Parenting Counseling for Counselors in the Digital Age

Abstract

The development of information and communication technology in the digital era has brought major changes in various aspects of life, including parenting. Generation Z and Alpha children grow up in the midst of a rapid flow of information and massive digital influence, thus posing new challenges for parents in carrying out their parenting role. Many parents feel overwhelmed by changes in children's behavior that are influenced by exposure to gadgets, negative content, and changes in communication patterns in the family. To answer this challenge, parenting counseling comes as a psychological service that aims to help parents understand child development, develop adaptive parenting skills, and strengthen emotional relationships in the family. This article is prepared using the literature study method, which examines various scientific sources related to parenting counseling, digital parenting, and the role of counselors in assisting parents. The results of the discussion show that parenting counseling in the digital era should be conducted systematically through five main stages: initial assessment, therapeutic relationship building, therapeutic intervention, homework assignment, and evaluation. Counselors are not only tasked with providing technical solutions, but also supporting parents' mental health, providing an understanding of the digital generation, and building synergy between families and schools. Parenting counseling has become very important in the midst of today's global challenges because it is very important for parents