Identity, Purpose, and Mental Health: Tawheed vs Secular Humanistic Counselling

Hijrah Saputra

Authors

Hijrah Saputra Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Abu Dhabi

Keywords:

Tawheed Islamic psychology, mental health, identity purpose, counselling humanistic, sychology wellbeing

Abstract

The growing prevalence of mental health challenges, particularly those related to identity, purpose, and existential anxiety, has highlighted limitations in dominant counselling paradigms. Secular humanistic counselling emphasizes self-actualization, autonomy, and subjective meaning-making. While these approaches offer valuable therapeutic tools, they often lack a stable and transcendent framework for identity and purpose. This paper examines Tawheed, the Islamic concept of the Oneness of Allah, as a comprehensive model for psychological wellbeing. Using a comparative analytical approach, the study contrasts Tawheed-based counselling with secular humanistic approaches in terms of identity formation, purpose, emotional regulation, and coping mechanisms. Drawing upon Qur’anic verses, authentic hadith, and contemporary psychological literature, the paper argues that Tawheed provides a stable, objective, and spiritually grounded framework that addresses both psychological and existential dimensions of mental health. Practical implications for integrating Tawheed principles into counselling practice are also discussed.

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