Kecerdasan Budaya sebagai Elemen Kunci Kompetensi Konselor dalam Konseling Multikultural untuk Generasi Z yang Tangguh

Abstract

Generation Z lives in a complex cultural dynamic between global and local influences, making them vulnerable to identity conflicts and social pressures. These conditions require counseling services that are sensitive to clients' cultural backgrounds. This article highlights the importance of cultural intelligence as a key element in enhancing multicultural counseling competence. Cultural intelligence enables counselors to understand cross-cultural perspectives, reduce biases, adjust intervention strategies, and improve therapeutic relationships with clients. Using a theoretical approach and recent research findings, this article explains four dimensions of cultural intelligence — metacognitive, cognitive, motivational, and behavioral — that can be integrated into multicultural counseling services to support Generation Z. The findings indicate that cultural intelligence not only enhances counseling effectiveness but also helps counselors manage cross-cultural conflicts faced by clients. Therefore, cultural intelligence training should be an essential part of professional development for counselors to create more inclusive, empathetic, and culturally relevant counseling services.