New Media and Challenges of Islamic Counselors in Implementing Counseling in the New Normal Era

Abstract

The New Normal era has created a new habit of doing various activities. Likewise with counseling activities which are usually carried out face-to-face and then change into the form of E-Counseling which conducts online counseling using the media as a means. This study aims to describe how the new media becomes an alternative in conducting counseling in the new normal era and how the challenges of Islamic counselors in conducting counseling in the New Normal Era. This research is a field research (Field Research) using a qualitative approach. The method used is descriptive analytical. Data collection used interviews with several alumni of Islamic Counseling Guidance who are currently practitioners in the E-Counseling Service Sahabat-ku. Interviews were also conducted with counselees who had conducted E-Counseling during the New Normal Era. Data analysis was carried out by means of reduction, presentation and conclusion. The results showed that the use of new media as a means of conducting counseling is an alternative that is quite beneficial for both counselors and counselees. Meanwhile, the challenges for Islamic counselors can be seen from two aspects. The first aspect of service is that Islamic counselors do not yet have full professional capacity and networks that are sometimes less stable. The second aspect of knowledge is that there is a need for improvement and training in the use of a more comprehensive technology to support E-Counseling services.