dren to deal with bullying we should ensure meeting their needs. Many times we are
that we don’t communicate a message that
limited on what facets of a child’s life we can
equates Christianity with weakness.
address in counseling. As a LSSP, I typically
Based on my experience and as
have to focus on difficulties that are directly
reported in the
impacting academic
scientific literature,
performance. As I
some indicators that
have often discov-
As Christian parents, we fre-
(a) children or youth
ered in my career,
quently
encourage
our
children
to
are being bullied or
many children and
show love and kindness towards youth come to school
(b) that they are the
bullies include the
and perform well,
others, and stand up for those
following:
but are still inter-
who
don’t
have
a
voice.
• Children or youth
nally struggling with
who are bullied
outside pressures
may have unexplained injuries, changes (family, personal identity, etc.). Addition-
in appetite, frequent sick days in order
ally, many children benefit from having
to avoid school, personal items that are family members involved in the therapeutic
missing, poor grades, engage in self-
process. Meeting with a psychologist outside
harm, isolate themselves from others,
of the school setting will allow for more time
avoid areas that are part of their normal to focus on all issues impacting the child
routine (e.g., bus stop), experience
and how the family members can support in
changes in sleeping patterns, or be left
the process.
out of social activities.
Question: Do you have any recommen-
• Children or youth who bully others may
dations for locating a Christian psycholo-
exhibit behavioral difficulties across
gist/psychiatrist that specializes in therapy
settings, get into trouble at school, be
for children?
obsessed with popularity, have friends
Dr. Dédé: My first suggestion is to start
who show characteristics of aggressive- with your clergy for recommendations.
ness, live in a violent home, or have
Many churches have become more open to
difficult parental interactions.
addressing the mental and behavioral health
Question: So, do you make referrals for
needs of their congregation and may have
a child to see a psychologist or psychiatrist
someone in house that provides therapy
(child, adolescent, or family)? If so, under
for children and youth. Secondly, you can
what circumstances?
access websites such as Psychology Today
Dr. Dédé: In a school setting, I typically (www.psychologytoday.com) that will allow
refer children and their families to psychol-
you to easily search for Christian mental
ogists if the school based counseling isn’t
and behavioral health providers who work
www.himpowermagazine.com 29