Mental care providers learn how to understand Muslim patients
Friday, February 2, 2007
By SAMANTHA HENRY
HERALD NEWS
Rehan Seyam, an Arab-American mental health expert, addresses some of the issues
counselors may face when treating Arabs.
PATERSON -- Ancient. Clannish. Observant. Diverse. Exotic. Rehan Seyam wrote
each answer down after asking her audience to free-associate on the term
Arab-American.
The exercise was part of an awareness training called "working with the
Arab-American community" at Barnert Hospital on Thursday, conducted by Seyam,
who works there part-time as a mental health clinician.
"These are families often brought from cultures where it's taboo to discuss
mental health," Seyam told the audience of mostly mental health professionals.
"If it's taboo to discuss mental health or divorce, you can imagine how hard it
is to discuss depression."
Seyam, 25, of Parsippany, grew up in New Jersey and became one of the few
Arab-American, Muslim mental health professionals in the state. Besides her work
as a therapist, she tries to improve understanding of Arab-Americans among
non-Arab practitioners, and to persuade Arab-American and Muslim clients that
seeking therapy for mental health issues is not shameful.
Thursday's session began with Seyam clarifying some common misconceptions: not
all Arabs are Muslim, she reminded the audience, and not all Muslims are Arab.
She spoke about the deep mistrust and isolation many Arab-Americans, especially
immigrants, feel toward society at large, and the importance they place on
family and community.
"Everything is about the family, any decision they make goes through the family
first," she said. She gave an example in which 10 family members accompanied one
patient during an intake. "I would suggest working within that structure instead
of trying to change it."
She also provided some practical tips for health practitioners in dealing with
Arab-American or Muslim clients.
"Customs to be aware of included limited opposite gender physical contact.
Often, there is no hand-shaking with the opposite sex, but take cues from them,"
Seyam said. "As counselors we're taught that eye contact is essential, and that
those who don't engage in it must be avoidant. But Muslims will often lower
their gaze as a sign of respect."
Seyam emphasized the importance of involving not only the family, but also the
extended community, and even religious leaders in encouraging people to seek
counseling. She said she now has a full roster of clients, and that the nearby
Islamic Center of Passaic had become a major source of referrals. Besides her
client case load, she conducts awareness trainings throughout the state.
"I love doing this, I love clearing up misconceptions," she said. "I went into
this field to help my community, because I knew there was no mental health
services in this community. It's something I am passionate about."
After the seminar, several hospital staff members surrounded Seyam and thanked
her.
"I thought it was really great," said Kortara Brown, who works in secretarial
services in the hospital's mental and behavioral health ward. "Sometimes we
believe everyone should think the way we do, a lot of us misinterpret people
from other religions. This gives us a wider understanding."
Reach Samantha Henry at 973-569-7172 or henrys@northjersey.com.
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