IMPLEMENTATION OF SFBT GROUP COUNSELING IN ADDRESSING THE VULNERABILITY OF MALADAPTIVE DATING BEHAVIOR IN MOTHERLESS ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Abstract

Parental divorce followed by maternal absence (motherless) triggers psychological vulnerability in adolescent females, frequently manifesting as maladaptive dating behavior as an emotional coping mechanism. This study analyzes the vulnerability patterns of excessive dating and evaluates the implementation of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) group counseling conducted within a junior high school setting. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive-exploratory design, five 8th-grade female students at SMP Negeri 3 Brebes experiencing maternal deprivation due to divorce and labor migration were selected via purposive sampling. Data were gathered through non-participant observation, semi-structured in-depth interviews, and school documentation, analyzed through interactive qualitative analysis (data condensation, data display, conclusion drawing) and source triangulation involving peers and the school counselor. Findings indicate four primary vulnerability archetypes: romantic partners as primary emotional surrogates, compulsive communication demands, anxious overthinking and jealousy, and boundary violations exceeding developmental norms. The 6-session SFBT intervention leveraging miracle, exception, and scaling questions effectively fostered cognitive reframing, emotional self-reliance, and academic re-prioritization. Three participants terminated toxic relationships, one reconstructed her relationship into an academically supportive partnership, while one participant required specialized individual follow-up due to chronic attachment deficits and unmonitored home environments. SFBT group counseling demonstrates operational efficacy in mitigating relational vulnerability by mobilizing internal agencies and alternative support systems without ruminating on past familial trauma.