Islamic Spiritual Counseling Techniques

Abstract

In this study, some Islamic counseling techniques that can be used in psychology have been integrated into the spiritual counseling process. It is thought that introducing and starting to use spiritual counseling techniques based on Islam, would be beneficial to Islamic societies like Turkey. Transferring rich spiritual knowledge in Islam to the therapy process and approaching problem solutions by utilizing the client’s spirituality can contribute to a more effective counseling process. A new point of view is aimed to be brought to spiritual consultants evaluating the values of spiritual counseling in the process of application of using sacred texts, pray, worship, contemplation, patience, gratitude, listening to hymn etc. It is aimed to transfer how they could use the techniques of spiritual counseling in the cultural sensitivity context into psychology consultants in their interventions to spirit. Also, practical interventions and empirical researches in spiritual counseling discussed with theoretical and ethical issues in the name of providing convenience to spiritual consultants. Results show the feasibility and utility of spiritual counseling techniques.

Jung’s Simurg is on Freud’s Iceberg

“…Even though some previous studies appear like proving the common clinical doctrine that religion worsens mental health; a greater amount of research using superior methodologies seems to claim quite the opposite, i.e. that religious attachment is mainly related to greater well being, slighter depression, and anxiety, more social support, and less substance abuse (Keskinoğlu & Ekşi, 2019).…”

“…A new point of view is aimed to be brought to spiritual consultants evaluating the values of spiritual counseling in the process of application of using sacred texts, pray, worship, contemplation, patience, gratitude, listening to hymn etc. (Keskinoğlu & Ekşi, 2019). Itikaf (the Islamic practice of retreating in a mosque, for a certain number of days), an intensive worship program, was found to have positive psychological effects.…”

Da'wah Based Spiritual Counseling: The Urgency of Spirituality Development for Correctional Inmates in Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Kelas I Cirebon

“…Counselees who visit a counselor or other mental health professional often bring issues and views of religion or spirituality into the counseling consultation process (Harris et al, 2016). Therefore, instilling Islamic religious knowledge and principle in the counseling process as an alternative problem solving, especially by utilizing the counselee's spirituality, contributes to the effectiveness of the counseling process (Keskinoglu & Eksi, 2019).…”