Understanding Bullying: How Therapy Can Help Children
Introduction
School should be a safe, supportive environment—but for many children and teens, it can feel like a battlefield. Bullying not only disrupts learning but also damages self-esteem, emotional health, and family peace.
Understanding Bullying
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others have serious, long-lasting problems. (stopbullying.gov)
For the behavior to be considered bullying, it must be aggressive and include:
An imbalance of power
Kids who bully use their power in different ways. They may use physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity. These techniques are used to control or harm others.
Repetition:
Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
Types of Bullying
Verbal bullying:
Saying or writing mean things. This can include teasing, name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting, and threatening to cause harm.
Emotional or Social bullying:
This could include: social isolation, ridicule, or humiliation. It involves intimidation, manipulation, or coercion. Other examples include leaving someone out on purpose or telling other children not to be friends with someone. Additionally, it can involve spreading rumors or embarrassing someone in public.
Physical bullying:
involves hurting a person's body or possessions. This could include hitting/kicking/pinching, spitting, tripping/pushing, breaking someone's things, or making mean or rude hand gestures.
Sexual:
unwanted physical contact, inappropriate touching, homophobic abuse, exposure to inappropriate media materials, etc.
Online/Cyber: The use of electronic communication can harass, threaten, or humiliate someone. This includes posting hurtful messages on social media. It also involves sharing photos, spreading rumors, sending nasty text messages, and social exclusion online.
Extra examples of cyberbullying include:
Impersonation
creating fake profiles to embarrass someone or spreading rumors using fake names
Doxxing
sharing someone's private personal information without their permission to cause embarrassment or harm
The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:
social media like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok
text messaging and messaging apps
instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting
online forums, chat rooms, message boards, Reddit
email
online gaming communities
Why it's harmful
Cyberbullying can have serious effects on mental health, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression
It can also lead to physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches due to chronic stress
In some cases, cyberbullying can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions.
Statistics on Bullying
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics and Bureau of Justice, in 2022, nationwide, about 19.2% of students ages 12-18 in grades 6 -12 reported being bullied. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that 19% of students in grades 9-12 experienced bullying on school property. This data covers the past 12 months and is nationwide.
Signs a Child is Being Bullied:
Reluctance or refusal to go to school
Sudden changes in friendships
Declining grades
Unexplained injuries or damaged belongings
Withdrawal, sadness, or irritability
unexplained stomachaches or headaches
showing signs of distress on a Sunday night or at the end of a school holiday
torn clothes or missing belongings
appearing upset after using their phone, tablet, computers, etc
How Therapy Helps
Therapy can be very helpful for children who are bullied. It aids not just in healing from the emotional pain. Therapy also helps in rebuilding confidence, developing coping skills, and preventing long-term harm.
Emotional Healing and Validation
Children who are bullied often feel isolated, ashamed, or believe something is "wrong" with them. Therapy offers a safe, non-judgmental space where they can talk openly about what is happening. A therapist can help them:
understand that bullying is not their fault
process painful emotions like fear, anger, sadness, or confusion
Rebuild self-esteem and self-worth
Building Coping and Social Skills
Therapists teach practical tools to help kids handle difficult interactions. Sessions might include:
role-playing to practice assertive responses to teasing or exclusion
stress management techniques (breathing, mindfulness, or grounding)
developing problem-solving and communication skills
learning to seek help from trusted adults when needed
Addressing Anxiety, Depression, or Trauma
Bullying can lead to emotional distress that doesn't always show on the surface. Therapy helps find and treat symptoms such as:
social withdrawal
sleep or appetite changes
anxiety or panic
declining grades or school avoidance
low mood or hopelessness
Supporting Parents and Families
Therapists can often guide parents in how to:
recognize signs of bullying
communicate effectively with schools
support their child's emotional needs at home
model healthy boundaries and confidence
Ultimately, therapy helps children reclaim their voice and confidence. It helps them regain a sense of control and positive self-image. They learn that they are not defined by others' cruelty. Their goal is for them to feel empowered and connected again, both at home and with their peers.
At Dynamic Counseling Solutions LLC, our therapists help children and teens build resilience, self-esteem, and healthy coping skills after bullying. We offer compassionate, individualized support to help children and families heal together.
📞 Phone: (908) 290-5447
📧 Email: info@thedynamiccounseling.com
🌐 Website: www.thedynamiccounseling.com