Expresive Writing untuk Mengatasi Loneliness Santri di Pondok Pesantren Al-Kautsar Lawangan Daya

Abstract

Loneliness is one of the psychological challenges experienced by students at Islamic boarding schools, primarily due to limited social interaction and distance from family. This community service project aims to examine the effectiveness of the expressive writing technique in helping students overcome feelings of loneliness at the Al-Kautsar Lawangan Daya Islamic Boarding School. Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, the activity was carried out in three stages: observation, outbound activities, and classical services in the form of expressive writing sessions. Additionally, the snakes and ladders game was used as a tool to encourage reflection and emotional expression. The results showed that the expressive writing technique can help students express their feelings more openly, increase self-awareness, and build confidence in social interactions. This technique has proven to be an effective, practical, and relevant alternative to be implemented in Islamic boarding schools to support students' mental health.