Research & Innovation

🔹 Research Focus

My research begins with a practical question: How can counselling respond to psychological difficulties while taking a person’s cultural and spiritual world seriously?

This question shaped my doctoral work on the integration of Reality Therapy and Tazkiyah al-Nafs. It continues to guide my interests in self-compassion, adolescent mental health, intervention development and counselling research methods.

🔹 TR-TAN: Reality Therapy–Tazkiyah al-Nafs

TR-TAN is an Islamic-integrative counselling approach developed through my doctoral research. It brings concepts from Reality Therapy into dialogue with processes associated with Tazkiyah al-Nafs.

My doctoral study examined the intervention in relation to ihsan kendiri among adolescents experiencing mental health difficulties. Its findings should be read within the study’s design, participants and setting; further research is needed to establish how the approach performs with other groups and in other contexts.

Intellectual property: Manual Intervensi Kaunseling Integrasi Terapi Realiti dan Tazkiyah al-Nafs (TR-TAN), MyIPO copyright notification CRLY2023P04984.

🔹 Islamic Self-Compassion

My published work examines self-compassion through an Islamic lens. It considers how compassion towards oneself can be discussed alongside responsibility, mercy and spiritual consciousness. This line of research seeks to support more precise conversations about culturally responsive mental health care.

🔹 Dar e-Hikmah

Digital psychoeducation for reflection, learning and well-being

Dar e-Hikmah is a digital platform I founded to share mental health education and reflective resources with the public. Its content brings counselling knowledge into formats that people can explore at their own pace.

🔹 Selected Publications

• Maktar, A., Mohamed Sidik, M. S., Yahya, F., & Awang, A. (2025). “Self-Compassion from an Islamic Lens: Fostering Mental Well-Being.” Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health. DOI: 10.1080/19349637.2025.2473048.

• Maktar, A., Sidik, M. S. M., & Awang, A. (2023). “The Effects of Reality Therapy and Tazkiyah Al Nafs (TR-TAN) Integration Counseling Interventions in Research Using Single Subject Research Design.” Jurnal Pendidikan Bitara UPSI, 16, 63–71. DOI: 10.37134/bitara.vol16.sp2.6.2023.

Editorial note for this page: The CV also lists a 2026 journal article and an IGI Global chapter. Add their final publisher links and bibliographic details once Dr Amnah has checked the publication records. This avoids presenting a submission, acceptance or forthcoming work as already published.