Bullying Counseling in Pooler, GA—Counselors and Therapists in Pooler

Bullying is something no one should go through. And yet at least 1 In 5 students go through it. With the growing presence of cyberbullying, those statistics are only going up. Humans are social creatures, and the societal pressure to fit in is at it’s worse in schools. The impact of bullying can carry far beyond classroom years and go far deeper than a little discomfort during the day.

Thriveworks Pooler is fighting to reverse the trend of bullying by providing comprehensive, empathetic support for children and adolescents who have experienced bullying. Going through bullying is hard enough, they shouldn’t have to go through it alone.

What Is Bullying?

According to Stopbullying.gov, “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.”

The two key ideas here are unwanted and power imbalance. Bullying is never desired, making it a lot different than just joking around with friends. The people bullying will use a power imbalance- whether that is with knowledge, popularity, physical strength, or any other way they can beat the person subjected to bullying.

Thriveworks Pooler is here for the students being bullied and the students doing the bullying. Often, it’s a cycle, and the ones bullying were once bullied themselves. Both students can have lasting negative affects if the bullying is left unaddressed.

It can be hard to figure out if your student is being bullied. So much goes on into the decision of telling an adult, what to tell them, and if action should be taken. Thriveworks Pooler Bullying Counseling has seen over and over again that it is always worth to try out counseling if your student seems at all unhappy or stressed about life.

But there are some warning signs to look for. In general, there are three different types of bullying:

• Verbal Bullying- teasing, name calling, threatening, inappropriate sexual comments, or taunting
• Social Bullying- spreading rumors, ignoring them on purpose, making sure they don’t have any friends, embarrassing them in public
• Physical Bullying- hitting, kicking, shoving, punching, spitting, taking or breaking someone’s things, making rude or threatening hand gestures
• Cyberbullying can be a combination of verbal and social bullying and takes place on the internet. It’s particularly rampant on social media.

Is Bullying Counseling Worth It?

If you’re on the edge on either coming to counseling or taking a loved one to counseling, Thriveworks Pooler always suggests giving us a call. We can walk you through next steps and figure out if we are right for you. There’s never a reason that is too big or too small that should bar you from coming to counseling!

Sometimes the misunderstanding that bullying is just apart of growing up is perpetuated. Research shows us that this isn’t entirely true. It is common, but it should not become the standard. Victims of bullying are at risk for mental health disorders years down the road and are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than their peers.

It’s important that we listen to our students when they talk about bullying. Some red flags that might suggest bullying is taking place include:

• Unexplainable injuries
• Missing food, money, books, or school supplies
• Often complains of headaches or stomach aches, maybe feels sick often or even fakes sickness
• Avoids going to school or acts strange certain times of the day
• Changes in eating habits
• Changes in sleeping habits or frequent nightmares
• Declining grades
• Loss of interest in school
• Sudden loss of friends or an increased effort to avoid social situations
• Decreased self esteem
• Feelings of helplessness
• Talking about suicide, harming oneself, or running away from home

These are just a few of the signs that could accompany bullying. With Cyberbullying, the symptoms are wider than ever. Thriveworks Pooler is here for your student no matter what the situation. They deserve to feel safe in school and in life so they can have the right environment to grow and thrive in.

What Will Happen at a Bullying Counseling Session?

Thriveworks Pooler Bullying Counseling knows that every case of bullying is entirely unique, which is why every session will also be entirely unique. Depending on a student’s symptoms, experiences, and personality we will use different techniques and talk about different things. Afterall, you are the most important person in the room during a counseling session!

Some examples of what we might do in a counseling session for Bullying include:

• Build confidence
• Group therapy for those who want it
• Address symptoms like anxiety and depression
• Empower you to stand up for yourself in healthy ways
• Work with family to educate and create a supportive environment
• Build self-esteem and grow a more positive self-image

The specifics will vary from session to session, but Thriveworks Pooler will always be fighting for you and your student. Bullying is a terrifying, unfair experience. But it doesn’t have to last with you forever. You are stronger than these experiences, and Thriveworks Pooler will walk with you until you the storm passes.