Spiritual Psychology and Counseling
June 2, 2024
Melisa Sevi Koç
4 citations
Spirituality in psychology has evolved from a concept tied to organized religion to a deeply personal experience that transcends institutional boundaries. This article examines key differences between spirituality and religion, then describes counseling techniques that incorporate spiritual elements: concentration, prayer, forgiveness, and meditation. These methods help counselors address the spiritual dimensions of clients' lives. The article advocates for an integrative, individualized approach to spiritual care in psychological counseling.
Spiritual Psychology and Counseling
June 1, 2025
Neil Dagnall, Kenneth Drinkwater, Giovanni Caputo et al.
1 citation
A single case study of a 36-year-old man in France who reported ghostly encounters after playing the horror game Doki Doki Literature Club! tested the Haunted People Syndrome model, which describes such episodes as arising from people with heightened sensitivities, paranormal belief, and perceptual contagion. The participant showed slightly below-average haunt intensity, above-average recognition patterns for the syndrome, and scores indicating high transliminality, paranormal belief, and stress. His narrative aligned with the proposed process, and he experienced depersonalization, derealization, and dissociated identity, with aftereffects of situational enchantment. His understanding of the experiences evolved through active sense-making.
Spiritual Psychology and Counseling
June 30, 2026
Samuel Bendeck Sotillos
A psychology of mysticism is often pursued by reducing spiritual realities to the level of the psyche, which compromises its scope. This integration is not new but is embodied in an original understanding of a "science of the soul" that has existed across traditional cultures. It appears novel only due to the secular, hegemonic outlook of science, its obsession with evidence-based approaches, and past conflicts with religion.
Spiritual Psychology and Counseling
June 1, 2025
Azeem Dana, Pandıamanı Sıvam, Jabarali Abdul Kani et al.
The article proposes that psychological well-being can be enhanced through a progression from mindfulness to interoception, then to understanding internal values and balancing the dual emotions of silence and happiness. Mindfulness is defined as non-judgmental present-moment focus, and interoception as awareness of internal body sensations, which together improve self-regulation. Balancing silence and happiness is argued to promote mental clarity and reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. Happiness, linked to positive social interactions and compassion, supports relational well-being. The model, supported by spiritual practices emphasizing egolessness and contentment, suggests these elements synergistically foster psychological and physiological health. The research involves developing the Heal-thy Life Spiritual Psychology Assessment Scale (HLSPAS) to synthesize these elements into a coherent model.
Spiritual Psychology and Counseling
June 15, 2023
Samuel Bendeck Sotillos
The rising use of psychedelic substances in modern psychology stems from a focus on symptom management rather than holistic healing. The true cause of mental distress is a widespread 'crisis of meaning' that has led religion to be replaced by psychology, blurring the line between the psychological and the spiritual. Modern societies have lost a sense of the sacred. Entheogens cannot substitute for a true 'science of the soul' that offers a more satisfying conception of reality and a fuller understanding of humanity. A properly integrated approach to healing must draw on the deeper wisdom of the world's spiritual traditions.
Spiritual Psychology and Counseling
March 19, 2021
Peter M. Forster
Analysis of an experienced meditator's daily diary over two months during the COVID-19 lockdown in England reveals that open monitoring meditation, practiced for 90 minutes daily, produced overarching themes about the nature of meditation and changes in sensations or feelings while meditating. A stand-alone theme of unusual or altered states of consciousness emerged, which the Buddhist concept of jhanas may help explain. The participant, who began meditating over 40 years ago, also used binaural audio for 30 minutes of the session.