The Story of Al-Kindi & Our HIKMA© Method
Twelve centuries ago in Baghdad, a philosopher argued that the soul can be cared for with wisdom, just as the body is cared for with medicine. His ideas are the root of how we work today — with individuals, couples, families and our wider community.
Who was Al-Kindi?
Abu Yusuf Yaʿqub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi (c. 801–873 CE) was an Arab philosopher, physician, mathematician, astronomer and music theorist, remembered as “the Philosopher of the Arabs.” Working in 9th-century Baghdad during the translation movement of the Abbasid era, he brought Greek philosophy into conversation with Arabic thought and wrote hundreds of treatises — on the soul, the intellect, medicine, optics, mathematics and music. Al-Kindi Counseling Services is named for him because he saw the human being as one whole: body, heart, mind and spirit.
“We ought not to be ashamed of appreciating the truth and obtaining it wherever it comes from.”— Al-Kindi, On First Philosophy
Five ideas from Al-Kindi that guide our work
- Openness
Truth, wherever it comes from
Al-Kindi welcomed wisdom from every culture. We do the same: our clinicians combine modern, evidence-based psychotherapy with the insights of many traditions — and with the wisdom each client already carries.
- Wholeness
The human being is one
For Al-Kindi, philosophy, medicine, mathematics and music were parts of a single search for harmony. We see a person the same way — never as a list of symptoms, but as a whole life.
- The soul
A core self that can be remembered
He described the soul as a simple, noble substance, and the mind as growing from a potential intellect, to an acquired one, to a wisdom that shows itself in daily life. In therapy we help people reconnect with who they are at their core — not become someone else.
- Sorrow
Sorrow can be understood and eased
In On the Art of Dispelling Sorrows, one of the earliest works of consolation, Al-Kindi taught that grief comes from losing what we love or not getting what we want — and that, like a physician, we can tend it gently and gradually, through understanding and new habits of the heart.
- Music
Harmony heals
Al-Kindi linked the four strings of the oud to the temperaments of the body and wrote on music's power to move and balance the soul — an early forerunner of what we now call music therapy.
From Arlington to the Entire World: the HIKMA© Method
HIKMA (Arabic for “wisdom”) is the clinical framework developed by our founder, Basel Zayed. The name is also an acronym: Holistic, Integrative, Knowledge-based, Mindfulness Approach. It builds on Al-Kindi together with two thinkers who followed him — Abu Zayd al-Balkhi (850–934), who wrote one of the first systematic accounts of how mental and physical health affect each other, and Ibn Sina (980–1037), whose “Floating Man” asked what remains of the self when every role is stripped away.
HIKMA is not a replacement for evidence-based care — it is the lens that organizes it. Within it we use established approaches such as cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic therapy, attachment-based and trauma-informed care, somatic and mindfulness practices, music therapy, the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
The four domains of wellbeing (PEMS)
Physical
The body, sleep, energy and the somatic imprint of stress and trauma.
Emotional
Feelings, emotional regulation and our capacity for connection.
Mental
Thoughts, beliefs, attention and the stories we tell about ourselves.
Spiritual
Meaning, values, purpose and belonging — in each person's own terms.
How change happens: five stages
- Stage 1
Self-knowledge & acceptance
“Un-blending” who you are from what has happened to you. Your core self is not broken and does not need fixing.
- Stage 2
Unveiling
Mapping how the body, emotions, mind and spirit are each reacting to stress, loss or conflict.
- Stage 3
Balance
Seeing how the four domains affect one another in daily life, work and relationships.
- Stage 4
Naming the Identity–Reality Gap
Gently naming the distance between who you are at your core and how you are living now — with the therapist holding the space rather than handing over answers.
- Stage 5
Living wisely
Moving from reacting to choosing: living intentionally, with resilience and a steady sense of self.
How we apply it — with individuals, couples, families and community
Al-Kindi believed wisdom is realized within community, not in isolation. That is why HIKMA works on every level of a person's life.
Individuals
We begin with a whole-person assessment across the four PEMS domains, then tailor evidence-based therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD and life transitions — helping you separate your core self from your struggles and rebuild balance.
Individual therapy in Arlington →Couples
A relationship is a small “collective.” Alongside the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy, we help each partner notice when stress in one domain is projected onto the other, and create a calmer, containing space where both core selves can be seen.
Couples therapy in Arlington →Families
For Al-Kindi, the family is the first community. Using dialogical, reflective-team practices, we listen to every voice, slow conversations down, and offer tentative, respectful reflections — supporting attachment repair and a shared understanding of what each member is carrying.
Ask about family therapy →Community
Our therapy groups turn the group itself into the healing environment, and our consultation and training work brings HIKMA to clinical teams, organizations and the next generation of clinicians.
Explore our groups →Our groups, rooted in the same wisdom
Frequently asked questions
Is HIKMA therapy religious?
No. HIKMA draws on classical Arab and Islamic philosophy, but it is a clinical framework, not religious instruction. Clients of every faith — and of no faith — are welcome, and the Spiritual domain is defined by you, in your own terms.
Do I need to share Al-Kindi's culture or background to benefit?
Not at all. These are human insights expressed within one tradition. Our team works with people of many cultures, identities and life experiences, including LGBTQ+ clients.
Is the HIKMA method evidence-based?
Yes. HIKMA organizes validated treatments — CBT, psychodynamic, attachment-based, somatic, mindfulness, music therapy, Gottman Method and EFT — around a whole-person model. Its ideas are supported by modern research in psychology, neuroscience and psychotherapy.
Can I use my insurance?
Yes. Individual, couples and family therapy is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Aetna, Cigna, MassGeneral Brigham Health Plan, Optum and UnitedHealthcare. Private pay is also available.
Tell us a little about what you're looking for and we'll match you with the right clinician, couple's approach or group.
Ancient wisdom, supported by modern evidence
Al-Kindi's story and the HIKMA© theory are supported by modern evidence. Every part of the method is built on well-researched approaches from contemporary psychology — including psychotherapy, trauma and attachment research, mindfulness, and music therapy — so clients receive care that is both culturally rich and clinically sound.
Written by Basel Zayed, Founder & Clinical Director · Last updated September 2026.