Death in nafs psychology as a school of spiritual counseling and care

Spiritual counseling and care is a distinctive model of psychosocial and existential support that centers the individual's search for meaning, existential crises, and profound spiritual needs. It seeks to complement the metaphysical and spiritual dimensions that are often overlooked or inadequately addressed by mainstream psychology. In the face of universal phenomena such as death, the limitations of modern psychological frameworks become particularly evident, as they frequently fall short in addressing deep human responses such as fear, anxiety, and the yearning for immortality—leaving critical gaps in existential security and spiritual integration. Within this context, nafs psychology, as a culturally rooted and indigenous paradigm under the umbrella of spiritual counseling and care, offers a psycho-theo-spiritual framework that encompasses not only the individual's material and behavioral dimensions but also their capacity for transcendence, pursuit of spiritual fulfillment, and holistic inner harmony. This theoretical study aims to examine how nafs psychology interprets and transforms existential themes such as death anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and the desire for transcendence, offering a spiritually grounded response to the limitations of modern therapeutic approaches. Nafs psychology fosters the cultivation of death consciousness, enabling individuals to internalize the reality of death with heightened spiritual awareness. This awareness strengthens existential coherence by allowing the individual to frame the transience of life within a deeper metaphysical understanding. Furthermore, nafs-based psychotherapy enhances one's ability to cope with death-related fear and anxiety, thereby promoting psychosocial balance and contributing meaningfully to both personal and spiritual development. The core theoretical findings of the study can be summarized as follows: (i) Nafs psychology offers an effective theoretical and practical framework for understanding and managing fear of death and death-related anxiety. Religious belief systems, subjective perceptions of death, and the level of spiritual resilience play significant roles in this process. (ii) The development of death consciousness broadens the individual's existential perspective, allowing for a more conscious and spiritually anchored interpretation of life's temporality. (iii) Therapeutic interventions grounded in nafs psychology provide powerful strategies that help individuals confront and accept the inevitability of death. (iv) Coping mechanisms related to fear and anxiety around death are found to be strongly associated with the individual's spiritual orientation and religious commitment. Those with higher levels of spiritual orientation tend to embrace the reality of death with greater acceptance. (v) Ultimately, nafs psychology facilitates the transformation of existential fears surrounding death, supporting the individual's restoration of spiritual equilibrium and the construction of a more meaningful, integrated life experience. These findings highlight the significant and original contribution of nafs psychology within the Turkish tradition of spiritual counseling and care, demonstrating its effectiveness in transforming beliefs, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors related to death and mortality.