Investigating the integration of prayer in family counseling among Muslim counselors in Malaysia

Prayer is an intentional way of connecting with the sacred through thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Counselors often use prayer as part of therapeutic interventions to seek spiritual guidance. However, its use in family counseling raises questions about the methods and reasoning behind its application. This study explores how Muslim counselors in Malaysia incorporate prayer in family counseling to address various issues. A qualitative case study approach was used, with data collected through semi-structured interviews with 13 counselors from three counseling centers. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes in the data. The findings highlight two main roles of prayer in family counseling: (i) as a source of support for counselors and (ii) as a tool to empower clients. The counselors reported that prayer helps reduce stress, promote hope, and build inner strength. The results suggest that counselors view the integration of prayer positively, reflecting their spiritual and religious values. This study offers important insights into the ethical aspects of using prayer in counseling and emphasizes the need for further research in this area.