Andi Bulqis Safirah, Tuti Bahfiarti, Jeanny Maria Fatimah

Client’s Communication Privacy Boundaries in Ruang Refleksi Online Service of Halo Jiwa Indonesia

Introduction

Client’s communication privacy boundaries in ruang refleksi online service of halo jiwa indonesia. Explore how clients manage communication privacy boundaries and self-disclosure in Ruang Refleksi Online, a peer counseling service by Halo Jiwa Indonesia, based on CPM theory.

Abstract

Ruang Refleksi Online (RRO), or Online Reflection Room, is one of Halo Jiwa Indonesia’s online-based counseling services, providing emotional support to people since the COVID-19 pandemic. This online-based counseling is a free and non-professional service provided by peer counselors from Halo Jiwa Indonesia members, which was held in 2020. This study aims to know how the client manages their privacy rules in peer counseling, according to five criteria of Communication Privacy Management in boundary rules, which are culture, motivation, context, gender, and risk-benefit ratio. This research type is a qualitative method with a case study approach. Four clients were chosen from purposive sampling with a specific category. From this study, it can be concluded that clients of Ruang Refleksi Online created their privacy rule according to their motivation, contextual, and risk-benefit ratio factors. This determines how much self-disclosure they can share with the peer counselor during interpersonal communication in the counseling session. The clients could also feel the positive impact, such as feeling calmer and relieved from Ruang Refleksi Online

Review

This study explores a highly relevant and timely topic: the management of communication privacy boundaries within online, non-professional peer counseling services. Focusing on Halo Jiwa Indonesia's "Ruang Refleksi Online" (RRO), the research aims to understand how clients construct their privacy rules based on five criteria from Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory: culture, motivation, context, gender, and risk-benefit ratio. Given the proliferation of such services since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the unique dynamics of peer-led, non-professional support, this qualitative case study holds significant potential to shed light on client experiences of self-disclosure and privacy in these unique online environments. The methodology, a qualitative case study utilizing purposive sampling of four clients, provides an in-depth examination of individual experiences, which is appropriate for exploring complex phenomena like privacy management. The abstract indicates that client privacy rules were primarily influenced by motivation, contextual factors, and risk-benefit ratio, which subsequently dictated their level of self-disclosure. This finding aligns with core tenets of CPM and offers valuable insights into the cognitive processes clients undertake in non-professional online counseling. However, the limited sample size, though characteristic of case studies, naturally constrains the generalizability of the findings, and the absence of specific discussion on culture and gender in the conclusions warrants further explanation regarding their non-influence or less significant role compared to the other factors. The implications of this research are noteworthy, particularly for organizations offering similar free, online, and peer-led support services. Understanding the factors that drive client self-disclosure and privacy management can inform best practices for training peer counselors and structuring service delivery to foster a safe and effective environment. The reported positive client outcomes, such as feeling calmer and relieved, underscore the value of RRO, irrespective of its non-professional nature. Future research could expand upon these findings by incorporating a larger and more diverse sample, potentially using mixed methods to quantify some aspects, and further exploring how cultural nuances or counselor-client dynamics might interact with the identified privacy factors.

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