A Preliminary Evaluation of Virtual Reality-Assisted Strength-Based Creative Guided Imagery Counseling for Islamic Positive Self-Talk: A Mixed-Methods Study among Muslim Students

Mulawarman Mulawarman (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Achmad Miftachul 'Ilmi (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Najma Sana Nadhirah Hilman (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Sigit Hariyadi (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Edwindha Prafitra Nugraheni (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Galuh Prawitasari (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Galuh Nadhita (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Rohmatus Naini (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Indonesia)
Agus Supriyanto (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Indonesia)
Amien Wahyudi (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Indonesia)
Alvia Ainil Lathifah (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Nurul Hanifah Puteri (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)
Ilma Zaerotul Farida (Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia)

Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026): Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal

Mental health and self-development among university students have become important concerns in higher education, particularly among Muslim students who face academic, religious, and social expectations. Although previous studies have examined negative self-talk and conventional counseling approaches, limited empirical attention has been given to interventions integrating virtual reality, strength-based counseling, creative guided imagery, and Islamic psychological values. This preliminary study aimed to examine the feasibility and potential effects of Virtual Reality-Assisted Strength-Based Creative Guided Imagery Counseling, namely KKBK-SHINE, in improving positive self-talk among Muslim university students. The present study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods framework. The initial quantitative phase utilized a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design, followed by a qualitative phase aimed at elucidating participants' subjective experiences post-intervention. A purposive sample of twelve individuals, identified with moderate to low levels of positive self-talk, was recruited and evenly allocated into an intervention and a control group. The intervention cohort underwent four sessions of the KKBK-SHINE program, whereas the control group received treatment as usual (TAU). Quantitative outcomes were assessed using a validated Positive Self-Talk Scale and evaluated via Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Subsequently, qualitative insights were gathered through interviews with the intervention participants and rigorously examined using thematic analysis. The results showed that the KKBK-SHINE group demonstrated greater improvement in positive self-talk than the control group. Qualitative findings revealed four themes: Islamic self-assessment, Islamic self-reinforcement, transformation of self-criticism, and Islamic self-management. Participants reported increased self-awareness, reduced self-blame, stronger emotional regulation, and spiritual coping through muhasabah, istighfar, and positive meaning-making. These findings suggest that KKBK-SHINE is a feasible and potentially beneficial intervention for enhancing positive self-talk among Muslim university students.