Counselors’ Multicultural Competence in Working with Male Counselees

Ahmad Abdul Hakim; Andi Wahyu Irawan; Andi Retno Budiarty Nazaruddin

doi:10.18326/pamomong.v6i2.5116

Authors

Ahmad Abdul Hakim Universitas Mulawarman
Andi Wahyu Irawan Universitas Mulawarman
Andi Retno Budiarty Nazaruddin Prince of Songkhla University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18326/pamomong.v6i2.5116

Keywords:

Adaptive Strategy, Hegemonic Masculinity, Islamic School Context, Male Counselee, Multicultural Counseling

Abstract

This study investigates how multicultural competence is understood and enacted by a school counselor, identifies the challenges experienced when working with male counselees from different cultural backgrounds, and examines the adaptive strategies employed to enhance counseling effectiveness and inclusivity at Istiqomah Muhammadiyah 4 Vocational High School in Samarinda. Using a qualitative fieldwork design, the study involved one female counselor and two male counselees from Banjar and Dayak ethnic backgrounds. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and documentation, then analyzed using ATLAS.ti through open, axial, and selective coding. The findings show that the counselor practices multicultural competence through culturally sensitive understanding, value-based and logic-oriented communication, active family involvement as an ecological support, and contextual adaptation of Western approaches such as CBT and SFBC to local and Islamic principles, including adab, maslahah, and the prohibition of khalwat. The main challenges include restrictive masculinity norms that limit emotional expression, stigma toward counseling, and institutional pressures for rapid problem resolution at school. Adaptive strategies based on relational empathy, cross-system collaboration, and culturally embedded interventions gradually enhanced counselees’ engagement, comfort, and openness. The study indicates that multicultural competence is a dynamic process requiring ongoing self-awareness, ethical sensitivity, and cultural responsiveness. The small sample and single research site limit the generalizability of these results, so future studies should involve more diverse cultural and gender groups, multiple school settings, and mixed-method or comparative designs to further test and refine the proposed adaptive multicultural counseling model.

References

Adams, W. C. (2019). Using the Internet. In Newcomer, K.E., Hatry, H. P., Wholey, J. S. (Eds.), Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation (4th ed., pp. 492–505). San Francisco, CA, USA: Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119171386

Ahn, H. S., Lee, J., & Jin, Y. (2024). The effects of multicultural family support services on the longitudinal changes of acculturative stress, peer relations, and school adjustment. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1301294. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1301294

Al Arif, M. F. (2019). Larangan Berduaan Antara Laki-Laki dan Perempuan Bukan Mahram. KACA (Karunia Cahaya Allah): Jurnal Dialogis Ilmu Ushuluddin, 8(1), 11–21. Retrieved from https://jurnal.alfithrah.ac.id/index.php/kaca/article/view/300

Alamsyah, Muh. N., Muslihati, M., & Peng, Y. (2024). Exploration of multicultural counseling services to support adolescents’ cultural awareness in schools. ProGCouns: Journal of Professionals in Guidance and Counseling, 5(2), 63–77. https://doi.org/10.21831/progcouns.v5i2.77508

Arredondo, P., Toporek, R., Brown, S. P., Jones, J., Locke, D. C., Sanchez, J., & Stadler, H. (1996). Operationalization of the multicultural counseling competencies. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 24(1), 42–78. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1912.1996.tb00288.x

Beel, N., Jeffries, C., Brownlow, C., Winterbotham, S., & du Preez, J. (2018). Recommendations for male-friendly individual counseling with men: A qualitative systematic literature review for the period 1995–2016. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 19(4), 600–611. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000137

Belianti, I. D., Surya, R. I., & Sya’bana, S. (2025). Globalisasi dan keragaman budaya di kampus: Studi tentang interaksi antar budaya dalam komunitas mahasiswa daerah. Jurnal Penelitian Humaniora, 30(1), 13–19. https://doi.org/10.21831/hum.v30i1.68717

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). To saturate or not to saturate? Questioning data saturation as a useful concept for thematic analysis and sample-size rationales. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13(2), 201–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1704846

Bukhari, B. (2019). Khalwat dalam Perspektif Hukum Islam dan Hukum Positif. Jurisprudensi: Jurnal Ilmu Syariah, Perundang-Undangan, Ekonomi Islam, 10(2), 109–121. https://doi.org/10.32505/jurisprudensi.v10i2.942

Corey, G. (2023). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (11th ed.), 586–608. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Retrieved from https://faculty.cengage.com/works/9780357764428

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.), 365-389. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. Retrieved from Scientific Research

Czarnota-Bojarska, J. (2021). The ethics of organizational research: Methodological considerations for ensuring respondents’ anonymity and confidentiality. EWOP in Practice, 15(1), 54–65. https://doi.org/10.21825/ewopinpractice.87141

