Perceptions of Nonheterosexuality Among Future Muslim Counseling Psychologists

Abstract

In this study, I investigated perceptions of nonheterosexuality among Muslim counseling psychology students. Data were collected using semistructured interviews that included 8 open- and closed-ended questions. The sample of 76 female and 65 male students (N = 141) were in their final year of study in counseling psychology departments in Northern Cyprus. It was found that Muslim counseling psychology students' knowledge of the sexual orientation, lifestyle, and psychological needs of nonheterosexual individuals tended to be biased and incorrect. The attitudes of Muslim participants who were highly or very highly religious differed from those who were nonreligious or marginally religious.