Elevate your clinical expertise through intensive training and immersive, hands-on learning. Designed exclusively for experienced practitioners, our Level 2 program prepares you for advanced certification with a research-driven, evidence-based curriculum
In Person Intensive | Marrakesh
Elevate your clinical expertise through intensive training and immersive, hands-on learning. Designed exclusively for experienced practitioners, our Level 2 program prepares you for advanced certification with a research-driven, evidence-based curriculum
In Person Intensive | Marrakesh
The Shifaa Method is a therapeutic modality that integrates Islamic spiritual principles with somatic awareness and heart-centered therapeutic techniques. Currently in the process of being written as a book, this groundbreaking approach builds upon the theoretical model of Islamic psychology and psychotherapy developed by Dr. Abdallah Rothman (Rothman, 2018). The method offers a structured framework for practice that addresses the unity of body (jism), mind (‘aql), soul (nafs), heart (qalb), and spirit (ruh).
The Shifaa Method is a therapeutic modality that integrates Islamic spiritual principles with somatic awareness and heart-centered therapeutic techniques. Currently in the process of being written as a book, this groundbreaking approach builds upon the theoretical model of Islamic psychology and psychotherapy developed by Dr. Abdallah Rothman (Rothman, 2018). The method offers a structured framework for practice that addresses the unity of body (jism), mind (‘aql), soul (nafs), heart (qalb), and spirit (ruh).
Three levels, taken in sequence, from first principles to certified practice.
You leave with the theory and first practices of the method.
Explore Level One →You leave with the full therapeutic arc, practised end to end.
You leave with the pathway to Shifaa Method certification.
Explore Level Three →Level 2 is a fully in-person training designed for deeper integration and embodiment of the Shifaa Method. While Level 1 introduced the foundations and framework, this next stage focuses on applied practice: developing an in-depth understanding of the specific features of the Shifaa Method and learning to apply them step by step within a therapeutic encounter.
Level 2 elevates practitioners beyond foundational theory into practical, step-by-step application of The Shifaa Method. Participants will be introduced to The Shifaa Method therapeutic arc, new method-specific competencies, skills and techniques, and will engage in structured practice sessions to strengthen their ability to integrate somatic awareness, heart-centered practices, and spiritually informed interventions.
Through direct engagement, live facilitation, and experiential learning, participants move from conceptual understanding to embodied skill, refining their capacity to bring the method to life in real therapeutic settings. This in-depth exploration is designed to bridge the gap from theoretical understanding to confident clinical application, while also laying the groundwork for Level 3’s advanced practice and certification requirements.
Level 2 invites participants to move beyond learning the Shifaa Method and into a deeper encounter with themselves. As their understanding and practice develop, so does the invitation to engage in meaningful psycho-spiritual reflection. This stage calls for honesty, humility, and a willingness to look inward, recognising that the work of supporting others is inseparable from the practitioner’s own ongoing journey of the heart.
Registrants must have either completed The Shifaa Method Level 1 or graduated from the Cambridge Muslim College IP program.
Such as in counseling, psychotherapy, coaching, pastoral care, or alternative/lifestyle medicine — enabling them to practice ethically within their field and jurisdiction.
Participants are required to maintain an active client load of at least two ongoing clients throughout the program to support applied learning and integration.
Level 2 is about application, embodiment, and refinement. Through this training, you will:
An in-depth understanding of the specific features of the Shifaa Method, and the ability to apply them step by step within a therapeutic encounter.
Proficient use of body-based tracking, guided visualization, and heart-centered inquiry and healing.
Self-awareness (muhasabah) and a personal practice of self-purification (tazkiyat an-nafs), crucial for fostering a therapeutic environment of compassion, certainty and Divine connection.
Level 2 is about application, embodiment, and refinement. It moves beyond the orientation of Level 1 into practising the method step by step, integrating Islamic principles, somatic presence, and heart-centered reflection within real therapeutic work.
Through this training, you will:
an in-depth understanding of the specific features of The Shifaa Method and apply these step by step within a therapeutic encounter.
proficient use of body-based tracking, guided visualization, and heart-centered inquiry and healing.
(muhasabah) and personal practice of self purification (tazkiyat an nafs), crucial for fostering a therapeutic environment characterized by compassion, certainty and Divine connection.
The Shifaa Method therapeutic arc to structure full sessions and guide moment-to-moment clinical decisions.
Method-specific competencies—attuning to the heart, somatic tracking, guided visualization through khayāl, metaphor meaning-making, remembrance-based shift, and integration within one’s professional scope.
Interventions to varied clinical presentations using an Islamic case formulation, while maintaining safeguarding, ethical boundaries, and clear differentiation from religious guidance.
Embodied, heart-centered processes through structured practice and supervised feedback.
In ongoing reflective practice (muḥāsabah) and self-purification (tazkiyat an-nafs) to cultivate the therapist’s state, evidenced by self-evaluation and instructor feedback.
