Nafs pyschology and nafs psychotherapy in spiritual counseling and care: A qualitative research on dimensions of theoretical and practice

This qualitative study aims to comprehensively examine the theoretical and practical dimensions of the nafs psychology school and the nafs psychotherapy technique within spiritual counseling and guidance. Within the scope of qualitative methodology, data collected with open-ended questions (n=40) using structured interview technique with nafs-psychotherapists (n=6) were examined in detail with categorical analysis method. In the theoretical framework, theoretical information regarding spiritual counseling and guidance, as well as nafs psychology and nafs psychotherapy, is provided. The qualitative application part includes methodological details of the study alongside analyses and interpretations of the qualitative findings obtained. The study concludes that: (i) nafs psychology adopts a holistic approach by considering cultural and religious contexts, emphasizing personal development and individual potential, and comprehensively addressing the spiritual and cultural identity of the individual; (ii) in nafs psychotherapy, elements such as infak and îsar, intention, empathy, and prosocial behaviors, as well as the use of dream analysis and symbols, play a significant role; deep empathy and a personalized approach are employed in the therapy process, effectively supporting the client's healing process; (iii) there is a strong interaction between spiritual counseling and guidance and nefs psychology due to the integrity of theory and practice, competence in the field of education and knowledge, and a process-oriented approach; hence, both fields, by considering both theoretical foundations and practical skills, help more effectively meet the spiritual and psychological needs of individuals; (iv) nafs psychology, by assuming a supportive and guiding role in spiritual counseling and guidance processes, establishes overarching concepts from a cultural perspective, thus having the potential to provide significant benefits at both individual and societal levels; (v) in the integration of nafs psychotherapy into the field of spiritual counseling and guidance, the development of the spiritual dimension and the establishment of standards for practical applications are of great importance. This study, demonstrating the significant role of nafs psychology and psychotherapy in spiritual counseling and guidance, suggests that the mentioned school and technique can be effectively utilized, especially in Turkish spiritual counseling and guidance research and practices.