Indonesian Journal of Counseling and Development
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): July 2026

Integrating Self-Compassion into Islamic Counseling: Evidence from a Systematic Literature Review

Emeliya Hardi (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris)
Mazita Ahmad (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jul 2026

Abstract

Self-compassion has been increasingly recognized as a vital factor in promoting mental health, while Islamic counseling emphasizes the integration of spiritual values into the therapeutic process. However, research combining these two paradigms remains limited, and no comprehensive synthesis has systematically examined their conceptual relationship or potential integration within clinical practice. This study aimed to synthesize the existing literature on self-compassion and Islamic counseling to explore their integrative potential in supporting mental health. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search within the Scopus database yielded 53 peer-reviewed articles that met the established inclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using thematic and narrative synthesis to identify core themes, conceptual alignments, and research gaps. The findings indicate that self-compassion fosters enhanced emotion regulation, resilience, and adaptive coping, while Islamic counseling promotes psychological well-being through the spiritual principles of rahmah (compassion), muhasabah (self-reflection), tawakkul (trust in God), and tazkiyat al-nafs (purification of the soul). Furthermore, the review revealed a robust conceptual alignment between the psychological mechanisms of self-compassion and the core tenets of Islamic counseling. These findings establish a solid conceptual foundation for developing an integrative Islamic counseling model that incorporates self-compassion, ultimately contributing to more holistic, culturally responsive mental health interventions for Muslim populations

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Journal Info

Abbrev

bkpi

Publisher

Subject

Religion Education

Description

The aim of this journal is to publish high-quality articles dedicated to all aspects of the latest outstanding developments in the fields of counseling and education in all settings. The scope of this journal encompasses the applications of schools counseling, mental health, assessment, supervision ...