Art Therapy in TikTok-Based Classical Guidance: An Expressive Islamic Counseling Review

Abstract

The study aims to analyze the implementation of art therapy in classical guidance services through TikTok and to interpret its relevance to Expressive Islamic Counseling. The rapid expansion of digital technology has transformed guidance and counseling services, including classical guidance practices that increasingly need to respond to the communicative habits of digital-native students. One emerging innovation is the use of art therapy as an expressive service approach disseminated through TikTok. However, academic discussion of TikTok-based art therapy in digital school counseling, especially from the perspective of Expressive Islamic Counseling, remains limited. This research employed a qualitative exploratory case study design. The main informant was selected purposively: a junior high school guidance and counseling teacher who actively used TikTok to share art therapy-based classical guidance practices. Data were collected through digital observation of TikTok videos, caption and comment analysis, and an in-depth digital interview conducted through Direct Message. The data were analyzed thematically using Expressive Islamic Counseling as an interpretive framework. The findings show that TikTok-based art therapy represents an expressive, participatory, and non-judgmental innovation in classical guidance. It facilitates emotional catharsis, preliminary emotional assessment, self-reflection, and potential follow-up services. Nevertheless, the spiritual dimension of Islamic counseling remains implicit rather than explicitly integrated. This study contributes conceptually by positioning digital art therapy not only as a medium of psychological expression but also as a potential means of self-reflection and spiritual awareness within Islamic counseling.