I’ve always loved being a couples therapist, but as a child of immigrant parents raised in America, my experience of dancing between two cultures gave me incredible insight into the challenges of Muslim couples who are struggling in their marriages. Most of what’s out there to support couples in crisis misses the mark. Well-meaning advice from couples therapists doesn’t always take the values of Islam or culture into account. Even the most caring imams don’t always have an understanding of the complex ways trauma impacts relationships. The dual pressures of family culture and societal expectations can leave Muslim couples feeling isolated and without anyone to turn to for guidance. This only increases the pain they’re feeling, and can amplify difficulties in the marriage.