SITUATION  

A working mother recently sought support through the Child and Family Wellbeing plan for her 12-year-old daughter, who had been experiencing bullying at school. The family had just relocated to the mother’s home country, where her daughter faced language barriers. Unlike her peers, the daughter is fluent in English, but not in Spanish. 

This language challenge led to verbal taunts and physical harassment from other children. Faced with these mental and physical challenges, the girl’s confidence dropped. In addition to these problems with playmates, and despite having a close relationship with her mother, the girl has a distant relationship with her father. This strained relationship served as a factor in her struggles to form new friendships.  

ACTION 

According to the mother, the youngster had no prior counseling sessions or diagnoses. A pediatric assessment confirmed that all developmental milestones were within normal ranges. In response to the mother’s concerns, the clinician provided compassionate support and validation to her, addressing her worries about her daughter’s wellbeing. 

Psychoeducation was offered on the dynamics of bullying and its impact on children’s mental health. The clinician normalized the concerns related to the adjustment process, emphasizing that time and support are crucial during such transitions. To help the girl cope with her experiences, the clinician recommended in-person counseling, which would allow her to explore her feelings and develop effective coping strategies. 

RESULTS 

The girl engaged well in the counseling sessions, which focused on building resilience and enhancing her coping mechanisms. Through therapeutic interventions, she learned strategies to manage her responses to bullying and to build her self-confidence. The sessions also worked on improving her social skills, which would aid her in forming new friendships, despite the language barrier.  

The clinician helped the girl think about how to articulate her experiences and emotions, which would cultivate a sense of empowerment. The clinician also reminded the mother of the 24/7/365 availability of the EAP services, should the mother want further support for her needs or the other members of the family.