<![CDATA[Verbal bullying is a persistent problem in secondary schools and frequently produces psychological distress, emotional insecurity, and elevated stress among adolescent victims. Although various counseling interventions have been implemented to address bullying-related stress, evidence regarding psychodynamic group counseling remains limited. This study examined the effectiveness of psychodynamic group counseling in reducing stress among high school students who experienced verbal bullying in Banjarmasin, Indonesia. A quantitative pre-experimental study using a one-group pretest–posttest design was conducted with eight Grade X students selected through purposive sampling based on their experiences as repeated verbal bullying victims. Stress levels were measured using a validated 25-item perceived stress questionnaire before and after the intervention. The intervention consisted of structured psychodynamic group counseling sessions that emphasized exploring unconscious emotional conflicts, defense mechanisms, interpersonal relationships, self-awareness, and emotional resolution within a supportive group environment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test with a significance level of 0.05. The findings revealed a significant reduction in participants’ stress levels following the intervention, with the mean score decreasing from 86.50 (SD = 7.19) before counseling to 80.50 (SD = 7.33) after counseling, t(7) = 3.21, p = .015. All participants demonstrated decreased stress scores after the intervention. These findings indicate that psychodynamic group counseling is a promising school-based intervention for alleviating stress among verbal bullying victims and strengthening adolescents’ emotional well-being, although larger controlled studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness. Keywords: adolescents, school counselling, psychodynamic group counseling, stress reduction, verbal bullying]]>
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