Spiritual Counseling During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: a Qualitative Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has created profound upheavals in today’s society, accompanied by psychological effects. The discomfort experienced during the pandemic accompanied by the increased availability of time has offered many people the chance to reconnect with their spiritual dimension, which is considered a vital resource in managing the stress produced by the perception of risk to their health. This study addresses the motivations that led research participants to choose to receive spiritual support via a 10-week training. The work also explores the changes perceived by the participants as they overcame the difficulties resulting from the pandemic. The research involved nine people between the ages of 19 and 59 who took part in an online experience focused on the spiritual dimension. Almost all the participants came from an area in Northern Italy most affected by the pandemic. A qualitative research design was used, with semistructured interviews designed to understand participants’ views on the topic under investigation. The areas that emerged from the interviews concerned the motivations that led the participants to choose a spiritual support process, the role of spirituality in daily life, and the changes participants experienced after the conclusion of the experience related to managing the stress caused by the pandemic. In agreement with the existing literature, the results show that spiritual support can be useful in counteracting the negative effects of the pandemic, producing improvements in the quality of life.

Exploring Emotions Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic through Death Education: A Qualitative Study at Italian Primary Schools

“…In the realm of death education, it is crucial to distinguish between religiosity and spirituality, enabling individuals to develop their transcendental dimension while benefiting from mindfulness, resilience, and a non-fearful approach to the topic of death, regardless of religious beliefs [ 44 ]. Numerous studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of embracing the spiritual dimension as a vital tool to address illness, promote well-being, and provide compassion and empathy during periods of increased stress, distress, and anxiety [ 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Meditation has been shown to calm the mind, increase awareness, and create optimal conditions for reflection and generative thinking [ 51 ].…”

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Its Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study with Thematic Analysis of Patients and Caregivers Who Participated in Self-Help Groups

“…This latter interpretation was intertwined with spiritual and religious coping strategies, acting as protective factors that enabled individuals to find fresh meaning amid suffering and loss [8,65,66]. Several other studies conducted during the pandemic have discovered the effectiveness of religion and spirituality in mitigating the negative effects of the health emergency [67], aiding coping with chronic illnesses [68], providing comfort, and promoting well-being [69,70].…”

Da'wah Based Spiritual Counseling: The Urgency of Spirituality Development for Correctional Inmates in Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Kelas I Cirebon

“…Apart from that, da'wah itself is intertwined and inseparable with guidance and counseling, so that the connection between the two can be seen to be intact in a preaching-based spiritual counseling service. Through the medium of da'wah, spiritual counseling provides religious and spiritual support to eliminate negative impacts thereby improving the quality of life of the inmates (Marchica et al, 2022;Bimantara & Rifani, 2022).…”