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.
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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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Teen Bullying FAQs
Teen bullying is a type of aggressive behaviour that is intentional, repeated, and involves an imbalance of power between the perpetrator and victim.
Bullying can take many forms, including physical, verbal, social, and cyberbullying. It often occurs in a peer group setting and can seriously affect the victim’s mental health and well-being.
Bullying behaviours include things like spreading rumours, exclusion, name-calling, physical assault, and online harassment. It is important to take steps to prevent and address teen bullying, and to provide support to victims and perpetrators alike.
There are several reasons why teenagers may become bullies. These can include jealousy or envy of other’s talents or friendships, a desire to feel in control, a lack of self-esteem, anger management issues, narcissistic tendencies, and trying to get attention when feeling isolated or lonely.
It is important to note that bullies can come from any background or level of education, and they often bully with the help of a group of peers.
Signs of teen bullying may include
- unexplained injuries
- missing or damaged belongings
- changes in appetite or physical complaints
- avoiding school or social activities
- reduced interest in school or poor grades
- exhibiting anxious or withdrawn behaviours.
It’s important to talk to your teen if you notice any of these signs and determine if they are experiencing any type of bullying behaviour.
If your teen is being bullied, you should listen to them, contact the school, document the incidents, seek professional help if needed, and encourage self-care.
Providing support is important, as bullying can seriously affect your teen’s mental health and well-being.
If you find out your teenager is bullying others, talk to them and make it clear the behaviour needs to stop.
You can contact the school, consider seeking professional help, monitor their behaviour, and work together to come up with a plan to prevent the behaviour from happening again.
Addressing the behaviour is important, as bullying can seriously affect everyone involved.
Counselling can help teenagers cope with bullying by providing a safe space to process their feelings and learn coping strategies. A trained therapist may use techniques like role-playing, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioural therapy to improve communication, self-esteem, and overall mental health.
Through bullying therapy, teens can gain tools to navigate these challenges and improve their well-being.
Contact Ottawa Youth Counselling to learn more about how we can help if your teen is a victim of bullying.
Counselling can effectively address teenage bullying by identifying underlying issues and developing alternative strategies. A trained therapist may use techniques like cognitive-behavioural therapy to improve communication and emotional management and promote empathy.
With guidance, teens can learn to treat others with respect and become positive influences in their communities.
Contact Ottawa Youth Counselling to learn more about how we can help if your teen is perpetrator of bullying.