How to spot a victim

• Students may come to your office frequently, often under the guise of something else than bullying
• Student may exhibit signs of depression and anxiety
• Students who are bullied will frequently miss school because of it
• Student may avoid lunchroom, recess, or other places where bullies may potentially be
• Student may blame themselves for their social standing
• Students may lash out as others
• Students who are victims may sit by themselves at lunch
• Be  aware of students who are no longer spending time with other students they once considered friends

How to spot a bully

• Student is referred to counselor office frequently for conflict-related issues
• Student lashes out at other students
• Students may have difficulties getting along with school staff
• Students will sometimes complain of problems at home
• Other students report that the student is spreading rumors

*Remember, relational/social bullying is harder to spot than physical and verbal bullying, but counselors must take special note of students who are engaged in it!

Preventing bullying

• Encourage your school to create a school-wide conflict resolution program
• Take a proactive role in creating a positive school climate
• Work with administrators, teachers, and support staffs to educate them on how to spot the signs of potential bullying

Responding to bullying

• If you see it, stop it immediately. Ask students involved if they wanted to come and talk to you. If not, hold a very brief conversation with them about their behavior.
• Keep your office as a safe zone where students who are bullied can go
• Hold small group or individual sessions with bullies and/or victims of bullying
• For bullies, these can be sessions about resolving conflicts in a positive way
• For victims, these may include teaching them how to respond to bullying or working with them if they have emotional issues due to bullying

Resources

• The government’s official website on bullying provides resources for educators, students, and parents regarding bullying.
• StopBullyingNow run by Stan Davis, who is a researcher on bullying and a founding member of the International Bullying Prevention Association.
• An article by the National Association for School Psychologists that focuses on bullying and intervention for school psychologists and counselors
• “The Buzz on Bullying” by the American School Counselor Association. Provides facts and information on bullying.
• Cyberbullying: What Counselors Need to Know by Sheri Bauman.
• This book, published by the American Counseling Association, was written for counselors and other professions in which cyberbullying is a relevant topic. Dr. Bauman is an internationally renowned researcher on cyberbullying and a member of the Fund for Civility, Respect, and Understanding’s Anti-Bullying Task Force.
• KidsHealth provides information for students about what school counselors can do to help them alleviate problems with bullying. Provides a good resource for how counselors can advocate for students.