IAC-IRTAC-Research

Indonesia

Summary

Counselling Associations

All Professional Bodies, National Associations (e.g. Mental Health, School, Guidance, Addiction, Faith-based etc.) and Accrediting Organisations.

Indonesian Counsellor Association/Ikatan Konselor Indonesia (IKI)

Indonesian Psychology Association /Himpunan Psikologi Indonesia (HIMPSI)

Universities and Other Education and Training Institutes

Universitas Negeri Jakarta

Universitas Ahmad Dahlan

Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Hamka

Counselling Agencies, Services, Group Practices, Counselling Centres

Background & Context

Gunawan and Wahab (2015) explained that it was not until 1962 that counselling in Indonesia was implemented. This new implementation would be adapted into the school setting and it was decided “during a conference held by the Faculty of Teacher and Education” (Gunawan & Wahab, 2015, pg. 239).

         After the conference was held, there were other groups that helped support the progression of this project. The problem that occurred was that the guidance and counselling programs were all associated with the educational guidelines, leaving there to be a misunderstanding of the job roles of a counsellor within the school setting (Gunawan & Wahab, 2015).

         Gunawan and Wahab (2015) provided further information about the initial purpose of guidance and counselling in the school setting, which was geared towards students who demonstrated misbehavior that demanded the proper guidance. With the lack of proper guidelines for the faculty brought into the new guidance and counsellor role, this shift resulted in poorly administered techniques which caused a negative public view of this profession (Gunawan and Wahab, 2015).

         Gunawan and Wahab (2015) concluded that the guidance and counselling programs in Indonesia continue to be revised so they can produce better quality service to the Indonesian population, and because these services are offered in schools, they will constantly need redeveloped and changed so that they can keep up with the school curriculum. It is also noted that there is a need for “professional standards and” to “improve competences of guidance counsellors” (Gunawan & Wahab, 2015, pg. 240).

Current Regulatory Status / Level of Recognition:

Counsellors in Indonesia are registered by the Indonesian Counsellor Association (IKI) and a list of counsellors with pending, approved, and expired licensing is available for transparency for those in search of a counsellor. Since 2014, there has been a stand-alone law and policy for mental health in the country.

Practice Settings

The number of guidance counsellors, counsellors, or psychologists in Indonesia is not clear; however, as of the year 2019, The Indonesian Psychology Association (HIMPSI) had over 11,500 professional psychology members employed in diverse field areas such as guidance counsellors in schools, psychotherapists, sport psychologists, and many more, including in the following areas:

  • Schools & Universities
  • Community-based Counselling Centers
  • Hospitals
  • Private Practices
  • Non-governmental Organizations

Challenges & Trends

Gunawan and Wahab (2015) explain how Indonesia’s transition from a government with an authoritarian style to a democratic style had an enormous effect on how the Indonesian people viewed themselves. Since democracy began, Indonesians are now able to live an individualistic lifestyle and focus on their own feelings (Gunawan and Wahab, 2015). The challenges that counselling in Indonesia faces are primarily caused by an increase of technology and the experiences that each generation has faced that causes them to be divided in their views on counselling (Gunawan, and Wahab, 2015).

Additional Information & References

For a deeper exploration of the counselling profession in the country, interested readers are recommended to read the following journal & website articles:

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