Philosophical Analysis of Huma Betang in Guidance and Counseling

Abstract

The increasing pace of globalization necessitates the revitalization of culturally relevant approaches to foster social harmony within guidance and counseling. This study focuses on the Huma Betang philosophy, a form of local wisdom from the Dayak people of Central Kalimantan, which embodies values of togetherness, tolerance, and mutual respect. The objective of this research is to analyze and integrate the principles of Huma Betang into modern counseling techniques to cultivate a supportive environment that enhances individual development and strengthens the therapeutic relationship between counselors and clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. This study utilizes a literature review with a conceptual analysis approach, examining academic sources published between 2019 and 2025. The results indicate that the core values of Huma Betangsuch as mutual cooperation (gotong royong), togetherness, tolerance, and harmony are directly aligned with Carl Rogers' three core therapeutic conditions: unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. The philosophy's emphasis on acceptance reflects unconditional positive regard , its communal nature embodies empathy in action , and its method of conflict resolution through sincere deliberation demonstrates congruence. The integration of Huma Betang offers a significant opportunity to develop a more holistic, humanistic, and innovative approach to multicultural counseling.