Bullying Worksheets

If you’re searching for a bullying worksheet to help your client recognize and cope with bullying, you’re in the right place. This article describes how to recognize bullying in young therapy clients and includes a free bullying worksheets PDF.

Bullying continues to be a concerning issue among children and teenage therapy clients. 

Read on to learn common signs of bullying, therapy activities to help victims and aggressors, and a free downloadable bullying worksheet PDF to save to your electronic health record (EHR) for sharing with young clients.

What is bullying?

Bullying happens when someone repeatedly and purposely tries to hurt, scare, or control another person because they see them as vulnerable. 

There are several different types of bullying, such as:

• Physical: Hitting or pushing someone, or damaging their belongings. For example, shoving them on the playground or breaking their toy. 
• Verbal: Using hurtful words, making threats, or name-calling. For example, repeatedly making fun of another student’s clothes or hairstyle, or calling them “weird” or “ugly.”
• Social: Spreading rumors, leaving someone out, or embarrassing them in front of their peers. For example, claiming that a classmate cheated on a test without evidence and excluding them from their lunch group. 
• Cyberbullying: This is the kind of bullying that takes place online through social media platforms, email, and text messages. 

Bullying can cause physical, emotional, and/or mental harm to its victims. Stopping it early is important to foster kind and supportive spaces for everyone. Bullying worksheets can be helpful tools in combating the harmful effects of bullying.

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Recognizing bullying in young clients

Research shows a strong connection between bullying and depression in young people.

According to one study, kids and teens who experienced bullying were nearly three times more likely to have depression. In addition, those who bullied others had a higher risk of depression, and kids who both bullied others and experienced bullying were the most at risk. 

That being said, bullying can have a serious effect on a client’s mental and emotional health. 

Some common signs of bullying include: 

• Avoiding school or any social activity
• The child appears to be more anxious or irritable than usual
• The child comes home missing personal items or has unexplained injuries (bruises or scratches)
• Changes in their sleep and eating habits
• A sudden drop in their grades
• Feeling bad about themselves (low self-esteem) 

Once an adult notices these changes in a child, it’s essential to step in to stop the bullying. The child may need therapy or counseling as well to cope with the impact of bullying. 

Types of bullying therapy activities

Bullying therapy activities guide both the victim and aggressor in meeting their emotional needs and making positive changes in their behavior. 

While activities for the victim focus on boosting self-esteem, building resilience, and coping with the trauma or anxiety from bullying, activities for the bully aim to build empathy and help them understand the effects of their actions. The bully also learns to see things from the victim's perspective and works on managing their anger.

Specific types of bullying therapy activities include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises to identify and challenge negative thought patterns
• Art or play therapy for younger clients
• Role-playing for both to practice responding to different bullying scenarios
• Mindfulness practices to calm down and feel less stressed
• Group therapy sessions where both share their experiences and practice social skills

Anti-bullying worksheets can be an effective part of these activities. Clients may use bullying worksheets to reflect on their experiences and emotions so they can become aware of how bullying affects them and other people.  

Bullying worksheets for kids are also an opportunity to explore healthy coping mechanisms while setting personal goals for real behavior change. 

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How to use the bullying worksheet

Here's how therapists or facilitators can use each bullying worksheet to support clients:

• Distinguish between bullying and non-bullying behaviors by analyzing various scenarios in a bullying scenarios worksheet.
• Explore their thoughts and emotions related to the bullying incident and identify coping strategies they are willing to try.
• Those who engage in bullying can identify how their actions have impacted the victim and brainstorm alternative behaviors. 

The bullying worksheets PDF can be completed in both therapy sessions and at home, with a therapist, or independently. Friends or peer groups may also use the bullying worksheet PDF to discuss bullying experiences and support each other.

Sources

• Ye Z, Wu D, He X, Ma Q, Peng J, et al. (2023). Meta-analysis of the relationship between bullying and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.

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