<![CDATA[Assertive communication is an essential skill that enables students to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs honestly while respecting the rights of others. However, many students encounter difficulties, such as shyness and passivity, when interacting with others. The results of the preliminary assessment indicated that the assertive communication skills of Grade VII D students at SMP Negeri 9 Madiun still required improvement. This study aimed to enhance students' assertive communication skills through classroom guidance services using the role-playing technique. The study employed a Guidance and Counseling Action Research (GCAR) approach, conducted in two cycles, each consisting of the stages of planning, action implementation, observation, and reflection. The participants were 28 Grade VII D students of SMP Negeri 9 Madiun. Data were collected using an assertive communication skills questionnaire and observation sheets, then analyzed through descriptive quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings revealed that the percentage of students achieving the high category increased from 50% in the pre-cycle to 71.43% in Cycle I and 85.71% in Cycle II. Furthermore, the observation results indicated improvements in students' active participation in expressing opinions, self-confidence in communication, and emotional regulation during communication. Therefore, classroom guidance services utilizing the role-playing technique were proven to effectively improve the assertive communication skills of Grade VII D students at SMP Negeri 9 Madiun.]]>
