SUFI COUNSELING
π Master of Arts (M.A.) in Sufi Counseling
Duration: 2 years (Full-time) or 3β4 years (Part-time)
Credits: 60β90 ECTS / 36β54 U.S. graduate credits
Entry Requirement: Bachelorβs degree in Psychology, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies, or related fields
Language of Instruction: English (with readings in Arabic and Persian when possible)
Degree Level: Level 7 EQF (second-cycle)
π 1. Vision and Rationale
The M.A. in Sufi Counseling trains professionals to integrate Sufi spiritual wisdom with modern counseling psychology. The program develops counselors who embody compassion, humility, and presence (ihsan), guiding individuals through psychological, emotional, and spiritual transformation.
It aims to bridge the gap between psychological healing and spiritual realization, preparing graduates to serve in counseling, pastoral, educational, and interfaith contexts.
π§ 2. Philosophical Foundation
Sufi Counseling is founded on the inner sciences of the heart (ΚΏilm al-qalb) and the journey from the ego-self (nafs) to the spirit (ruh).
It integrates:
- Psychological healing: Understanding trauma, attachment, and self-awareness.
- Spiritual realization: Alignment with divine love and remembrance (dhikr).
- Ethical service: Living in accordance with adab (spiritual courtesy) and rahmah (mercy).
π― 3. Program Objectives
Graduates will be able to:
- Integrate Sufi spiritual principles within contemporary counseling frameworks.
- Apply the Sufi map of the soul (maqamat and ahwal) to psychospiritual development.
- Conduct ethically grounded counseling and spiritual direction sessions.
- Engage in self-purification and contemplative practice as part of professional formation.
- Contribute scholarly and practical research to the growing field of Islamic psychology and Sufi psychotherapy.
π 4. Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, students will:
- Demonstrate critical understanding of Sufi psychology and cosmology.
- Employ Sufi contemplative and mindfulness practices within therapeutic contexts.
- Integrate Islamic ethics (akhlaq) with professional counseling codes of conduct.
- Exhibit embodied compassion, humility, and presence in clinical work.
- Produce an original research thesis contributing to the field of Sufi or Islamic counseling.
π« 5. Curriculum Structure
Year 1 β Foundations of Sufi Thought and Counseling Practice
| Semester | Course Title | Credits | Description |
| 1 | Foundations of Sufism: History, Orders, and Metaphysics | 6 | Overview of Sufism from early asceticism to classical metaphysics (al-Ghazali, Ibn Arabi, Rumi). |
| 1 | Counseling Theories and Human Development | 6 | Modern approaches to counseling and psychotherapy. |
| 1 | Sufi Psychology: The Nafs, Qalb, Ruh, and Sirr | 6 | Sufi map of consciousness and its therapeutic implications. |
| 2 | Ethics and the Spiritual Heart: Adab and Akhlaq in Counseling | 6 | Ethical embodiment rooted in Sufi virtue and divine character. |
| 2 | Spiritual Practices and Contemplative Methods (Dhikr, Muraqabah, Tafakkur) | 6 | Experiential component focusing on self-awareness and presence. |
| 2 | Research Methods in Islamic and Transpersonal Psychology | 6 | Qualitative and integrative methodologies suitable for spiritual research. |
Year 2 β Integration, Application, and Mastery
| Semester | Course Title | Credits | Description |
| 3 | Sufi Counseling Techniques and Therapeutic Presence | 6 | Applying spiritual principles and contemplative presence in clinical practice. |
| 3 | Trauma, Healing, and the Path of the Heart | 6 | Integrating modern trauma-informed approaches with Sufi compassion. |
| 3 | Supervised Practicum in Sufi Counseling | 6 | Guided practice under certified supervisor; includes reflective journals. |
| 4 | Advanced Topics: Ibn Arabi and the Psychology of Unity (Wahdat al-Wujud) | 3 | Deep exploration of unity consciousness and existential healing. |
| 4 | Capstone Seminar: Ihsan and Human Flourishing | 3 | Synthesis of psychological and spiritual excellence in practice. |
| 4 | Masterβs Thesis or Applied Research Project | 12 | Research or applied project advancing the field of Sufi Counseling. |
π§ 6. Pedagogical Methods
- Experiential Learning: Dhikr circles, guided muraqabah (meditation), and poetry contemplations.
- Mentorship: Apprenticeship under a certified Sufi teacher or counselor.
- Clinical Supervision: Integration of Islamic ethics with counseling standards.
- Reflective Practice: Self-observation and journaling aligned with tazkiyah.
- Dialogical Learning: Study of classical texts through group reflection and dialogue.
