NURTURING ADOLESCENT IDENTITY: HUMANISTIC APPROACH PRACTICES IN COUNSELING FOR VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Abstract
This article explores the practice of the humanistic approach in counseling within Vocational High Schools (SMK) as a strategy to support the authentic formation of adolescent identity. Through a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with students and Guidance and Counseling (BK) teachers, the findings reveal that counselors’ attitudes of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness play a pivotal role in establishing a safe and reflective relationship. Counselors who present themselves as authentic, honest, and egalitarian individuals are able to build trust and facilitate deep self-reflection among students. These findings reinforce the relevance of the humanistic approach in assisting vocational students who are experiencing identity crises due to social pressures and uncertainties about their future. The study also highlights the importance of corrective emotional experiences within the counseling process and recommends further research with broader scope and diverse methodological approaches to strengthen the generalizability of the findings. This article makes a significant contribution to the development of humanistic-based counseling theory and practice that emphasizes adolescents’ personal functioning and authenticity.
References
Bila?, S., Öztop, F., & Kutuk, Y. (2024). Improving empathy and peer relationships in adolescents: A social cognition training approach. International Journal of Education and Cognitive Sciences, 5(2), 23–30. https://doi.org/10.22034/injoeas.2024.454699.1086
Cooper, M., McLeod, J., Worrall-Davies, E., et al. (2025). Therapist interpersonal skills and outcomes for young people. Psychotherapy Research. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10503307.2025.2457398
Cooper, M., Weisz, J. R., & Shirk, S. R. (2025). Therapist genuineness and outcomes in youth therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 35(2), 213–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2025.2457398
Corey, G. (2020). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Duffy, R. D., Blustein, D. L., Diemer, M. A., & Autin, K. L. (2021). The psychology of working theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 68(2), 130–144. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000487
Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis. W. W. Norton & Company.
Gatt, J. M., Burton, K. L. O., Williams, L. M., & Schofield, P. R. (2022). Mechanisms of resilience: Empirical insights into the biology of adaptation to adversity. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 102, 313–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2022.03.007
Geldard, K., Geldard, D., & Foo, R. Y. (2021). Counseling adolescents: The proactive approach for young people (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi. (2022). Strategi penguatan layanan bimbingan dan konseling di satuan pendidikan vokasi. Direktorat Jenderal Pendidikan Vokasi.
Li, L., He, Q.-F., Lan, J.-Z., Rehman, A.-U., Ge, M.-W., Shen, L.-T., et al. (2024). Empathy as a mediator of the relation between peer influence and prosocial behavior in adolescence: A meta-analysis. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-024-02079-3
Marita, R., & Izzati, U. A. (2023). Harga diri dan kematangan karier siswa SMK: Kajian korelasional. Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Vokasional, 8(2), 101–110. https://doi.org/10.26740/jptt.v8n1.p43?52
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Murphy, L. D., Hannon, P., & Lyles, T. (2023). Emotional validation in adolescent therapy: Its impact on self-concept and internalized stigma. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 52(4), 812–825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01712-9
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0528-y
Prayitno. (2020). Dasar-dasar pelayanan bimbingan dan konseling (Edisi revisi). Rajawali Pers.
Rahayu, D., Mudjiran, & Karneli, Y. (2023). Penerapan pendekatan humanistik dalam penguatan identitas remaja di SMK. Jurnal Konseling Humanistik Indonesia, 5(1), 32–45.
Rais, F. (2022). Dukungan emosional guru dan pembentukan identitas remaja di SMK. Jurnal Psikoedukatif, 9(3), 210–222.
Riswana, H., Fitria, N., & Puspita, R. (2023). Status identitas dan pengambilan keputusan karier siswa SMK. Jurnal Psikologi Pendidikan dan Bimbingan, 14(2), 88–97. https://doi.org/10.31851/juang.v6i2.13802
Rofiqoh, N., Handayani, D., & Wibowo, A. (2025). Efektivitas pendekatan konseling person-centered terhadap pembentukan identitas diri remaja. Jurnal Konseling Indonesia, 13(1), 17–29.
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist's view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin.
Romiaty, A., Ihsanti, Y., & Nonsihai, T. (2024). Konseling kelompok berbasis PCT untuk meningkatkan motivasi belajar siswa SMK. Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Terapan, 12(1), 43–55.
Salsabilla, R. M. (2024). Penerapan pendekatan humanistik dalam meningkatkan harga diri siswa SMK. Jurnal Psikologi Humanistik, 7(2), 72–83.
Scharf, M., & Mayseless, O. (2020). Adolescents’ identity formation in the context of family relationships: A developmental-contextual perspective. Child Development Perspectives, 14(2), 106–111. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12366
Schlimme, J. E., & von Heymann, F. (2021). Therapeutic authenticity: Adolescents’ experiences of therapist authenticity in psychotherapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 633663. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633663/full
Schnellbacher, J., & Leijssen, M. (2009). The significance of therapist genuineness from the client’s perspective. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 49(2), 207–228. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238332720_The_Significance_of_Therapist_Genuineness_From_the_Client%27s_Perspective
Stake, R. E. (2005). The art of case study research. SAGE Publications.
StatPearls. (2023). Person-centered therapy (Rogerian therapy). In StatPearls. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708/
StatPearls. (2023). Person-centered therapy (Rogerian therapy). In StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708/
Suryadi, A., & Sumantri, H. (2021). Stigma terhadap lulusan SMK dan tantangan pendidikan vokasi di daerah rural. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat, 6(1), 25–38.
Syawalsa, R., & Itryah, S. (2024). Prinsip konseling humanistik dalam pembentukan identitas remaja. Jurnal Konseling dan Psikoterapi, 11(2), 94–106.
Winkel, W. S., & Hastuti, S. P. (2021). Bimbingan dan konseling di sekolah: Teori dan praktik (Edisi revisi). Media Abadi.
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rizka Eliza Pertiwi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