The Shifaa Method therapeutic arc to structure full sessions and guide moment-to-moment clinical decisions.
Method-specific competencies—attuning to the heart, somatic tracking, guided visualization through khayāl, metaphor meaning-making, remembrance-based shift, and integration within one’s professional scope.
Interventions to varied clinical presentations using an Islamic case formulation, while maintaining safeguarding, ethical boundaries, and clear differentiation from religious guidance.
Embodied, heart-centered processes through structured practice and supervised feedback.
In ongoing reflective practice (muḥāsabah) and self-purification (tazkiyat an-nafs) to cultivate the therapist’s state, evidenced by self-evaluation and instructor feedback.
Participants receive in-depth instruction on each stage of The Shifaa Method process, learning both its theoretical underpinning corresponding competencies and how it unfolds in practice.
A systematic presentation of the method’s core principles that guide the therapeutic process and interventions.
Direct, practical guidance and demonstrations utilizing specific applications and interventions, including how to tailor the method to client-specific needs.
Participants receive in-depth instruction on each stage of The Shifaa Method process, learning both its theoretical underpinning corresponding competencies and how it unfolds in practice.
Ample opportunities to practice with cohort members and in participants’ own professional settings, accompanied by supervised feedback sessions to refine skills and explore different ways of applying the method.
Level 2 is a fully in-person, immersive training experience. Before arriving, participants complete Cultivating Presence and a small number of preparatory recorded lessons, ensuring everyone enters the training with a shared foundation and readiness for the work ahead.
Complimentary access to Cultivating Presence, which must be completed before the in-person training, establishing a foundation for the Level 2 experience.
Complementary content exclusively created to support your understanding of core concepts, allowing you to revisit foundational teachings at your own pace.
Guided practices, designed to support deeper self-awareness, embodied learning, and a more personal engagement with the work.
Participants engage in structured practice to develop their ability to apply the method step by step, moving from theoretical understanding to embodied skill.
In-depth teaching and live demonstrations bring the Shifaa Method to life, offering a closer look at its therapeutic arc, core principles, and method-specific competencies.
In-person sessions that are are intentionally designed around suhba, or meaningful companionship, and collective learning.
Level 2 is a fully in-person, immersive training experience. Before arriving, participants complete Cultivating Presence and a small number of preparatory recorded lessons, ensuring everyone enters the training with a shared foundation and readiness for the work ahead.
Complimentary access to Cultivating Presence, which must be completed before the in-person training, establishing a foundation for the Level 2 experience.
Complementary content exclusively created to support your understanding of core concepts, allowing you to revisit foundational teachings at your own pace.
Participants engage in structured practice to develop their ability to apply the method step by step, moving from theoretical understanding to embodied skill.
In-depth teaching and live demonstrations bring the Shifaa Method to life, offering a closer look at its therapeutic arc, core principles, and method-specific competencies.
In-person sessions that are intentionally designed around suhba, or meaningful companionship, and collective learning.
Guided practices, designed to support deeper self-awareness, embodied learning, and a more personal engagement with the work.
Participants receive in-depth instruction on each stage of The Shifaa Method process, learning both its theoretical underpinning, corresponding competencies and how it unfolds in practice.
A systematic presentation of the method’s core principles that guide the therapeutic process and interventions.
Direct, practical guidance and demonstrations utilizing specific applications and interventions, including how to tailor the method to client-specific needs.
Participants receive in-depth instruction on each stage of The Shifaa Method process, learning both its theoretical underpinning, corresponding competencies and how it unfolds in practice.
Ample opportunities to practice with cohort members and in participants’ own professional settings, accompanied by supervised feedback sessions to refine skills and explore different ways of applying the method.
Dr. Rothman and Saman Hussain co-designed the Shifaa Method training to help practitioners embody its principles in their lives and clinical practice through experiential learning and reflective practice.
A seasoned practitioner, coach, and facilitator. Saman brings 15+ years of experience facilitating group process and leading trainings.
Dr. Rothman is a PhD psychologist and academic who developed the Shifaa Method over 20 years of practice and research. He bridges classical Islamic psychology with contemporary therapeutic practice.
Dr. Rothman and Saman Hussain co-designed the Shifaa Method training to help practitioners embody its principles in their lives and clinical practice through experiential learning and reflective practice.
A seasoned practitioner, coach, and facilitator. Saman brings 15+ years of experience facilitating group process and leading trainings
Dr. Rothman is a PhD psychologist and academic who developed the Shifaa Method over 20 years of practice and research. He bridges classical Islamic psychology with contemporary therapeutic practice
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a
Certificate of CompletionLevel 2: Applied Practice
To complete Level 2 and progress to the next stage of the training, participants must:
Upon completing Level 2, all participants will be invited to complete a Level 3 Readiness Assessment to help determine their preparedness for the next stage of training.
