Efektivitas Layanan Konseling Online Berbasis Aplikasi Whatsapp dalam Meningkatkan Kesejahteraan Emosional Siswa SMK Plus Ma’arif NU Parigi

Abstract

Emotional well-being is an essential aspect of student development, particularly at the vocational high school level where students are vulnerable to academic and social pressures, as well as the boarding school rules that shape their daily lives. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of online counseling through the WhatsApp application in enhancing the emotional well-being of students at SMK Plus Ma’arif NU Parigi. This research employed a qualitative approach with a case study method involving eighteen students who showed symptoms of emotional distress. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, and were analyzed descriptively to capture the effectiveness of online counseling services.

The findings indicate that WhatsApp-based online counseling is quite effective in helping students express their feelings, improve openness, and rebuild self-confidence. Despite limitations such as delayed responses and difficulty in interpreting emotional expressions, the flexibility of this service provides a relevant alternative for supporting students’ emotional well-being, particularly in pesantren-based schools. This study presents an original contribution by examining the effectiveness of WhatsApp-based online counseling in the context of pesantren-based schools. It extends previous studies that have largely focused on face-to-face counseling or technology-based counseling in general school settings.