International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Frequency: 12
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 Volume 12, Issue 2 (February 2025), Pages: 150-157

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 Original Research Paper

Enhancing communication skills for integrating spiritual and religious elements in marriage and family counseling in Malaysia

 Author(s): 

 Mazita Ahmad 1, *, Noor Insyiraah Abu Bakar 2, Nurul Hasyimah Mat Rani 1, Norazlin Mohd Rusdin 2, Muhammad Bazlan Mustafa 1, Taquddin Abd Mukti 1

 Affiliation(s):

 1Guidance and Counselling Department, Sultan Idris Education University, Tanjung Malim, Malaysia
 2Department of Education, Sultan Idris Education University, Tanjung Malim, Malaysia

 Full text

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 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3103-3070

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2025.02.017

 Abstract

Communication is essential in the counseling process, particularly in family counseling, where effective communication occurs when information is understood and accepted. This qualitative case study examines how counselors integrate spiritual and religious elements into family counseling through their communication patterns. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 counselors, and data were analyzed using NVivo 12 software through thematic analysis. The findings reveal six key themes: counselors’ sensitivity to clients’ spiritual and religious concerns, alignment with clients’ perspectives, identification of spiritual and religious themes in clients’ behavior and language, assertiveness in assessing religious issues, use of humor in discussing religious matters, and seeking clients’ permission to address spiritual topics. The study highlights the influence of Malay cultural norms, as well as counselors' personal beliefs and values, on their communication styles, which emphasize politeness and refinement. These findings underscore the need for further research on counseling communication across cultural contexts in Malaysia to enhance professional competencies and contribute to the development of the counseling field.

 © 2025 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

 Counseling communication, Family counseling, Spiritual integration, Religious sensitivity, Cultural influences

 Article history

 Received 18 September 2024, Received in revised form 11 January 2025, Accepted 31 January 2025

 Acknowledgment

No Acknowledgment.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations

Participants' well-being, autonomy, and confidentiality were prioritized throughout the study. Informed consent was obtained after participants were fully briefed on the study's purpose, procedures, and potential risks, with the option to withdraw at any time. Privacy and anonymity were safeguarded to prevent harm or breaches of trust, ensuring ethical integrity in all aspects of the research.

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Ahmad M, Abu Bakar NI, Mat Rani NH, Mohd Rusdin N, Mustafa MB, and Abd Mukti T (2025). Enhancing communication skills for integrating spiritual and religious elements in marriage and family counseling in Malaysia. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 12(2): 150-157

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 Tables

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