Case method in psychological counseling (on the example of psychological counseling of Muslims)

Abstract

The article describes and analyzes the theoretical problems associated with the case method in both General and Social (but not classical, communicative) Epistemology. The paper discloses the author's approach in solving and presenting cases. The approach is aimed at achieving the goal, which is in-depth training of consultants in the fi eld of confession-oriented psychological counseling. The author focuses on the description of the case method as an additional way to train specialists in confession-oriented counseling, including psychological counseling of Muslims. The article discloses the ways of reaching the goal by describing the case method in general and in a viewpoint of Social Epistemology. The author shows the specifi cs of the method not so much as a tool for description, but for training specialists. Revealing the case method as a tool that helps the counseling psychologist to carry out self-refl ection necessary to recognize and maintain internal and external self-boundaries, the author derives the defi nition of the internal and external boundaries of the case naming them as cultural and personal which can lead to a voluminous understanding of the problems that arise in the process of psychological counseling for all parties involved. The author draws preliminary conclusions and off ers a number of recommendations for the training of specialists, particularly in the situation of confession-oriented counseling. The article provides general information on the current state of psychological counseling for Muslims, as well as gives a sample case with its solutions. Moreover, the paper analyses the features of perception and errors of interpretation associated with external and internal cultural boundaries misunderstanding, after which proposes some recommendations for the results practical application.