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.

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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)

In order 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

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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 offer 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