Mean Girls: Relational Aggression and Cyberbullying in Adolescents
Exclusion, rumor, and social ranking can do more damage to an adolescent than a physical fight, and adults rarely see it happening. Framed by the film Mean Girls and offered for National Bullying Prevention Month, this two-hour course gives licensed counselors a working framework for recognizing relational aggression and cyberbullying, distinguishing them from ordinary peer conflict, and screening targeted youth for depression, anxiety, school avoidance, and suicide risk with the PHQ-A and the NIMH ASQ. You will learn evidence-informed approaches for youth who bully and for bystanders (participant-role research, KiVa, restorative practices), how to coach parents on monitoring, evidence preservation, school reporting, and platform tools, how to respond to sextortion, and how to navigate confidentiality with minors, parental access, and the limits of mandated reporting.
2
CE Hours
8
Modules
15
Quiz Questions
2
Est. Minutes
What you'll learn
- Define relational aggression and cyberbullying, and distinguish them from ordinary peer conflict.
- Assess the mental health impact on targeted youth, including links to depression, anxiety, school avoidance, and suicide risk.
- Apply interventions for youth who bully, bystanders, and targets.
- Guide parents through digital monitoring, school reporting, and escalation.
- Navigate confidentiality with minors, parental rights, and mandated reporting limits in bullying cases.
Who it's for
Licensed mental health professionals (LPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs, NCCs) and school-based counselors who work with adolescents, their families, or the schools that serve them.
Approval & credit
CounselorReady is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP #7760). This course awards 2 NBCC-approved CE hours; a certificate is issued on completion. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CounselorReady is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.