that blame, Nafs al-lawwama (self critique, morality, decision making, awareness)
Nafs at peace, Nafs al-mutma inna (righteous behaviors, contentment, tranquil, striving for hereafter)
We can think of Nafs al-ammarra bissuu as earthly, primal desire. Nafs al-lawwama as a transitional stage where we engage in jihad against our own temptations and self. Nafs al-mutma inna can be thought of as spiritual enlightenment and a reassured soul.
[To the righteous it will be said], “O reassured soul, Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], And enter among My [righteous] servants, And enter My Paradise.
يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ رْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي
Heart
Our heart, or qalb, is mentioned many times throughout Quran and hadith. Some psychological disorders and behavioral issues stem from diseases of the heart. We can think of our heart as being one of three types.
The dark, diseased and dead heart which is void of iman (faith). Shaytan (Satan) does not need to tempt this heart as he has taken up residence within it.
The struggling heart that has iman and wants goodness, but is fighting against darkness. This heart is in a state of jihad and shaytan tries to take advantage.
The illuminated heart full of iman .This is a protected and strong heart radiating noor (light).
The only way to have an illuminated heart is to make Allah (Swt) the center of our hearts. All too often we put things into this slot that were never meant to be there, such as career or spouses. That is not to say that we should not love our spouse, but no one can come above Al-Wadood (The Loving) An-Noor (The Light).
And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is knowing of that within the heart
وَأَسِرُّوا قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ اجْهَرُوا بِهِ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
Therapists often look towards a person’s social network for ongoing support and increased accountability. They are trying to bring heart, love and service into the therapeutic equation. We know that when we submit to Allah (swt) and make duaa for Him to open our hearts, that is the best source of support and accountability.
Final Thoughts
Islamic psychology is essentially the integration of spirituality and modern psychology. Just as many Islamic principles like nafs line up with psychology, we can also look at elements of Islam from a psychological perspective. Such as looking at the psychological benefit of wearing the veil or how fasting impacts our behavioral health choices.
Therapy which is combined with faith will ultimately be more positive and impactful for those within the ummah that are struggling with mental health concerns. Not only is Islam compatible with psychology, we can see the field of psychology as a tool given to us from Allah (swt).
Things I Wish I Realised About Counselling Before Doing It…
By Nisreen F.
Nisreen by day is a Speech and Language therapist working with adults with neurological conditions, but by night she works for NaTakallam- a start up that helps displaced people and refugees earn income through teaching their native language online. If there are any hours left, Nisreen loves to play piano and go climbing (indoors!)
By Nisreen F (originally posted on AMALIAH
I’m a big believer in therapy and think most of us do not get enough counsel in our lives nor do we prioritise this – going for counselling can be an extraordinary experience but ultimately an advantageous investment in trying to improve yourself and your life in general. We don’t tend to talk about the experience of counselling and what it entails, how to get the most of it, what to expect. When I first did it- I had my misconceptions about it. I’ve put here the top 6 points I didn’t realise before trying it for those of you who might be considering it.
1. It takes courage
First things first, know that by seeking help from a counsellor you are acknowledging there is something to work on in your life and that you’re willing to take steps to do this. Give yourself credit – this is your attempt to go in the right direction.
When I began participating in counselling, part of what is difficult, is that to progress I had to show my vulnerabilities that I struggle to deal with and face daily- I was genuinely very terrified of doing this.
Part of what compounds this fear is if previously you have tried exposing your wounds and ended up being reprimanded, shamed and ultimately hurt by doing this (Ironically this may be one of the reasons you are seeking counsel in the first place). Finding therapy is a step that says you’re prepared to be vulnerable and trust again. This step has to begin from you but taking it will ultimately mean healing can begin.
2. Prevention is better than cure
The more I participate in therapy or life coaching, as some call it, the more bizarre I think the idea of it being a stigma is. Regardless of what triggered your action to find a counsellor, you are internally actualising that there are aspects of your life and well-being you can improve. This statement can apply to practically every individual out there because really- at what point should a person stop striving for excellence in their life? We know that the answer is – never.
There seems to be a myth circulating which relays, that counselling is sought out during a crisis as a last resort.
