Teen Bullying

Bullying is an age-old problem faced by Ottawa teenagers and youth, but the nature of bullying has changed drastically. Now, bullying comes at us through our social media and digital devices in the form of cyberbullying and this change brings a host of new challenges that today’s youth are forced to contend with. Cyberbullying over social media is simultaneously impossible to escape, and broadcast publicly to one’s entire network of friends. It is more difficult to deal with, and harder to escape from, than any form of bullying parents are likely to be familiar with. Capital Choice Counselling has the tools that Ottawa teenagers and youth can use to cope with bullying in all its forms. We can help them deal with the struggle of being a victim, but also teach them how to reduce the amount of bullying in their life by stopping bullying all together.

Peer Pressure

Teenagers and youth are connected with their peers on a different level than their parents or families. These relationships become central to our identity in our youth, and can sometimes be detrimental to us through the form of peer pressure. Each one of us during this stage of our lives are making important choices about who we want to be in life, and much of the identity we are shaping is influenced by the people we surround ourselves with. Sometimes we can be asked or peer pressured into making decisions that we are uncomfortable with or unsure of. Sometimes Ottawa youth make mistakes, and make decisions they don’t understand the consequences of. In either case, Capital Choice Counselling Ottawa recommends booking counselling sessions to discuss or confront peer pressure, so that you or your child can make these decisions with the added perspective of a trained professional.

Cyberbullying

If you’re the parent of a teen or child, you’ve surely heard the term “cyberbullying,” but might have some doubt or questions as to what exactly this means. The Cyberbullying Research Center defines it as, “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” Far different from the playground-variety bullying seen in previous generations, cyberbullying is said to be much worse as it tends to escalate quickly and goes to extremes generally not seen with in-person interactions. Victims of cyberbullying feel the emotional damage and scars much more deeply. If you believe your son or daughter is caught up in cyberbullying, the best thing you can do is speak openly with them about what is taking place. Listen actively and be empathetic. Once you’ve assessed the situation, we encourage you to speak with one of our trained experts.