A Critical Evaluation of the Family Counseling System in Iran: A Multiple Case Study with a Comparative Approach (Iran and Global Perspectives)
Pages 5-36
https://doi.org/10.22034/jss.2026.2071938.1920
Hosein Parkan
Abstract Background and aim: This study aims to critically evaluate the family counseling system in Iran and compare it with global approaches. It examines key challenges in the current system and highlights the importance of considering the cultural and religious capacities of Iranian society in designing and improving family counseling models.
Data and method: The research employed a qualitative methodology using a multiple-case study design. Data were collected through the review of counseling case files, semi-structured interviews with 20 clients in the areas of pre-marital counseling, marital conflicts, and divorce, as well as direct observation of the counseling process. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis and triangulation of sources.
Findings: The findings indicate that the family counseling system in Iran faces significant challenges, including counselors’ inherent individualism, neglect of cultural and religious contexts, commercialization of services, and premature recommendations for divorce. Conversely, the findings underscore the necessity of leveraging the cultural and religious capacities of Iranian society when designing family counseling models.
Conclusion: The results emphasize the urgent need for restructuring counselor training and evaluation programs, developing culturally sensitive and Islamic-based frameworks, and strengthening regulatory oversight systems. The primary limitation of this research is its focus on a relatively small, qualitative sample, which restricts the generalizability of the findings. Nevertheless, the results offer valuable insights for cultural policymakers, administrators of counseling centers, and researchers in the field of family studies.