π 7. Core Texts and Readings
Primary Sufi Sources
- Al-Ghazali β Ihyaβ Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences)
- Rumi β Masnavi
- Ibn Arabi β Futuhat al-Makkiyah and Fusus al-Hikam
- Al-Hujwiri β Kashf al-Mahjub
- Attar β Conference of the Birds
Modern & Academic References
- Reza Shah-Kazemi β Paths to Transcendence
- William Chittick β The Sufi Path of Knowledge
- Robert Frager β Heart, Self, and Soul: The Sufi Psychology of Growth
- Laleh Bakhtiar β Moral Healing through the Qurβan
- Viktor Frankl β Manβs Search for Meaning
- Mark Epstein β Going on Being
π§βπ« 8. Faculty Composition
- Islamic Scholars (Ulama and Sufi teachers): Specialists in Qurβan, Hadith, and Sufi metaphysics.
- Clinical Psychologists / Counselors: Licensed professionals integrating Islamic psychology.
- Spiritual Directors: Experienced Sufi mentors from recognized lineages.
- Research Faculty: Scholars in comparative mysticism and transpersonal studies.
ποΈ 9. Practicum and Supervision
- 300β500 supervised hours in counseling or spiritual direction.
- Regular supervision integrating Islamic ethics and reflective practice.
- Emphasis on presence (hudhur), listening (samaΚΏ), and mercy (rahmah).
π 10. Thesis / Capstone Examples
- Healing the Nafs: Sufi Psychology and Modern Psychotherapy Integration
- Ihsan as a Model for Therapeutic Presence
- Dhikr and Emotional Regulation: A Qualitative Study
- Comparative Analysis of Jungian and Sufi Archetypes
- Feminine Spirituality in Sufi Counseling: The Role of Compassion and Receptivity
π 11. Career Pathways
Graduates may serve as:
- Licensed or spiritual counselors (depending on jurisdiction)
- Islamic or interfaith spiritual care providers
- Chaplains and pastoral counselors
- Academic researchers or educators in Sufi and Islamic psychology
- Mindfulness and contemplative practice facilitators
- Community wellness and peacebuilding consultants
π 12. Accreditation and Academic Standards
- Aligns with international standards (Bologna / APA / AASC).
- Incorporates Islamic ethical codes and contemporary counseling accreditation frameworks.
- Thesis of 15,000β20,000 words or applied research equivalent.
- Continuous formation in spiritual discipline and professional ethics.
π Master of Arts (M.A.) in Sufi Counseling
Duration: 2 years (Full-time) or 3β4 years (Part-time)
Credits: 36β54 U.S. graduate credits / 60β90 ECTS
Entry Requirement: Bachelorβs degree in Psychology, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies, or related fields
Language of Instruction: English (with readings in Arabic and Persian when possible)
Degree Level: Level 7 EQF (second-cycle)
π 1. Vision and Rationale
The M.A. in Sufi Counseling trains professionals to integrate Sufi spiritual wisdom with modern counseling psychology. The program develops counselors who embody compassion, humility, and presence (ihsan), guiding individuals through psychological, emotional, and spiritual transformation.
It aims to bridge the gap between psychological healing and spiritual realization, preparing graduates to serve in counseling, pastoral, educational, and interfaith contexts.
π§ 2. Philosophical Foundation
Sufi Counseling is founded on the inner sciences of the heart (ΚΏilm al-qalb) and the journey from the ego-self (nafs) to the spirit (ruh).
It integrates:
- Psychological healing: Understanding trauma, attachment, and self-awareness.
- Spiritual realization: Alignment with divine love and remembrance (dhikr).
- Ethical service: Living in accordance with adab (spiritual courtesy) and rahmah (mercy).
π― 3. Program Objectives
Graduates will be able to:
- Integrate Sufi spiritual principles within contemporary counseling frameworks.
- Apply the Sufi map of the soul (maqamat and ahwal) to psychospiritual development.
- Conduct ethically grounded counseling and spiritual direction sessions.
- Engage in self-purification and contemplative practice as part of professional formation.
- Contribute scholarly and practical research to the growing field of Islamic psychology and Sufi psychotherapy.
π 4. Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, students will:
- Demonstrate critical understanding of Sufi psychology and cosmology.
- Employ Sufi contemplative and mindfulness practices within therapeutic contexts.
- Integrate Islamic ethics (akhlaq) with professional counseling codes of conduct.
- Exhibit embodied compassion, humility, and presence in clinical work.
- Produce an original research thesis contributing to the field of Sufi or Islamic counseling.
