Summer will soon be slipping away and parents and children will be getting ready for back-to-school mode in just a few short weeks. In the midst of shopping for back-to-school supplies, coordinating carpools, schedules and after-school activities, there are so many things to consider in preparing the entire family for a successful school year.
One issue parents and children may be concerned about as they begin preparing to return to school is bullying. The latest edition of Squirrel Hill magazine features an article on this important issue, addressing how new technology and social media are changing the face of bullying and how Pittsburgh area schools are implementing new targeted bullying prevention programs.
JF&CS’s Squirrel Hill Psychological Services therapists Wendy Levin-Shaw, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and Barbara Wollman, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) speak to the effect bullying behaviors can have on bullies, bullying victims and parents, and encourage administrators, parents and students to work together at home and in school, suggesting that in some cases, therapeutic intervention can help everyone involved work together.
Constructive dialogue between parents and children can often help address and diffuse bullying incidents for both bullies and those who are being bullied, but sometimes a professional is needed, either to aid in mediation, to help strategize communication and coping techniques or to help children deal with negative feelings related to being bullied. At Squirrel Hill Psychological Services, we are ready to help. If you or your child need counseling related to bullying or any other back-to-school concerns, please call us at 412-422-7200.
We hope you’ll take a moment to read this article, and talk with your children about this important issue to ensure the upcoming school year is a safe and happy one.