Dr Hooman Keshavarzi

Dr Hooman Keshavarzi is an American clinical psychologist, Islamic psychology scholar, educator, and author of Azerbaijani-Turkish heritage. He is internationally known for pioneering efforts to integrate Islamic spirituality into contemporary psychological practice and for establishing culturally sensitive models of mental health care for Muslim communities. As the founding executive director of Khalil Center, he has shaped professional standards and advanced the academic study of Islamic psychology in various international settings.

Early Life and Education

Dr Keshavarzi was born in Turkey, of Azerbaijani descent, but migrated with his family to North America. He completed a Bachelor of Science with a specialist track in psychology and a minor in Islamic Studies at the University of Toronto, followed by a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Alongside his formal academic training, Keshavarzi studied Islamic theology both formally and informally under scholars including Shaykh Muhammad Zakariya (Toronto, Canada) and Shaykh Azeemuddin Ahmed (Chicago, USA). He completed further studies at Darussalam Academy, undertook coursework with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia in Islamic counselling, and continues his higher Islamic education at Darul Qasim.

Career

Keshavarzi is the founding director and executive leader of Khalil Center, recognised as North America’s largest provider of Islamically oriented mental health services. The centre delivers professionally integrated psychological and spiritual wellness services grounded in Islamic tradition. He serves as Program Director for the Master’s in Counselling (Islamic Psychology) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha, Qatar, and is a visiting scholar at Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul, Turkey. Keshavarzi is adjunct faculty at Hartford Seminary and has held appointments with the American Islamic College, Islamic Online University, and other academic institutions.

His clinical and research interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder (including scrupulosity), adjustment disorders, and spiritual development. Keshavarzi is a senior fellow at the International Association for Islamic Psychology (IAIP) and has contributed significant research to the integration of Islamic spirituality into modern therapeutic frameworks. He regularly supervises graduate psychology students and is an international speaker and trainer providing education on multicultural psychology and the relationship between behavioural health and Islamic studies.

Achievements

• International Outreach: Delivered keynote lectures, clinical training, and community-based workshops promoting culturally responsive mental health care worldwide.

• Founder and Executive Director of Khalil Center: Established the first major Islamically oriented professional community mental wellness centre in North America.

• Programme Director and Academic Leadership: Developed and leads innnovative programmes and curricula in Islamic Psychology across North America, Turkey, and Qatar.

• Research and Advocacy: Published peer-reviewed studies and theoretical frameworks for Islamically integrated psychotherapy (TIIP), contributing to academic and clinical advances in the field.

Books and Publications

Dr Keshavarzi’s key publications include:

• Applying Islamic Principles to Clinical Mental Health Care: Introducing Traditional Islamically Integrated Psychotherapy (Routledge, 2020) – editor and contributor, outlining the foundational models and case studies for TIIP.
• The Islamic Workbook for Religious OCD (Waswasa): A Guide for Overcoming Intrusive Thoughts and Compulsions (Claritas Books, 2022) was authored as a practical therapeutic resource.
• Numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on Islamic psychology, multicultural counselling, and integrative spiritual approaches to psychotherapy.

Personal Life

Dr Keshavarzi is multilingual, speaking English, Turkish, Azeri, and classical Arabic. He has a reputation for blending rigorous scholarship with accessible community leadership.

Legacy and Impact

Dr Hooman Keshavarzi’s contributions have significantly shaped the field of Islamic psychology and the delivery of culturally-informed behavioural health services worldwide. His research and clinical models provide a bridge between Islamic spiritual principles and mainstream psychological methodologies, influencing training, theory, and care for diverse Muslim communities. As an educator, practitioner, and thought leader, Keshavarzi continues to advance global understanding of integrative psychology, leaving a lasting impact on mental health practice and scholarship for faith-informed populations.