{"id":621,"date":"2026-05-14T07:46:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T14:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/?page_id=621"},"modified":"2026-05-14T08:07:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:07:01","slug":"qabool-alliance-model","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/qabool-alliance-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Qabool-Alliance Model"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Decolonizing<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Chapter 8.3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Qabool-Alliance Model: A Signature Tool for the Sunnah-Based Practice Framework<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By Mahdi Qasqas, Ayesha Notiar, and Ahmad Eltassi<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book: Decolonizing Health, Healing, and Care<\/a>
Published: June 1, 2025
Publisher: Counselling Concepts<\/a>
Chapter DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.71446\/df79068735<\/a>
Book ISBN: 978-0-9738085-6-8
Format: ePub
Distributor: Vital Source<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Purchase your copy at<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Vital Source<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Abstract<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Qabool-alliance model is one of two signature models for the Sunnah-based practice framework. Sunnah in this context refers to the Islamic traditions derived from the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). The authors hope to enhance appreciation and understanding of how the Qabool-alliance model and CARE principles (congruence, alliance, regard, and empathy) are primarily focused on enhancing the therapeutic alliance. Qabool, as a guiding principle and practice approach, is synthesized within an Islamically infused ethical and practice framework. The Qabool-alliance model provides a promising supplement to existing practices, while also offering a common ground from which both regulated professionals and community spiritual workers can collaborate. This process is further facilitated by Etuaptmumk (also referred to as Two-Eyed Seeing) and the sharing of knowledge with respect and kindness. The authors provide connections between some core Indigenous and Islamic values showcasing how aligned the two worldviews are. By building connections using the Islamic construct of Qabool, the authors also identify the family resemblances between Islamic and eurowestern constructs related to relational responsivity to further establish Qabool\u2019s credibility between worldviews. By embracing the principle of Etuaptmumk, practitioners can better navigate the complexities of integrating (not assimilating or dominating) cultural, religious, or spiritual worldviews with health services and psychology. When working with Muslim clients, if religion and spirituality are important to them, drawing on Islamic sources can enhance the credibility of your approach and instill a sense of hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mahdi Qasqas<\/em><\/strong> (he\/him), PhD, RPsych, holds a PhD in social work, is a registered psychologist, and is the head of Q&A Psychological Services. He has worked both professionally and probono with a range of local and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations. As a volunteer leader he has served over 15,000 hours of serious leisure, which became the subject focus of his doctoral studies and led to patenting Psycho-Spiritual First Aid\u00ae, a mental health consultation model used to build culturally localized and adapted evidence-based interventions and programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ayesha Notiar<\/strong><\/em> (she\/her), MA, MEd, CCC, is a dedicated counsellor and educator with a deep commitment to providing a holistic therapy approach that honours each client\u2019s unique spiritual beliefs and practices. She holds a master\u2019s degree in counseling from St. Stephen\u2019s College, with a focus in integrating clients\u2019 spirituality into therapeutic practices, and a master\u2019s degree in education from New York University\u2019s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She blends traditional evidence-based interventions with culturally sensitive, holistic approaches that encompass the mind, body, and spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahmad Eltassi <\/em><\/strong>(he\/him), BSc, is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in counselling psychology. He worked closely with his practicum supervisor, Mahdi Qasqas, whose expertise in mental health has significantly shaped his understanding of client-centred care. He joined with Mahdi and Ayesha Notiar to explore innovative approaches in mental health care, including the Qabool-alliance model that emphasizes building rapport, respect, and integrative care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Qasqas, M., Notiar, A., & Eltassi, A. (2025). The Qabool-alliance model: A signature tool for the Sunnah-based practice framework. In S. Collins and M. Jay (Eds.), Decolonizing health, healing, and care: Embodying culturally responsive and socially just counselling<\/em> (Chapter 8.3). Counselling Concepts. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.71446\/df79068735<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 8.3 The Qabool-Alliance Model: A Signature Tool for the Sunnah-Based Practice Framework By Mahdi Qasqas, Ayesha Notiar, and Ahmad Eltassi Book: Decolonizing Health, Healing, and Care Published: June 1, 2025Publisher: Counselling ConceptsChapter DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.71446\/df79068735Book ISBN: 978-0-9738085-6-8Format: ePub Distributor: Vital Source Purchase your copy at Abstract The Qabool-alliance model is one of two signature models […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"The Qabool-Alliance Model: A Signature Tool for the Sunnah-Based Practice Framework","_seopress_titles_desc":"Two-Eyed Seeing highlights synergies in the Qabool-alliance model among Indigenous, western, and Islamic ethics and therapeutic practices that enhance the therapeutic alliance.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"Qabool-alliance model,Two-Eyed Seeing,therapeutic alliance,Islamic ethics,Islamic therapeutic practices","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-621","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"sandrac","author_link":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/author\/sandrac\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Chapter 8.3 The Qabool-Alliance Model: A Signature Tool for the Sunnah-Based Practice Framework By Mahdi Qasqas, Ayesha Notiar, and Ahmad Eltassi Book: Decolonizing Health, Healing, and Care Published: June 1, 2025Publisher: Counselling ConceptsChapter DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.71446\/df79068735Book ISBN: 978-0-9738085-6-8Format: ePub Distributor: Vital Source Purchase your copy at Abstract The Qabool-alliance model is one of two signature models…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=621"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":623,"href":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/621\/revisions\/623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}