Day‐Vines, N. L., Zhang, J., Cluxton‐Keller, F., Hicks, D., Jones, C., Spann, R. T., Daga, D., & Agorsor, C. (2024). The development and validation of an instrument to examine clients’ perspectives about their counselors’ ability to broach racial, ethnic, and cultural concerns. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 52(3), 173–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmcd.12300

DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M. (2019). Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: a balance of relationship and rigour. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2), 57. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057

Fernández-Álvarez, J., Prado-Abril, J., Sánchez-Reales, S., Molinari, G., Martín Gómez Penedo, J., & Jeong Youn, S. (2020). La Brecha Entre La Investigación Y La Práctica Clínica: Hacia La Integración De La Psicoterapia. Papeles Del Psicólogo - Psychologist Papers, 41(2), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.23923/pap.psicol2020.2932

Flick, U. (2018). An introduction to qualitative research (6th ed., pp. 220–240). Thousand Oaks, CA, USA: SAGE Publications. Retrieved from Scientific Research

Habsy, B. A., Nashihah, D., Hutauruk, A. B. C., & Indah, N. M. (2025). Gender Issues in Multicultural Guidance and Counseling. Jurnal Kajian Pendidikan Dan Psikologi, 3(1), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.61397/jkpp.v3i1.428

Hanafi, H., Hidayah, N., Mappiare, A., & Mamat, N. Bin. (2025). Syncretic Cognitive Behavioral Counseling: Developing Students’ Meaning of Life through the Blended Values of Islamic and Osing Culture. Pamomong: Journal of Islamic Educational Counseling, 6(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.18326/pamomong.v6i1.3900

Harte, P., & Barry, M. M. (2024). A scoping review of the implementation and cultural adaptation of school-based mental health promotion and prevention interventions in low-and middle-income countries. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 11, e55. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2024.4

Henry, H. L., & Li, C.-S. (2022). Religious Identity Development and Multicultural Competence: A Correlational Study of Counseling Students. Counseling and Values, 67(1), 116–137. https://doi.org/10.1163/2161007X-67010006

Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind (3rd ed.). New York, NY, USA: McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from Google Scholar

Hook, J. N., Watkins, C. E., Davis, D. E., Owen, J., van Tongeren, D. R., & Marciana, J. R. (2016). Cultural Humility in Psychotherapy Supervision. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 70(2), 149–166. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2016.70.2.149

Irawan, A. W., Habsy, B. A., & Amedome, S. N. (2025). Non-Neutral Counseling and Guidance Services: Understanding Forms of Gender Microaggressions in Schools. Pamomong: Journal of Islamic Educational Counseling, 6(1), 75–92. https://doi.org/10.18326/pamomong.v6i1.3853

Jaladin, R. A. M., Simmonds, J. G., & Joseph, C. (2020). Professional counsellors’ perceptions and experiences of multicultural counselling in Malaysia: A qualitative study. Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS), 5(2), 261–281. https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss2pp261-281

Johan, B., Nate, F., Dewanti, N. A. D., Fatihah, T. A., Syahman, Y. A.-Z., & Rahman, Z. B. A. (2025). Counselor’s Code of Ethics in the Perspective of Islamic Education. Al-Musyrif: Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Konseling Islam, 8(2), 145–155. https://doi.org/10.38073/almusyrif.v8i2.3124

Karnieli-Miller, O. (2020). Reflective practice in the teaching of communication skills. Patient Education and Counseling, 103(10), 2166–2172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2020.06.021

Koller, S. H., Paludo, S. S., & Morais, N. A. (2019). Ecological engagement: Urie Bronfenbrenner’s method to study human development, (p. 45). Switzerland: Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27905-9

Levant, R. F., McDermott, R., Parent, M. C., Alshabani, N., Mahalik, J. R., & Hammer, J. H. (2020). Development and evaluation of a new short form of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI-30). Journal of Counseling Psychology, 67(5), 622–636. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000414

Mahfud, A., Latifah, A., Lestari, I., Muslikah, M., & Bishops, C. (2025). Cultural Counseling Prototype Based on Ruwatan Values for Enhancing Community Well-Being Post-Flood Disaster. Pamomong: Journal of Islamic Educational Counseling, 6(1), 21–40. https://doi.org/10.18326/pamomong.v6i1.3888

Maswati, M., & Das, S. W. H. (2024). Values of Pancasila Ideology as a Multicultural Adhesive in Indonesia. International Journal of Islamic Educational Research, 1(4), 70–89. https://doi.org/10.61132/ijier.v1i4.144

Musarrofa, I., & Sa’adah, M. (2023). Reconstructing the Concept of Khalwat Sahihah in the Digital Era: An Analysis of Scholars’ Legal Perspectives. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 8(2 November), 577. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v8i2.8234

Naets, T., Vervoort, L., Verbeken, S., & Braet, C. (2018). Enhancing childhood multidisciplinary obesity treatments: The power of self-control abilities as intervention facilitator. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1956. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01956

