The effects of religious references in spiritual counseling services for disadvantaged groups on mental health

Disadvantaged groups in the literature are mostly defined according to their socio-economic structures. However, it is necessasry to broaden our understanding of the disadvanteged when defining these groups in the 21st century. Although this stuation varies according to social structure and geography, basic groups such as women, youth, disabled people, ex-convicts, and the elderly are defined as disadvantaged in all societies. The Presidency of Religious Affairs has an important place in the spiritual counseling services provided to these groups to overcome the problems they associate with religion or spirituality. Spiritual counseling services, which have increased, especially in recent years, for disadvantaged groups, constitute the main backbone of this study. This research included disadvantaged groups within the scope of the Presidency of Religious Affairs. Regarding the spiritual counseling services provided to disadvantaged people, interviews were conducted with the personnel actively working at the center of Kutahya Mufti's office between 2021 and 2023. The qualitative data obtained based on the opinions and observations of the participants through semi-structured interviews was analyzed using the Maqda 24 program. In this study, spiritual counseling services related to religion and spirituality, which play an important role in overcoming the problems of disadvantaged groups and protecting their mental health, were examined. Keywords: Disadvantaged, Mental Health, Religion, Soul, Spirituality