A qualitative study on the applicability of art therapy in spiritual counseling and guidance from the perspectives of art therapists and practitioners

This study investigates the functionality and role of art therapy in the process of spiritual counseling and guidance. The aim of the research is to learn about the views of art therapists and practitioners regarding the applicability of art therapy in spiritual counseling and guidance, as well as the effects of the method. In the research process, the phenomenological design method, which is a qualitative research method, was used. To understand the perspectives of individuals who are art therapists/practitioners on art therapy and spirituality, in-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured questions. The MAXQDA program was used to analyze the data. The stages of the interpretative phenomenological method were followed in the analysis, resulting in various codes, themes, and sub-themes. According to the findings of the research, the approach and communication of art therapy integrated with spirituality can help individuals better understand themselves, express their emotions, and enhance their spiritual and emotional well-being. The study also reveals that for the integration of this process into the field of spiritual counseling and guidance, there is a need for spiritual counselors to develop their counseling skills and for structured art therapy programs created by experts in the field.