<![CDATA[ABSTRACT Online games can provide cognitive benefits such as enhancing strategic thinking and problem-solving skills; however, excessive use may lead to addictive behaviors that negatively affect students’ psychological and social conditions. The phenomenon of online game addiction in schools reveals a gap between the need for effective counseling services and the limited availability of empirically tested behavior-based interventions, thereby requiring structured intervention efforts. This study aims to determine the effect of behavioral counseling on online game addiction among eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri 1 Gunungsari in the 2023/2024 academic year. The research employed a quantitative approach using a one-group pretest–posttest experimental design. The sample consisted of eight students identified as having online game addiction tendencies based on pretest results and selected through purposive sampling. The intervention was conducted through group counseling sessions using the Assertive Training technique to help students improve self-control over excessive gaming behavior. Data were analyzed using the Paired Sample t-test. The results showed that the calculated t-value (27.149) was greater than the t-table value (2.365) at α = 0.05 (df = 7), indicating that the alternative hypothesis was accepted. These findings confirm that behavioral counseling with the Assertive Training technique is effective in reducing online game addiction and provides practical contributions to strengthening school guidance and counseling services. ABSTRAK Game online dapat memberikan manfaat kognitif seperti melatih strategi dan pemecahan masalah, namun penggunaan berlebihan berpotensi menimbulkan perilaku adiktif yang berdampak pada aspek psikologis dan sosial siswa. Fenomena kecanduan game online di sekolah menunjukkan kesenjangan antara kebutuhan layanan konseling yang efektif dan masih terbatasnya intervensi berbasis pendekatan behavior yang teruji secara empiris, sehingga diperlukan upaya intervensi yang terstruktur. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh konseling behavior terhadap kecanduan game online pada siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 1 Gunungsari Tahun Pelajaran 2023/2024. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan desain eksperimen one group pretest–posttest. Sampel berjumlah 8 siswa yang terindikasi kecanduan berdasarkan hasil pretest dan dipilih melalui purposive sampling. Intervensi diberikan dalam bentuk konseling kelompok menggunakan teknik Assertive Training untuk membantu siswa meningkatkan kontrol diri terhadap perilaku bermain game. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan uji Paired Sample t-test. Hasil menunjukkan nilai t-hitung 27,149 > t-tabel 2,365 (α = 0,05; db = 7), sehingga hipotesis alternatif diterima. Temuan ini menegaskan bahwa konseling behavior dengan teknik Assertive Training efektif menurunkan tingkat kecanduan game online serta memberikan kontribusi praktis bagi penguatan layanan bimbingan dan konseling di sekolah.]]>
