U.S. Muslim Religious Leaders' Experiences Since the 2016 Election Cycle: Implications for Counselors

Abstract Islamophobia and discrimination have increased against Muslims since the 2016 election cycle (Kishi, 2017), threatening their safety and mental health. We used phenomenological methods to examine the experiences of 10 U.S. Muslim religious leaders and their insights on their congregants' needs since the 2016 election cycle. We identified five themes: (a) anxiety, sadness, and dwindling hope after the 2016 election, (b) coping with the new realities of Islamophobia and discrimination after the 2016 election, (c) "not again"-the fallout from terrorist attacks, (d) grappling with faith and who we are, and (e) our role as leaders in helping rebuild hope and faith.