We all know “prevention is better than cure”- why don’t we go to a counsellor to nurture ourselves and as a preventative means- to avoid this crisis point? We all know we should go to the doctor or dentist for regular check-ups on our physical health – we need to treat mental health similarly to help minimise long-term chronic issues, stresses, and angst
3. It builds a unique relationship with the therapist (in more ways than one)
This one is for your reassurance. By building a good rapport with your therapist, it becomes one of the most intimate relationships you have. As you may reveal things to them that you wouldn’t utter to anyone else. How is it that a total stranger quickly ends up knowing you, or rather- the messier parts of you and your life than others who you would deem close to you? I remember periods where I would feel a sense of confusion on what the outcome of the session was exactly. I would feel guilty, with a bitter taste of betrayal knowing that somehow I connected more intimately with a stranger than anyone else.
These feelings can be bothersome, partly because it already is hard to make sense of regardless. You’re in a vulnerable place and state, and it can take retrospect to understand better.
We see a counsellor once every week, after this, you both go your separate ways. You generally would not interact with this person outside of the session, and unlikely you would say hi if you see them in the street or see them in a casual setting. Yet we go to them for incredibly intimate problems about our lives, which can be a bizarre concept to come to terms with.
Finally, what adds to making the whole situation surreal – is that if your therapist is right, they won’t be projecting their own biases onto you as a means of helping you ( although they will have them- they are human too after all.) This is what most family and friends do.
A counsellor will find out more about you and then provide means of you harnessing your growth and facilitate your problem-solving path. Why is this strange? Well, it means that while the therapist is finding out all about you and helping you, it is not reciprocal – or certainly not to the same extent.
4) One size does not fit all
Something I didn’t know, was how counsellors use differing therapy approaches. Some use cognitive behavioural model, humanistic, or even person-centered . Although I don’t think it is essential to understand all the different types of approaches available, it is essential to know that therapists will vary in their techniques with you. If you don’t see you’re making progress with one, feel free to shop around for another- it is within your right to do so.
A therapist who cares about their clients won’t be offended and ultimately would want you to get the appropriate help you need. Don’t give up on therapy/counselling altogether just because it didn’t work one time with one therapist.
I would also add, that if you struggle to find a counsellor who uses an Islamic framework, I would not completely dismiss them if that is all you have access to.
As someone who has tried it with Muslim and non- Muslim counselling models, you can take some great gems of wisdom from both and reach a better level of self-improvement than if you didn’t do counselling at all. The only exception to this is if you need help with faith-specific goals (for example a crisis of faith).
5. Your mental health doesn’t just affect you
Whatever impacts you, is impacting your family, your friends and those around you. Sometimes people avoid seeking help because of fear of judgement from friends and family. It isn’t just the stigma, it can be hard for them to accept you need/want help and this can compound to a feeling of shame- like it is a sign they have failed and you have failed. Remember helping yourself is the beginning of helping others and those around you. Try to reverse the role- if you were seeing a family member or close friend struggling in their life- how much would you wish to see them thriving from their difficulty and coming out stronger, better and more fulfilled?
6. You won’t be ‘fixed’, but you can heal
Counsellors and therapists are healers. They can do so much in bringing out your best, showing you healthy ways of coping, help you map your emotional struggles to words, help you renew your faith and generally enlighten you with your potential to succeed.
When therapy works, it finds its way to make your darker shades lighter and shows your worthiness and sense of belonging regardless of your circumstances. They are not there to ‘fix’ you as a person is never meant to be fixed in the first place- instead, they can help you to heal and to know yourself better so that you can continually grow as a person.
Here are a few Muslim based resources to help you get started…
MCAPN- have a directory of Muslim counsellors across the country. A lot will do online counselling.
Noor Human Consulting- US based but will also do online counselling. They also hold a podcast talking about relevant issues relating to the Muslim community
Inspirited Minds– faith-based counselling (mainly Muslim but will work with other people of other faiths).
Services that are not explicitly Muslim-based:
Better Help – secure online service – good for those with busy schedules that require flexibility. They match you with someone based on the form you fill, and rates are reasonable compared to typical standards. Help Counselling– Based in Notting Hill, London- provide face to face psychotherapy and counselling. They accommodate the price based on your income/what you can afford. They also try to onboard counselling trainees to support the profession.
