Effectiveness of Individual Counseling Services With Techniques Cognitive Restructuring To Reduce Final Semester Student Anticipation

Abstract

This research aims to test the effectiveness of individual counseling services using Cognitive Restructuring techniques to reduce anxiety in final semester students. The study was conducted at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra. The research is quantitative in nature, utilizing an experimental model with a one-group pretest-posttest design, which compares the results before and after the counseling service is provided. The population of this study consisted of 34 final-year students from the 2020 cohort of the Guidance and Counseling Study Program, with a sample of four students selected through purposive sampling. These students were chosen based on having the highest levels of anxiety, their willingness to participate, and their adherence to the counseling service schedule, to optimize time and resources. Data were collected using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test to evaluate the hypothesis. The results showed a significant decrease in students' anxiety levels, with the average score dropping from 48.25 (high) in the pretest to 25.00 (mild to moderate) in the posttest. A p-value of 0.002 indicated the effectiveness of the counseling service in reducing anxiety. It can be concluded that individual counseling services using Cognitive Restructuring techniques are effective in reducing anxiety in final semester students.