The study conducted by Research Assistant Yusuf Ziya Koç, one of the academics in our department, together with his colleagues, has been published in the Journal of Religion and Health.
The integration of spirituality into counseling has attracted increasing attention due to its significant impact on psychological well-being. However, mental health professionals often face difficulties in incorporating spiritual dimensions into therapy because of insufficient training, conceptual ambiguity, and ethical concerns. This qualitative phenomenological study aims to explore mental health professionals’ perspectives on addressing spirituality in counseling and to evaluate the necessity of a specialized training program to enhance competencies in this area. Using criterion sampling, 11 experienced psychologists, counselors, and academics were selected, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed descriptively, and core themes related to the integration of spirituality into counseling were identified. The findings reveal that current educational curricula do not sufficiently address spirituality, leading to a lack of confidence among mental health professionals. Participants emphasized various barriers, including professional hesitations, ethical concerns, clients’ misunderstandings, and the dominance of secular education models.
In addition, the study identified specific competencies required to integrate spirituality into counseling and categorized them as knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Experts highlighted the need for a structured training program that includes conceptual knowledge about spirituality, evidence-based intervention techniques, ethical considerations, and culturally sensitive approaches. Furthermore, recommendations were provided regarding the content, format, and evaluation methods of such a training module. The study underscores the urgent need for standardized training to equip mental health professionals with the skills necessary to address spirituality in an ethical and culturally competent manner.
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