Improving the Emotional Regulation Ability of Fatherless Adolescents with an Individualized Counseling Approach: A Literature Study

Abstract

The phenomenon of fatherlessness among adolescents has become an increasing concern in education and mental health due to its significant psychological impact on emotional development. The absence of a father, either physically or emotionally, contributes to various emotional regulation problems, such as anxiety, anger, sadness, and difficulties in building healthy social relationships. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of individual counseling approaches in improving emotional regulation among fatherless adolescents through a systematic literature review. The research employed a qualitative method using the PRISMA approach, with six journal articles selected from Google Scholar publications between 2019 and 2025.

The review findings indicate that individual counseling, particularly using the client-centered technique, is effective in helping adolescents recognize, express, and manage their emotions more adaptively. Additionally, techniques such as ego strength and emotion-focused coping strategies contribute to enhancing emotional resilience and self-awareness in fatherless adolescents. These findings affirm that individual counseling is a relevant and impactful intervention to improve emotional regulation and prevent more serious psychosocial issues. Therefore, it is crucial for counseling practitioners to implement such approaches systematically and consistently in supporting adolescents who experience the loss of a father figure.