I Don’t Feel Any Attraction to My Wife
QUESTION
Dear brother/sister. I have been married for a year now and I don’t feel the love for my wife. She does not have any physical relationship with me. It was an arranged marriage and I did not like this girl from the very beginning. I do not find her attractive. I am depressed because of this and have a constant regret in my life as to why I married her. I wanted to get married to a girl who is slim but she is little fat. I wanted a girl who has good features but her features are not so good. I do not feel any attraction towards her. I am just depressed and it is ruining both of our lives. I am a bit hesitant to tell this to my wife to break this bond as she loves me a lot, but I should also care about my happiness. I always pray to Allah to put love between us but my prayers are never answered. I feel very disappointed to live a fake life like this. Please help me decide or advice me what I can do in this state. May Allah help us.
RESPONSE by Karim Serageldin
As-Salamu ‘Alaikum brother,
All the praises be to Allah. Attraction is a very important factor to make a relationship successfull , but is not the only one. If you did not like her from the beginning, what made you feel you should marry her anyways? I would guess the answer is because of family pressure, which leads me to another question: do you think you can handle the family pressure in case of divorce?
I will first assume you prefer not to end your marriage and that you do not want to displease the families involved. However, you are right about thinking of your own happiness, otherwise you will never make her happy, and both of you will be living a miserable life together.
Even though divorce is allowed, and it is one of your options, it must be a last resort. Whether you like it or not, you are now married and the decision should not have been made if you were not in agreement to this marriage in the first place.
The physical attraction issue seems to be two sides. One is a weight issue, the other is a about her physical features. The weight issue can easily be solved with a life style change, diet and exercise. You can approach your wife and suggest exercising together, for example. Be aware of your tone and don’t be judgmental. Instead, use the exercise as a couple’s activity where you and she can actually have fun while getting in shape. Mentioning to her that you don’t feel attracted to her won’t help. Be kind and simply take this opportunity to spend quality time with her. A healthy life style will also contribute to your mood and behavior. If there are other aspects of her physical appearance that cannot be changed through exercise, then there is nothing that can be done.
Independent of her appearance, you should focus on her character, personality, skills or anything that makes her a good person and wife. You also have to remember that you are not perfect (none of us are), and there are probably things in you that she dislikes as well. Start to validate the portion of your marriage life that you actually enjoy and appreciate. Love does not need to be the same feeling or amount for each person in marriage at any given time. It can go up and down between two individuals that share some compatibility, enjoy each other’s company and have fun together and so on. Our religion made it very clear the importance of marriage and what a man should look for in a wife:
“Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husbands) absence what Allah would have them guard.” [Qur’an 4:34]
The Prophet (saw) also said: “The best property a man can have is a remembering tongue (about Allah), a grateful heart and a believing wife who helps him in his faith.” And again: “The world, the whole of it, is a commodity and the best of the commodities of the world is a virtuous wife.”
Indeed, beauty is important brother, but it does not last forever. If your wife is a good woman, religious and loves you, I believe you should give a chance to this relationship and try to build intimacy and bond with her. One year is not a long time for a couple to get to know each other deeply. Turn all your attention to the things that pleases you. Laugh with her, talk, share dreams and expectations. You might find a wonderful woman if you use more of your heart and not your eyes.
May Allah bless you and make your path easier.
Is Islam Compatible With Psychology?
By Monique Hassan
Islamic Psychology
"The pen has been lifted from three; for the sleeping person until he awakens, for the boy until he becomes a young man and for the mentally insane until he regains sanity."[at-Tirmidhi]
If we look back at Islamic History, we see the first large-scale psychiatric hospital built by Muslims in the year 705 AD (86 AH) in Baghdad, Iraq. Shortly after this more were built such as in Cairo.
During the Golden Age of Islam, advancements were continuously being made in a variety of medical fields. Outstanding minds like Mohamed Al-Razi and Abu Zayd al-Balkhi were studying illnesses and making progress in the understanding and advancement of psychology alongside other medical fields. We were utilizing treatments that resembled early cognitive behavioral therapy and psychoanalysis years before these were known as western advancements.
Contrary to some stigmas and attitudes prevalent in today’s society, the patients were not automatically viewed as being influenced by sin or possessed by jinn. Although diseased hearts being influenced by sin is a factor in one’s mental state and we cannot ignore the possibility of jinn, we cannot assume all cases of mental health concerns are related to those variables.
