ʿAlī Ṣādiqī-Sirisht, Tadvīn-i Mudākhilāt-i Ravānshinākhtī; Marāḥil va Shīvih-yi Tadvīn (Designing Psychological Interventions: Stages and Methodology), 1st ed., 1 vol., Qom: Dār al-Ḥadīth Publications, 1398 SH (2019 CE), 192 pp.
In recent decades, the intersection between psychology and religion—particularly Islam—has emerged as a fertile ground for academic exploration and clinical innovation. As Muslim psychologists increasingly seek to ground their work in Islamic teachings, the need for frameworks that systematically translate theoretical religious constructs into applicable psychological interventions has grown. The book Tadvīn-i Mudākhilāt-i Ravānshinākhtī; Marāḥil va Shīvih-yi Tadvīn (Designing Psychological Interventions: Stages and Methodology), authored by Ḥujjat al-Islām Dr. ʿAlī Ṣādiqī-Sirisht, stands as a pioneering attempt to address this gap.
Published in Persian by the Research Center for Ethics and Islamic Psychology at the Pazhūhishgāh-i Qurʾān va Ḥadīth (Qurʾān and Ḥadīth Research Institute) in 2019 (1398 SH), this 192-page manual offers both theoretical grounding and practical guidance for scholars and practitioners aiming to construct faith-based psychological intervention models.
Ḥujjat al-Islām Dr. ʿAlī Ṣādiqī-Sirisht is an Iranian scholar whose academic journey bridges religious scholarship and contemporary psychology. With a PhD in General Psychology from the Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Dr. Ṣādiqī-Sirisht specializes in child and adolescent psychology, with a particular focus on schema therapy.
He began his seminary studies in 1994 (1373 SH) and later pursued his academic degrees with top honors. His academic path includes:
- B.A. in General Psychology and Islamic Studies (2011 / 1390 SH).
- M.A. in General Psychology (2014 / 1393 SH).
- Ph.D. in General Psychology (2020 / 1399 SH).
In addition to the current title, he has authored other books integrating Islamic teachings with psychological practice:
- “Dar Rāh-i Āsmān” (on Raising Children Religiously), 2019.
- “Īn Hūsh-i Dastyāftanī” (on Emotional Intelligence), 2011.
- “Ḥattā bi Andāzih-yi Yik Band-i Kafsh” (on Islamic Treatment of Arrogance), 2013.
Dr. Ṣādiqī-Sirisht’s Tadvīn-i Mudākhilāt-i Ravānshinākhtī; Marāḥil va Shīvih-yi Tadvīn consistently reflects a deep commitment to harmonizing Islamic epistemology with modern therapeutic needs.
The central objective of Designing Psychological Interventions: Stages and Methodology is to offer a comprehensive model for designing Islamic-based psychological interventions. The book addresses a critical gap in current research: the absence of a coherent and practical framework for translating Islamic concepts into actionable psychological treatment protocols.
While much of the existing literature is either theoretical or narrowly focused on isolated interventions, this book positions itself as a guide for the full developmental process—from conceptualization to clinical application. It is not merely a philosophical treatise, but a manual for researchers, counselors, and therapists who wish to craft culturally and religiously congruent therapeutic methods.
At its heart, the book asks: How can one move from an abstract Islamic theory to a measurable, effective, and replicable psychological practice?
The book is methodically structured into four main chapters, each building upon the previous to gradually lead the reader from theoretical foundations to implementation.
Chapter One: General Principles
This introductory section provides definitions and distinctions between key concepts such as “model,” “intervention,” “treatment,” “psychotherapy,” “counseling,” “technique,” and “intervention levels.” The chapter lays a conceptual groundwork essential for readers who may come from different disciplinary backgrounds.
Chapter Two: Preliminary Considerations in Intervention Design
This chapter addresses preparatory steps essential before actual intervention design, such as needs assessment, target population analysis, and cultural relevance. It emphasizes the necessity of aligning interventions with both scientific rigor and Islamic ethical principles.
Chapter Three: Writing the Intervention Blueprint
Here, the author transitions from theory to praxis. He provides actionable guidance on how to formulate a structured intervention plan, including goal setting, session planning, content formulation, and therapeutic technique selection.
Chapter Four: Stages of Scientific and Practical Expansion of Interventions
The final chapter details a multi-stage framework for validating and refining interventions. It introduces a four-phase model focused on: 1) establishing feasibility, 2) demonstrating effectiveness, 3) ensuring efficiency, and 4) institutionalizing the intervention within clinical settings.
This progressive model is perhaps the book’s most valuable contribution—providing a systematized path from theoretical inception to therapeutic consolidation.
The book succeeds on multiple levels. Its methodological clarity sets it apart from similar works, offering a structured pathway for designing culturally embedded interventions. The author’s integration of Islamic thought with contemporary psychological needs is both timely and necessary, especially as more Muslim-majority societies seek to localize mental health frameworks.
Moreover, the book is accessible yet academically rigorous. It balances technical detail with pedagogical clarity, making it useful for early-career researchers and seasoned clinicians alike. By identifying the lack of intervention protocols as a major shortcoming in Islamic psychology, the book not only highlights a gap but provides a tangible solution.
One minor critique may lie in the language of publication. As the book is in Persian, its reach is currently limited to Farsi-speaking scholars and clinicians. Translating this important work into English and Arabic would significantly broaden its influence and impact.
Another area for future expansion could be the inclusion of case studies or pilot implementations to illustrate the application of the theoretical model. This would enrich the content and demonstrate its real-world feasibility more vividly.
Tadvīn-i Mudākhilāt-i Ravānshinākhtī is a seminal work in the emerging field of Islamic clinical psychology. By offering a roadmap for designing faith-based interventions, it empowers a new generation of Muslim mental health professionals to develop treatments that are both spiritually rooted and scientifically sound. Dr. Ṣādiqī-Sirisht’s contribution is not only a valuable academic text but also a practical guide with the potential to transform therapeutic practices in Islamic contexts.
