Issues Related to Bullying

When is it time to get help?

If you suspect your child is being bullied, you should have a conversation with them to see how things are going at school, or on the team, or in the band, etc. Ask them if they are getting along with all their friends, both in person at school and online. Talk with their teachers and school staff if necessary. Although school authorities can take steps to stop the bullying once it has started, the psychological scars can linger long after the abuse occurred and if your child is experiencing the emotional fallout from bullying, it’s time to seek help.

Treatment methods for dealing with the stress from bullying

How their experience with bullying has impacted them will determine the best therapy method. For example, if they are experiencing anxiety, then treatments for anxiety will be best. The therapist will talk with them, then determine the best treatment method for their unique circumstance.  Treatments may include:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to treatment that focuses on how people’s thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence their behaviour and how they perceive themselves.
• Person Centered Therapy differs from more traditional therapeutic approaches in the belief that, while the therapist has expertise in many areas, the client is the expert on themselves and their lived experiences. People are essentially trustworthy and have a vast potential for understanding themselves while also being able to ultimately resolve their own problems when guided properly.
• Eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is defined by EMDR Canada as an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma and many other mental health problems that utilized bilateral eye stimulation or somatic responding.
• Solution focused therapy views people as inherently strong and resilient, and capable of creating change and discovering solutions to their everyday problems.
• Play therapy refers to a large number of treatment methods, all of which make use of one or more of the natural benefits of play, using toys, dolls, games, etc. Play allows children a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows them to express their true thought and feelings in ways best suited to their developmental level.

Adult bullying

Unfortunately, bullying is not something that is only experienced by children. Adults also bully and are victims of bullying in the workplace, in relationships, and in families. Workplace bullying, harassment, and discrimination is illegal in Alberta. This is great news to stop bullying and improve psychological wellness in the workplace, but sometimes the damage is already done by time it’s realized for what it is.

Symptoms in adults are similar to those experienced in children – low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, poor work performance, withdrawal from others, misplaced aggression, etc.

Adults will benefit by seeing a therapist to deal with the trauma of bullying.

Learn more about workplace bullying, harassment, and violence here.

Learn more about abuse here.