al-Tawjih wal-Irshad al-Nafsi
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al-Tawjih wal-Irshad al-Nafsi (Psychological Guidance and Counseling) is an academic treatise on psychological counseling by the Egyptian psychologist and educator Hamid Abd al-Salam Zahran, completed in 1397 AH (1977 CE) . Designed for students, practitioners, and clinical counselors, the book provides a systematic overview of theoretical frameworks, diagnostic procedures, practical techniques, and organizational programs within the counseling profession .
Background and Composition
The idea for the book originated in London in 1966 when Zahran earned his doctorate in psychological counseling . Its manuscript expanded while he taught in the Mental Health Department at the Faculty of Education at Ain Shams University and practiced in its psychological clinic, following earlier publications such as Qamus 'Ilm al-Nafs (Dictionary of Psychology), 'Ilm Nafs al-Numuw (Developmental Psychology), and 'Ilm al-Nafs al-Ijtima'i (Social Psychology) . The book was completed while Zahran was seconded to the Faculty of Education at King Abdulaziz University in Mecca in Muharram 1397 AH (January 1977 CE) . Zahran designated the work as a companion twin to his treatise al-Sihha al-Nafsiyya wal-'Ilaj al-Nafsi (Mental Health and Psychotherapy) .
Structure and Content
The work consists of a theoretical part outlining foundational concepts and a practical part detailing clinical and organizational applications across ten chapters :
- Chapter 1: Introduction (المقدمة): Defines guidance and counseling, their distinction and overlap with mental health, psychotherapy, consultation, and general education, the historical development of the field, and its core objectives .
- Chapter 2: Foundations of Guidance and Counseling (أسس التوجيه والإرشاد النفسي): Examines general, philosophical, psychological, educational, social, and neurological-physiological foundations .
- Chapter 3: Counseling Theories (نظريات التوجيه والإرشاد النفسي): Analyzes self-concept theory, behavioral theory, field theory, trait-and-factor theory, and psychoanalysis, comparing their approaches .
- Chapter 4: Required Information for Counseling (المعلومات اللازمة لعملية الإرشاد النفسي): Outlines client data collection regarding developmental history, personality dimensions, defense mechanisms, self-concept, levels of adjustment, and case summaries .
- Chapter 5: Tools of Information Collection (وسائل جمع المعلومات في الإرشاد النفسي): Reviews assessment instruments, including interviews, systematic observation, case studies, case conferences, psychological testing, autobiographies, and cumulative records .
- Chapter 6: The Counseling Process (عملية الإرشاد النفسي): Covers preparatory steps, session management, free association, interpretation, catharsis, insight, behavior modification, decision-making, evaluation, termination, and handling clinical emergencies .
- Chapter 7: Methods of Counseling (طرق الإرشاد النفسي): Explores individual and group counseling, directive and non-directive counseling, religious counseling, behavioral counseling, educational counseling, bibliotherapy, reality counseling, play counseling, brief counseling, and eclectic approaches .
- Chapter 8: Fields of Counseling (مجالات الإرشاد النفسي): Addresses therapeutic, educational, vocational, marital, and family counseling, alongside guidance for children, youth, adults, individuals with special needs, and mental health counseling .
- Chapter 9: The Counseling Program (برنامج الإرشاد النفسي): Focuses on school counseling programs, detailing their planning, financing, implementation, administration, and evaluation .
- Chapter 10: Personnel Responsible for Counseling (المسئولون عن الإرشاد النفسي): Defines the roles of the multidisciplinary team, including the director, school counselor, teacher-counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, physician, social worker, parents, and the client .
Methodological Approach and Terminology
Zahran treats psychological counseling as both an applied science and an art, emphasizing a developmental and future-oriented framework adapted to technological and social changes . In particular, he integrates religious counseling as an established methodology, emphasizing faith, moral behavior, prayer, repentance, patience, and reliance on God as functional components of psychological balance and adjustment .
To maintain clarity, the author adopts specific technical conventions: al-Irshad refers broadly to comprehensive psychological counseling; al-Mustarshid or al-'Amil designates the client; and al-Marid is restricted to individuals undergoing psychotherapy .
Publication
The book was published in Cairo by 'Alam al-Kutub . Following the first edition in 1977, a revised and expanded second edition was prepared and completed in Cairo in Rabi' al-Awwal 1400 AH (January 1980 CE) .
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