Asrowi, Nandang Rusmana, Nur Hidayah, Mochamad Kamil Budiarto
This study aimed to develop a traditional Javanese play therapy model as an effective and culturally resonant approach to help students overcome trauma. The research employed a Research and Development (R&D) design using the Alessi and Trollip model. The sample consisted of 78 elementary and middle school students (aged 10-14 years) in Surakarta, along with 10 teachers, 5 school counselors, and 3 traditional play therapy experts. Data were collected through structured observations, semi-structured interviews, and validated questionnaires specifically designed to measure emotional well-being and engagement in therapy sessions. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results indicate that this therapy model successfully enhanced student engagement in the healing process, with 87% of students reporting increased comfort and emotional expression through traditional games such as engklek, gobak sodor, and jamuran. Expert validation and field testing further confirmed the effectiveness of the therapy, with an average score of 88%, demonstrating its feasibility for school implementation. In conclusion, traditional Javanese play therapy offers an effective and culturally relevant approach to support students’ trauma recovery, with the potential for broader application across schools in Indonesia. © 2025 Didactic Asociation Andalucia. All rights reserved.
Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia; Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia
