Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Theology

Program Name/Specialization

Spiritual Care and Counselling

Faculty/School

Martin Luther University College

First Advisor

Dr.Kristine Lund

Advisor Role

Supervising the research

Abstract

Sohbets are spiritual, conversational and reading circles of a faith-based social group, called the Gülen movement. These circles are one of the most critical and common practices of this particular movement since its inception in the late 1960s in Turkey, and the practice now continues in Canada. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 14 men in the Waterloo Region in order to explore lived experiences of Turkish Canadian Muslim participants in the Sohbets in Canada. The researcher argues that the Sohbets create alternative spaces for the participants, which affect their personal and social lives, spiritually and psychologically, and support them socially as they adapt to their new country, Canada. He also suggests that the concept of the Sohbet can be therapeutically beneficial for other Islamic communities across Canada. The interdisciplinary nature of this dissertation highlights the relationship between acculturation and psychotherapy in the Sohbet’s religious context. The study concludes that the Sohbets satisfy the majority of the therapeutic factors in Irvin Yalom’s group therapy theories, and also introduces two new therapeutic factors, Ihlas (sincerity & pure intention) and Iltifat (blessing), to the group therapy theories.

Convocation Year

2019

Convocation Season

Fall

Download

Share

COinS