In most cases, therapy alongside faith is not only an effective treatment but it serves double duty as a catalyst to improving one’s own self- awareness and lifestyle choices related to their deen.
We must remember that our brothers and sisters struggling with mental illness are shown mercy and patience from Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). We must strive to show mercy to the ummah if we expect such mercy to be shown to us.
Islamic Psychology Basics
Various theories and treatment models exist within psychology, however, you will notice an overlapping of concepts between what we know to be true within our deen and what we study in psychology.
One of the most famous names in Psychology is Sigmund Freud, who amongst other things, believed that humans were driven by subconscious sexual and biological urges. Freud also proposed that human beings are innately dark and full of desire. Others such as Alfred Adler disagreed with Freud and argued that humans are more driven by social urges rather than innate biological desires. This is a classic nature versus nurture argument.
Islam tells us the full truth, that both of these doctors are correct to some extent. We know that struggling against our inner temptations and thoughts is a form of jihad (struggle). We also know that men and women are biologically different to the point how we perceive and interpret the same situation will not be identical.
We are a product of our environment; we cannot deny the impact of socialization upon our personality. We must also acknowledge we are impacted by our DNA, we can look to stories of twins separated at birth yet when they met up again as adults they have similar jobs and life choices. We are a product of both nature and nurture; we are not exclusive to one.
Our Subconscious
Subconscious influences are described by some within psychology as a set of deep, inner instinctual desires which are then filtered through our moral compass and rationalizations. We can think of it like an iceberg. Below the water lies the dark and mysterious subconscious which has our desires and primal urges. As we move closer to the observable tip of the iceberg we encounter our thought patterns and moral compass. Once we break the surface we see the product of our moral compass critiquing our earthly desires.
From the Islamic perspective, we know that our nafs are part of our self, our subconscious. This is sometimes interchanged with ruh or spirit. Often nafs is designated for the soul inside of the body whereas ruh refers to the soul being outside of the body. In Quran, one’s inner self or nafs, are described in 3 stages.
Nafs that influence evil, Nafs al-ammara bissuu (primal, raw desire, pleasure seeking)
Nafs that blame, Nafs al-lawwama (self critique, morality, decision making, awareness)
Nafs at peace, Nafs al-mutma inna (righteous behaviors, contentment, tranquil, striving for hereafter)
We can think of Nafs al-ammarra bissuu as earthly, primal desire. Nafs al-lawwama as a transitional stage where we engage in jihad against our own temptations and self. Nafs al-mutma inna can be thought of as spiritual enlightenment and a reassured soul.
[To the righteous it will be said], “O reassured soul, Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], And enter among My [righteous] servants, And enter My Paradise.يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ رْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي
Heart
Our heart, or qalb, is mentioned many times throughout Quran and hadith. Some psychological disorders and behavioral issues stem from diseases of the heart. We can think of our heart as being one of three types.
The dark, diseased and dead heart which is void of iman (faith). Shaytan (Satan) does not need to tempt this heart as he has taken up residence within it.
The struggling heart that has iman and wants goodness, but is fighting against darkness. This heart is in a state of jihad and shaytan tries to take advantage.
The illuminated heart full of iman .This is a protected and strong heart radiating noor (light).
The only way to have an illuminated heart is to make Allah (Swt) the center of our hearts. All too often we put things into this slot that were never meant to be there, such as career or spouses. That is not to say that we should not love our spouse, but no one can come above Al-Wadood (The Loving) An-Noor (The Light).
"And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is knowing of that within the heart"
وَأَسِرُّوا قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ اجْهَرُوا بِهِ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
Therapists often look towards a person’s social network for ongoing support and increased accountability. They are trying to bring heart, love and service into the therapeutic equation. We know that when we submit to Allah (swt) and make duaa for Him to open our hearts, that is the best source of support and accountability.
Final Thoughts
Islamic psychology is essentially the integration of spirituality and modern psychology. Just as many Islamic principles like nafs line up with psychology, we can also look at elements of Islam from a psychological perspective. Such as looking at the psychological benefit of wearing the veil or how fasting impacts our behavioral health choices.
Therapy which is combined with faith will ultimately be more positive and impactful for those within the ummah that are struggling with mental health concerns. Not only is Islam compatible with psychology, we can see the field of psychology as a tool given to us from Allah (swt).