COUNSELING APPROACHES AND TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING ACADEMIC STRESS IN STUDENTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes and challenges to students, particularly in the realm of education, leading to the emergence of new problems such as academic stress. This study aimed to analyze counseling approaches and techniques applied to assist students in coping with academic stress during the transition from offline to online learning. A literature review method was employed to identify relevant articles published between 2019 and 2021. Eleven articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for analysis. The results revealed a variety of counseling approaches and techniques used to manage academic stress, including group counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, expressive writing therapy, self-control techniques, self-instruction techniques, stress inoculation training, cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, time management, and relaxation meditation techniques. Group counseling emerged as a preferred method due to its effectiveness in providing mutual support and addressing shared concerns among students. Cognitive behavioral counseling was found to be effective in modifying irrational thoughts and behaviors associated with academic stress. Techniques from other counseling approaches, such as expressive writing and stress inoculation training, complemented interventions for managing academic stress. Successful intervention requires counselors to consider individual student needs, the onset and causes of stress symptoms, and students' self-defense mechanisms. By tailoring interventions to these factors, counselors can effectively reduce academic stress and support students in achieving their academic and personal goals.