Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Group Counseling Services in Increasing Empathy

Abstract

This study aims to describe students' views on the effectiveness of group counseling services in strengthening empathy capacity at SMA Negeri 12 Pekanbaru. The background of this study is that empathy is an integrated social-emotional competency that is fundamental to harmonious interactions between students and the development of positive character. The methodology chosen was descriptive qualitative, with the subjects being students who had experienced group counseling services facilitated by their homeroom teachers as guidance counselors. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation studies, and was then analyzed using the interactive model developed by Miles and Huberman. The findings show that students appreciate group counseling as an effective forum that contributes to strengthening empathy. Improvements were observed in terms of emotional awareness, listening and appreciation skills, and manifested in real behavior in the form of caring for others. Limitations were found in groups with a certain number of members, where the time provided seemed sufficient on average. Nevertheless, the overall impression of the direction of group counseling remained positive, with consequences that supported the strengthening of the Pancasila student profile that was being implemented