Therapeutic Interventions to Address Bullying Behaviors

Abstract

Youth who reside in residential mental health facilities often present with trauma histories that significantly impact their ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships. These youth were not provided with healthy role models or learning in their environments due to the abuse so are lacking in their understanding of what a healthy relationship is with peers, adults, and family members. At Cunningham (CCH), a music therapist, CTRS, and the author developed an anti-bullying program using the APIED process to help our youth improve on a common goal: “To improve the ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships.” This program was developed through access to websites and resources that address bullying. Results tend to support program effectiveness.