Our Child Is A Bully

We have a big problem with our 12 year old son who has become a regular bully at school. We have been called in to meet with the principal and the school counselor and they are both recommending that we take our son to therapy so that this issue can be addressed. My husband and I are not big fans of therapy and we are wondering what your thoughts are on or about bullying?

Sometimes a child or young adult that is using bulling techniques as a way to assert themselves or gain attention may be mimicking a behavior of someone or something that they see in their home. If this is the case then the child would not perceive this behavior as something that is unacceptable. If it were my child I would spend some time with him or her and gain a better understanding of how they perceive their own behavior toward others at school. It is possible that your child has some misplaced anger or frustration about something and is acting this out as a means of working it out for himself. The most important thing here is to begin an open dialogue with your son about how he is feeling with the hope that he can express his thoughts and feelings to you, his parents and you will receive them with an open mind and an open heart. If he is in fact acting out a behavioral pattern that he is exposed to at home, it may be that you, your husband and other family members could seek out some outside assistance for yourselves.