As summer ends and the new school year begins, we turn our
attention to issues faced by our children. One that is gaining
a lot of attention is ‘bullying.’ This form of
interpersonal abuse has been tied to school phobias, truancy,
as well as anxiety and depression for the victims. Those with
a childhood history of being a bully may grow into adults
with violent behavior.
We hope you will find this informative and will consider
forwarding it to friends and family with school-age children.
In His grace,
Dr. Joe Verga
Executive Director, ACC |
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Bullying When you hear the word
“bullying,” the image that flashes to mind is
probably the big kid picking on the little kid…probably
on the playground or the way to school…there’s
probably shoving…probably loss—of a toy, money,
or a lunchbox. This scenario does happen in real life as
well as the movies, but bullying is often much less visible.
It can be verbal, gestured, extortion, or exclusionary.
In our wired age, there is now also e-bullying thanks to
text messaging, Facebook, and YouTube.Read
More
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|  What’s
a Parent to Do?—An Interview with Dr. Heath Greene
How does a parent distinguish between
an ordinary conflict and bullying?
I would have to say that the short answer is time and severity.
There are some clues which parents need to look for in order
to evaluate a situation.
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Is there a power differential? Is one child a much more
intense personality which could indicate bullying? Or are
the problems back and forth between the two?
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Is there a pattern? Are you always seeing or hearing
the same things?
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Anything which is very severe, physically or verbally,
even one time, needs to be addressed.Read
More
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|  Self-Belief—Today
and Tomorrow
“Our self-image creates the infrastructure
through which we respond to the world,” says researcher
George Barna (Revolution, p.74). If that self-image, the vision
we have of ourselves as something fearfully and wonderfully
made by the Creator of the universe becomes distorted, what
then? Associates’ therapist, Teresa Tindall, LPC, works
with both children and adults whose self-belief has been damaged.
Read
More
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Additional thoughts
on bullying from Dr. Heath Greene—
In addition to school, a power
differential may be seen between neighborhood children. A
child may decide to imitate someone’s inappropriate
behavior because they are “bigger and older.”
This can be a teaching opportunity for parents to describe
growing up in terms of positive behaviors and life skills.
Parents may also participate in play in order to model healthy
interactions rather than only referee.
If you missed the September
5th interviews with Dr. Heath Greene and Teresa Tindall, you
will find them archived at www.wbfj.fm/interviews.htm
Next month:
Wednesday, October 3rd, 8:30-9AM on WBFJ—89.3
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| Book Reviews
Help! My Child is Being Bullied
Dr. Bill Maier
Tyndale House Publishers, 2006
Describes indicators that your child is being bullied, how
to help your child if he/she is, as well as what to do if
your child is the bully.
No More Bullies
For Those Who Wound or are Wounded
Frank Peretti
Thomas Nelson, 2003
Frank Peretti shares his deeply personal story of growing
up different and the persecution he suffered because of it.
Shows how we all, victims and bullies alike, can find both
healing and forgiveness from the anguish and torment associated
with the growing epidemic of bullying.
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| Apology Languages Interview
A 2-part interview with co-authors of The
Five Languages of Apology, Dr. Gary Chapman and Associates’
therapist, Dr. Jennifer Thomas, was aired on August 14th and
15th on Focus on the Family radio.
If you missed it, it can be heard online.
Click
Here.
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Creativity and Self-Care
Research has shown that involvement in something
creative, regardless of type, helps to reduce stress and strengthen
the immune system. Associates’ therapist, Rebecca Lowry,
LPC, who also holds a certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy
from Appalachian State University, was recently interviewed
for the August edition of A! Magazine for the Arts
on the value of Expressive Arts Therapy and how she integrates
it into her clinical work.
Rebecca Lowry is part of our Speakers Bureau.
For more information on her presentations, contact us at heather@christiancounseling.org.
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| Golf Anyone?
It has been nearly a year since Associates
in Christian Counseling began its partnership with Surry Baptist
Association. With this unique affiliation, an Associates therapist
provides the clinical services at the Surry Christian Counseling
Center in Mt. Airy.
If you love golf and investing in someone’s
life, consider SCCC 9th Annual Golf Tournament!
9th Annual Surry Christian
Counseling Center Golf Tournament
Featuring
Patterson Automotive Group
Hole-in-One Contest
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Pine Ridge Classic Golf Course
Haystack Road, Mount Airy
For more information,
call
336-789-7405
All donations support the
Client Assistance Fund for faith-based Christian counseling
of men, women, children, and families regardless of his/her
race, color, age, denomination or ability to pay.
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| A
Thought |
| The
childhood shows the man
As morning shows the day.
John Milton,
Paradise Regained
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Fast Facts |
15-30%
of students have either been bullied or bullied a classmate
160,000 students per day stay home from school because
of worry they might be bullied
From a 2005 study, National Education Association
88% of junior high and high school students have
witnessed bullying in their schools
From a study,
www. safeyouth.org/
scripts/teen/
bullying.asp
70% of teachers believe they “almost always” intervene;
Only 25% of students believe teachers “almost always”
intervene.
From “Stop Bullying Now
”www.Mentalhealth.
samhsa.gov
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