About Resources
The worksheets were developed by Hanan Dover, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist (MAPS, MAAPI), drawing on evidence-based psychological treatments (cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, trauma-informed care) and the Islamic tradition. They are designed for Muslim clients in Australia who want mental health resources that honour both their faith and the best of contemporary clinical science.
Each resource has been written to be clinically sound, scripturally accurate, and practically useful. Qur’anic verses and Prophetic narrations have been cited carefully and in context. The clinical content reflects current evidence-based practice. Where there is uncertainty, we say so honestly rather than overstate what is known.
Who these resources are for
These materials are intended for adults who are:
Working through everyday challenges such as stress, low mood, sleep difficulties, worry, grief, anger, or difficult thoughts
Currently in counselling or therapy and wanting structured material to support their work between sessions
Looking for resources that integrate their Islamic faith with sound psychological skills, rather than treating these as separate domains
Wanting to understand their own mental health more clearly, in language that respects who they are
How to use these with your counsellor or psychologist
We strongly encourage you to use these resources in collaboration with a mental health professional. Here is how to make the most of that partnership, whether your counsellor is Muslim or not.
If you are seeing a non-Muslim psychologist or counsellor
These worksheets can bridge a gap that many Muslim clients describe: feeling that the clinical work is good, but that the spiritual and cultural dimension of your life is missing from the room. You can:
- Bring a worksheet to your session and say, "This is how I think about this issue. Can we work through it together?"
- Use the Islamic concepts in the worksheets (sabr, tawakkul, sakinah, rahmah, hilm) to help your counsellor understand the framework that makes sense to you
- Ask your counsellor to help you apply the evidence-based skills (such as thought challenging, behavioural activation, or diaphragmatic breathing) within the Islamic context provided
- Use the Qur'anic references as starting points for conversation, not as the work itself
A good clinician will welcome this. If a clinician dismisses the religious framing as irrelevant or treats it as an obstacle, that is information about whether this clinician is the right fit for you.
If you are seeing an Islamic counsellor, scholar, or chaplain
Identify what you are experiencing in clearer language
- Work through the worksheets as homework between meetings
- Use them to track patterns (such as the practice logs, the worry diary, or the emotion regulation grids)
- Bring the practical exercises into your conversations, alongside the scriptural and spiritual reflection
- Ask your counsellor whether your concerns warrant referral to a clinical psychologist for specific conditions such as PTSD, OCD, severe depression, or panic disorder
Pastoral support and clinical treatment are complementary, not interchangeable. The most resilient outcomes often come from drawing on both.
If you are not currently seeing anyone
These resources can be a starting point. Working through a relevant worksheet on your own can help you:
- Work through the worksheets as homework between meetings
- Recognise whether your difficulties are within the range of everyday human distress, or whether they may benefit from professional support
- Begin practising self-regulation skills that are useful for everyone
- Prepare for a first appointment with a clinician by knowing what to ask for
We do recommend, however, that if any of these worksheets resonates strongly with your situation, you arrange to speak with a qualified mental health professional. Working alone is rarely the most effective path, particularly for trauma, OCD, panic disorder, complex grief, or persistent low mood.
A note on the Islamic content
The Islamic references in these worksheets have been chosen carefully. Verses, hadith, and classical concepts are cited with their sources so you can verify them and so they sit clearly within the Islamic tradition. However, please understand that these worksheets are clinical resources informed by Islamic principles. They are not fatawa, religious rulings, or substitutes for guidance from a qualified scholar on matters of religious practice.
For specific religious questions, please consult a trusted imam, scholar, or Islamic chaplain. For clinical mental health concerns, please consult a registered psychologist, counsellor, social worker, or psychiatrist.
A final note
Seeking help for mental health is not a failure of faith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah has not sent down a disease except that He has also sent down its cure” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5678). The cure for mental and emotional difficulties may include du’a, dhikr, salah, fasting, and patience, and it may also include therapy, medication, and structured psychological support. These are not in opposition. They are part of the same mercy.
May Allah grant you healing, ease, and sakinah in every step of your journey.