I work in a center of communitty services, and last day, a child of 10 years old attended with their parents, and they explain me the case. The child suffered bullying, in his old schoold and this year, in a new school he need a treatment for try adapt in a new school and try remove from his mind bad memories. How can I start the treatment with the objective that you see in me a support?
I suggest trying to find some skills that the child has to improve to get good relations.
This child will already be in a place of learned helplessness. He/she will need motivational training and self esteem intervention. Identify the things that the child is good at and try to use these to reinforce a sense of well being for this young person. Also train the child in conflict resolution since it is the child who will eventually ensure that the situation does not reoccur in the New school.
I agree with the above but also think the family will have to learn new ways of communication with him because of his personality and self-esteem issues.
It might be useful as well to get some information about what really happened in the old school, in order to clearly define the level of social stress the kid was under:
were the agressors pathological, dangerous bullies who would terrorise almost all kinds of kids, or was he the victim of "occasional" rogues who picked him but not other pupils. The therapeutical approaches would not be the same in these two cases.
I agree with some proposals above; I think it's very useful in these cases to implement Group Psychotherapy with children (similar ages).
I agree that knowledge of last school is helpful. But when you are being bullied you might not be concerned about what is happening with others. Onset and individual vs group bullying will also be important. Age 10 might be a bit young for group therapy on such an emotive issues for a child.
I agree with some of the proposals above and I suggest a multifaceted approach:
1.You noted that you were told about what happened at his old school. I suggest you also (if you have not already done so) find out if he tried to stop the bullying, how, and the consequences of those actions and his resultant feelings. Perhaps he may want to speak openly or draw pictures.
2. At his new school, perhaps you can help him to discover whom he can approach if he is bullied (principal, teacher, counsellor). This information can also help his parents to navigate the school system if the problem occurs in the new school. He may also need to see you and/or the school counsellor regularly to help him cope with the old memories and perhaps feelings of anger and helplessness.
If there is a kind neighbour's child who is in his class or school, perhaps you can encourage his parents to help him interact out of school so that when he is in class he has at least one friend/acquaintance to help him fit into his new class and school.
To further improve self confidence of the child perhaps you can encourage him to join activities (school/community) where he can excel e.g. a sport, reading club, video games. This can also help him to meet like minded individuals and help with the fitting in aspect. It will also be important to commend him when he goes out of his comfort zone to try new, positive activities.
All the best
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