Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that teens who have experienced bullying are at a much higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. One of the treatment options that help bullied teens most is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT can provide the guidance a teen needs to deal with the mental effects of bullying by teaching them coping techniques and improving thought patterns.
Call Imagine Boise at 888.597.2807 to learn more about how CBT interventions for bullying can help your teen.
What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a psychological treatment that can help with a variety of issues, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Eating disorders
- Alcohol and drug use disorders
It’s a kind of talk therapy that shows people how to manage problems by changing how they behave and think. CBT focuses on the idea that psychological problems stem partly from negative ways of thinking and unhelpful behavioral patterns.
It allows people to break down problems they face so they can tackle them in more manageable ways. It focuses on the present instead of on past experiences. CBT is a highly structured form of therapy that gives the patient the right exposure to healthy thinking techniques and behaviors.
CBT and Bullying
CBT for bullying involves techniques to help teens change negative thinking patterns resulting from their traumatic experiences. These include learning to recognize distorted thoughts arising from trauma and processing the experience to be able to move forward in a positive way.
Because of their negative experiences, bullied teens often do not recognize their self-defeating thoughts or their negative coping mechanisms. CBT interventions for bullying can help with this recognition.
CBT allows teens to gain more understanding of the motivations of others while also learning to cope with difficult situations by using problem-solving skills. It can lead teens to develop more self-confidence.
Changing behavioral patterns is an essential part of CBT for bullying. To do this, specialists encourage teens to face their fears in a safe, healthy manner.
An important part of CBT is using role-playing to prepare for difficult interactions. It can help reduce stress levels and allow the teen to understand other people’s language and behavior and respond appropriately.
CBT is well suited for teens because it focuses on identifying and solving a problem in a structured way. It’s also a shorter treatment choice than other therapeutic options. By teaching teens techniques on how to relax their minds and bodies as they respond to difficult situations, CBT offers tools they can use for the rest of their lives.
Teens also receive in-session and at-home exercises to teach them how to handle stressful and frightening situations.
CBT and Group Sessions
Both CBT and group therapy sessions can encourage bullied teens to learn how to interact with others in positive ways. CBT makes it possible for them to know how to respond to interactions, even negative ones, in more productive ways. Further, group therapy provides a safe space in which teens can practice using those new tools.
Choose CBT Interventions for Bullying at Imagine Boise
Bullied teens have a high risk of developing mental health concerns, but treatment options like cognitive-behavioral therapy can have a significant positive impact.
Imagine Boise offers CBT for bullying to adolescents 12 to 17 years old. We provide group and individual sessions, ensuring that teens feel safe and supported. We offer our CBT program as part of partial hospitalization or outpatient treatment.
Call Imagine Boise today at 888.597.2807 to learn more about CBT, bullying, and how to help your teen, or use our online form for a simple way to reach a staff member.