π« 5. Curriculum Structure
Year 1 β Foundations of Sufi Thought and Counseling Practice
| Semester | Course Title | Credits | Description |
| 1 | Foundations of Sufism: History, Orders, and Metaphysics | 6 | Overview of Sufism from early asceticism to classical metaphysics (al-Ghazali, Ibn Arabi, Rumi). |
| 1 | Counseling Theories and Human Development | 6 | Modern approaches to counseling and psychotherapy. |
| 1 | Sufi Psychology: The Nafs, Qalb, Ruh, and Sirr | 6 | Sufi map of consciousness and its therapeutic implications. |
| 2 | Ethics and the Spiritual Heart: Adab and Akhlaq in Counseling | 6 | Ethical embodiment rooted in Sufi virtue and divine character. |
| 2 | Spiritual Practices and Contemplative Methods (Dhikr, Muraqabah, Tafakkur) | 6 | Experiential component focusing on self-awareness and presence. |
| 2 | Research Methods in Islamic and Transpersonal Psychology | 6 | Qualitative and integrative methodologies suitable for spiritual research. |
Year 2 β Integration, Application, and Mastery
| Semester | Course Title | Credits | Description |
| 3 | Sufi Counseling Techniques and Therapeutic Presence | 6 | Applying spiritual principles and contemplative presence in clinical practice. |
| 3 | Trauma, Healing, and the Path of the Heart | 6 | Integrating modern trauma-informed approaches with Sufi compassion. |
| 3 | Supervised Practicum in Sufi Counseling | 6 | Guided practice under certified supervisor; includes reflective journals. |
| 4 | Advanced Topics: Ibn Arabi and the Psychology of Unity (Wahdat al-Wujud) | 3 | Deep exploration of unity consciousness and existential healing. |
| 4 | Capstone Seminar: Ihsan and Human Flourishing | 3 | Synthesis of psychological and spiritual excellence in practice. |
| 4 | Masterβs Thesis or Applied Research Project | 12 | Research or applied project advancing the field of Sufi Counseling. |
π§ 6. Pedagogical Methods
- Experiential Learning: Dhikr circles, guided muraqabah (meditation), and poetry contemplations.
- Mentorship: Apprenticeship under a certified Sufi teacher or counselor.
- Clinical Supervision: Integration of Islamic ethics with counseling standards.
- Reflective Practice: Self-observation and journaling aligned with tazkiyah.
- Dialogical Learning: Study of classical texts through group reflection and dialogue.
π 7. Core Texts and Readings
Primary Sufi Sources
- Al-Ghazali β Ihyaβ Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences)
- Rumi β Masnavi
- Ibn Arabi β Futuhat al-Makkiyah and Fusus al-Hikam
- Al-Hujwiri β Kashf al-Mahjub
- Attar β Conference of the Birds
Modern & Academic References
- Reza Shah-Kazemi β Paths to Transcendence
- William Chittick β The Sufi Path of Knowledge
- Robert Frager β Heart, Self, and Soul: The Sufi Psychology of Growth
- Laleh Bakhtiar β Moral Healing through the Qurβan
- Viktor Frankl β Manβs Search for Meaning
- Mark Epstein β Going on Being
π§βπ« 8. Faculty Composition
- Islamic Scholars (Ulama and Sufi teachers): Specialists in Qurβan, Hadith, and Sufi metaphysics.
- Clinical Psychologists / Counselors: Licensed professionals integrating Islamic psychology.
- Spiritual Directors: Experienced Sufi mentors from recognized lineages.
- Research Faculty: Scholars in comparative mysticism and transpersonal studies.
ποΈ 9. Practicum and Supervision
- 300β500 supervised hours in counseling or spiritual direction.
- Regular supervision integrating Islamic ethics and reflective practice.
- Emphasis on presence (hudhur), listening (samaΚΏ), and mercy (rahmah).
π 10. Thesis / Capstone Examples
- Healing the Nafs: Sufi Psychology and Modern Psychotherapy Integration
- Ihsan as a Model for Therapeutic Presence
- Dhikr and Emotional Regulation: A Qualitative Study
- Comparative Analysis of Jungian and Sufi Archetypes
- Feminine Spirituality in Sufi Counseling: The Role of Compassion and Receptivity
π 11. Career Pathways
Graduates may serve as:
- Licensed or spiritual counselors (depending on jurisdiction)
- Islamic or interfaith spiritual care providers
- Chaplains and pastoral counselors
- Academic researchers or educators in Sufi and Islamic psychology
- Mindfulness and contemplative practice facilitators
- Community wellness and peacebuilding consultants
π 12. Accreditation and Academic Standards
- Aligns with international standards (Bologna / APA / AASC).
- Incorporates Islamic ethical codes and contemporary counseling accreditation frameworks.
- Thesis of 15,000β20,000 words or applied research equivalent.
- Continuous formation in spiritual discipline and professional ethics.