Our priority is to ensure that participants are well prepared to benefit fully from Level 3 and progress towards certification. If, following a joint assessment, it is determined that a participant is not yet ready to proceed, a conditional refund may be available.
Level 2: Applied Practice of the Shifaa Method
October 10 – 16, 2027
7 days of in-person training
Check-out on October 16
An in-person training experience grounded in immersive practice, direct facilitation, and peer-based learning.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Rooms are shared during the training, with double and triple occupancy.
Seven days together, in one place, moving through a single arc: from grounding in the intention behind the work, to practising it in your own body, to applying it with the people you serve.
Settle in, meet the cohort, and ground in the intention behind the work. The day opens the container and moves into a first taste of the practice before evening.
The core framework is laid out and then met immediately with guided practice, so the theory is never separated from the experience of it.
Longer, quieter practice sessions. Teaching becomes lighter and the emphasis shifts to sustained personal work with the method.
The most content-rich day of the week, giving the fullest picture of the framework, its roots, and the reasoning that holds it together.
Practice extends into application, followed by facilitated discussion, where questions from the week are brought into the open and worked through together.
The most applied day. Extended supervised sessions and case discussion, focused on how the method lives inside your own practice and with your own clients.
A final applied session and a closing circle, turning toward what continues after the week ends, and a shared farewell before departure.
The full session-by-session schedule is shared with confirmed participants ahead of the training.
We’ve structured the tuition to reflect the depth of live instruction, practice, and guided learning offered in this first stage of the training.
Options available to bundle multiple training levels for further discount
We’ve structured the tuition to reflect the depth of live instruction, practice, and guided learning offered in this first stage of the training.
Options available to bundle multiple training levels for further discount
If you don’t find your answer here, we’re happy to talk. Email us at info@dar-al-shifaa.com, and our team will be happy to help.
Core Islamic epistemology and ontology of the self (nafs, qalb, ‘aql, rūḥ, fitrah) and compare these with dominant Western paradigms, noting implications for practice.
An Islamic model of the soul to basic case conceptualization, assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
Issues that warrant consultation or referral (e.g., to religious scholars or community resources) and maintain scope of practice, safeguarding, and informed consent within an Islamic ethical frame.
Explore the essential themes, principles, and knowledge that form the foundation for the journey ahead.
Core principles of Islamic psychology, ontology, and spiritual understanding of the human being.
Exploring the differences between Western psychological paradigms and Islamic conceptions of the self
Introducing how to understand and approach healing through the Islamic model of the soul.
A first look at the structure, flow, and foundational principles of the Shifaa therapeutic process.
Engaging the heart through Islamic contemplative and somatic exercises for inner awareness and presence.
This training offers a gentle but deep immersion into the conceptual and spiritual foundations of the method. Participants will engage with:
The heart of the program—these interactive sessions are where key concepts are taught, discussed, and explored in real time with instructors and peers.
Held during live sessions, these small group reflections offer space to process and integrate the material through shared dialogue.
Guided practices, designed to support deeper self-awareness, embodied learning, and a more personal engagement with the work.
Preparatory lessons that introduce key foundational concepts before each live session, allowing participants to arrive with a shared understanding and make the most of the time spent learning and engaging together.
Carefully curated readings, reflective journal prompts, and introductory case conceptualization exercises to ground the learning.
This level does not offer certification in the method. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a: Certificate of Completion (Level 1: Foundations of the Shifaa Method)
Participants are expected to attend live sessions and complete all assignments. There are no recorded client sessions submitted for feedback and supervision or competency assessments at this stage.
This certificate does not authorize you to teach, supervise, or practice the method as a certified Shifaa practitioner. Full certification requires completion of Levels 2 & 3.
April 5 – June 21, 2027 (12 weeks)
A blended learning experience combining live sessions, self-paced study, and peer-based learning.
Sundays, 2:00-4:00 PM (UK time)/ 9:00–11:00 AM (US Eastern time) Led by instructors in an interactive, reflective format.
April 5, 12, 19, 26
May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
June 7, 14, 21
Weekly assignments and guided reflections to deepen understanding and integration.
Emergencies: If you or someone else is feeling suicidal or in immediate crisis – do not use this website. These resources can provide you with immediate help worldwide.
© 2026 Dar al-Shifaa, a project of DAR Labs. All rights reserved.
© 2026 Dar al-Shifaa, a project of DAR Labs. All rights reserved.
Some of us need flexibility. Others thrive with structure and community. Both are valid.
Learn on your own schedule
Start when you're ready, progress at your pace. Perfect if you need flexibility while still wanting depth and structure.
Learn together in real-time
Join a cohort for weekly live sessions. Ideal if you thrive with accountability, community, and direct access to teachers.
Join a cohort for weekly live sessions. Ideal if you thrive with accountability, community, and direct access to teachers.