Ratts, M. J., & Greenleaf, A. T. (2017). Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies. Professional School Counseling, 21(1b), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X18773582

Robinson, M., & Savitsky, D. (2020). Multicultural Competence in Indonesian Counseling Students: Perspectives of Visiting American Counselor Educators. International Journal of Applied Guidance and Counseling, 1(2), 36–45. https://doi.org/10.26486/ijagc.v1i2.1222

Rodgers, B., & Tudor, K. (2020). Person-centred therapy: A radical paradigm in a new world. New Zealand Journal of Counselling, 40(2), 21–35. https://doi.org/10.24135/nzjc.v40i2.246

Schwartz, S. J., & Unger, J. (2016). The Oxford handbook of acculturation and health (Vol. 1). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190215217.001.0001

Schwarzenthal, M., Schachner, M. K., Juang, L. P., & Vijver, F. J. R. v. d. (2019). Reaping the benefits of cultural diversity: classroom cultural diversity climate and students’ intercultural competence. European Journal of Social Psychology, 50(2), 323-346. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2617

Sheikh, A., Payne-Cook, C., Lisk, S., Carter, B., & Brown, J. S. L. (2025). Why do young men not seek help for affective mental health issues? A systematic review of perceived barriers and facilitators among adolescent boys and young men. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 34(2), 565–583. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02520-9

Shepherd, G., Astbury, E., Cooper, A., Dobrzynska, W., Goddard, E., Murphy, H., & Whitley, A. (2023). The challenges preventing men when seeking counselling or psychotherapy. Mental Health & Prevention, 31, 200287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2023.200287

Sileo, K. M., & Kershaw, T. S. (2020). Dimensions of masculine norms, depression, and mental health service utilization: Results from a prospective cohort study among emerging adult men in the United States. American Journal of Men’s Health, 14(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988320906980

Situmeang, D. B., Putri, N., Simarmata, A. A., Siahaan, N. P. M., Umari, T., & Munawir. (2024). Supervisi Guru BK: Membangun Kompetensi dan Profesionalisme Layanan BK. Jurnal Ilmiah Penelitian Mahasiswa, 2(3), 416–426. Retrieved from https://ejurnal.kampusakademik.my.id/index.php/jipm/article/view/137

Staller, K. M. (2021). Big enough? Sampling in qualitative inquiry. Qualitative Social Work, 20(4), 897–904. https://doi.org/10.1177/14733250211024516

Steinhäuser, T., Schödwell, S., & Auckenthaler, A. (2023). Limitations of Trainings in Cross-Cultural Competence - The Practitioner Perspective. Therapeutische Umschau. Revue Therapeutique, 80(7), 333–342. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37855564/.com

Sue, D. Wing., & Sue, David. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse: theory and practice (8th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from Google Scholar

Sultana, M., Gow, J., Mosharaf, P., Rahman, H., Koly, K. N., Rahman, M. A., Huq, N., Rawal, L. B., Kumar, M., & Mahumud, R. A. (2023). Parental role and peer support in adolescent suicidal behavior in eight South-East Asian countries. Journal of Affective Disorders, 332, 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.092

Syatar, A., Abubakar, A., Kurniati, K., Bedong, M. A. R., & Ahmad, A. (2024). The consideration of maslahat in the imposition of the death penalty for serious sexual crimes in Indonesia. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 9(1), 137–154. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v9i1.8880

Thang, N. T., Linh, D. T. D., Anh, T. N., Phuong, N. T., Giang, N. D., Long, N. X., Nhung, D. T. C., & Long, K. Q. (2022). Severe Symptoms of Mental Disorders Among Students Majoring in Foreign Languages in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 855607. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.855607

Umami, D. A. N. (2022). Pengetahuan dan Keterampilan Guru Bimbingan dan Konseling Mengenai Konseling Multibudaya di Indonesia. Edu Consilium: Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Konseling Pendidikan Islam, 3(1), 38–50. https://doi.org/10.19105/ec.v3i1.5472

Vasileiou, K., Barnett, J., Thorpe, S., & Young, T. (2018). Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies: systematic analysis of qualitative health research over a 15-year period. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18(1), 148. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0594-7

Ward, C., Szabó, Á., & Ng Tseung-Wong, C. (2025). The motivation to integrate and perceived discrimination as antecedents of cultural identity styles. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 31(2), 393–401. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000648

Worthington, E. L., Davis, D. E., & Hook, J. N. (Eds.). (2017). Handbook of humility: Theory, research, and applications (1st ed, p. 91–104). New York, NY, USA: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315660462

Yuliana, T. T., Saraswati, A. R., & Habsy, B. A. (2025). Konsep Bimbingan dan Konseling Multikultural pada Saat Ini. Dialogika : Jurnal Penelitian Komunikasi Dan Sosialisasi, 1(2), 141–153. https://doi.org/10.62383/dialogika.v1i2.291