This study explored the psycho-spiritual experiences of Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) students who participated in the e-MOBIT module, an integrative intervention based on Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and Tazkiyah Al-Nafs principles. The increasing prevalence of emotional distress, psychological instability and spiritual disconnection among university students highlights the need for counselling interventions that are psychologically effective, culturally responsive and spiritually meaningful. A qualitative exploratory design was employed involving seven IPG students aged between 19 and 21 years. Data were collected through reflective worksheets embedded within six psycho-spiritual intervention activities and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings generated five overarching themes: emotional awareness and irrational belief systems, spiritual self-reflection and purification of the heart, resilience through internal strengths and social support, balanced living and holistic well-being, and rational restructuring with positive behavioural transformation. Participants demonstrated greater emotional awareness, improved spiritual coping strategies, enhanced self-acceptance and healthier interpretations of stressful experiences. The integration of REBT and Tazkiyah Al-Nafs facilitated emotional healing through simultaneous cognitive restructuring and spiritual meaning-making processes. The findings suggest that the e-MOBIT module offers a culturally meaningful psycho-spiritual framework capable of strengthening emotional regulation, resilience and holistic well-being among Muslim teacher trainees in higher education contexts.
Abu-Raiya, H., & Pargament, K. I. (2015). Religious coping among diverse religions: Commonalities and divergences. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 7(1), 24–33.
Abu-Raiya, H., Pargament, K. I., Krause, N., & Ironson, G. (2022). Religious coping and psychological adjustment among university students: The role of spirituality in emotional regulation. Journal of American College Health, 70(5), 1421–1430.
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2005). Ihya’ ‘ulum al-din [The revival of the religious sciences]. Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. Sage.
Corey, G. (2021). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
David, D., Lynn, S. J., & Ellis, A. (2018). Rational and irrational beliefs: Research, theory, and clinical practice. Oxford University Press.
Dryden, W. (2014). Rational emotive behaviour therapy: Distinctive features (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Dryden, W. (2021). Rational emotive behaviour therapy: Distinctive features (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. Lyle Stuart.
Ellis, A., & Dryden, W. (1997). The practice of rational emotive behavior therapy (2nd ed.). Springer.
Graça, M., & Brandão, T. (2024). Religious and spiritual coping, emotion regulation and psychological well-being among university students. Journal of Religion and Health. Advance online publication.
Hatta, K., Yati, A. M., Indra, S., Azhari, A., & Muslima, M. (2023). Impact of resilience and coping strategy on post-traumatic symptoms among Muslim university students. Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal, 6(1), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.25217/igcj.v6i1.3132
King, P. E., Carr, D., & Boitor, C. (2023). Spiritual resilience and mental health among emerging adults. Journal of Adolescent Research, 38(5), 611–633.
Masten, A. S. (2021). Resilience of children in disasters: A multisystem perspective. International Journal of Psychology, 56(1), 1–11.
Masten, A. S., & Motti-Stefanidi, F. (2020). Multisystem resilience for children and youth in disaster: Reflections in the context of COVID-19. Adversity and Resilience Science, 1(2), 95–106.
Norcross, J. C., & Goldfried, M. R. (2005). Handbook of psychotherapy integration (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Pascoe, M. C., Hetrick, S. E., & Parker, A. G. (2020). The impact of stress on students in secondary school and higher education. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 104–112.
Pellisson, S., et al. (2022). Emotion regulation strategies for university students: A systematic review. Revista de Educação da Universidade Federal do Ceará, 7(1), 1–15.
Rassool, G. H. (2021). Islamic counselling and spiritual care in mental health. Journal of Religion and Health, 60(2), 756–771.
Rothman, A., & Coyle, A. (2023). Toward a framework for Islamic psychology and psychotherapy: An Islamic model of the soul. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 45(1), 5–28.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2019). Positive psychology: A personal history. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 15, 1–23.
Smith, L., Denton, E., & Richardson, M. (2022). Spiritual wellbeing and resilience among emerging adults in higher education. Journal of Religion and Health, 61(4), 2874–2890.
Suhertina. (2025). Islamic-based counseling approaches for student mental well-being: A systematic literature review. Madania: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 15(2), 94–110. https://doi.org/10.24014/jiik.v15i2.37785
Ungar, M. (2021). Multisystemic resilience: Adaptation and transformation in contexts of change. Oxford University Press.
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World Health Organization.
Y?ld?r?m, M., Arslan, G., & Wong, P. T. P. (2022). Meaningful living, resilience, affective balance and psychological health problems among Turkish young adults during coronavirus pandemic. Current Psychology, 41(11), 7812–7823.
Zainuddin, N. H., Ahmad, N. A., & Rahman, N. A. (2024). Spiritual intelligence, resilience and emotional well-being among Muslim university students. Journal of Religion and Health. Advance online publication.
Hussein, H., Johari, K. S. K., & Surat, S. (2026). Exploring the Psycho-Spiritual Experiences of IPG Students through an Integrated REBT–Tazkiyah Al-Nafs Module: A Qualitative Exploratory Study. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 16(5), 1180–1193.
Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
