The following opinions expressed by Scott M. Erickson are his own and do not officially represent the views of the American Counseling Association or the Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board. The expression of these opinions does not constitute a real or implied counselor-client relationship.

At one point or another, most of us have experienced another person attempting to impose their will upon us, perhaps even violently. Unfortunately, bullying in the home often reaches the realm of abuse in severity. This week, I would like to discuss a few effective strategies to respond to bullying occurring in our schools and workplaces.

Our first responsibility is to muster the courage to directly and clearly request that the bullying behavior stop. In saying this, let me make plain that bullying is not the fault of the person being bullied. I truly wish that we didn’t have to deal with the bad behavior of others. The fact is that others can be hateful and mean; we are left with the responsibility of being more skillful than the bully is being.

When our request for the bullying behavior to stop fails, we work within the systems that have protective safeguards for us. It is here that the pen is truly mightier than the sword. Most workplaces and even some schools have occurrence or incident reports which prompt important details to include. If you are faced with creating your own, bullying reports should include the following: 1) Time and place of the incident; 2) Who was there, including bystanders; 3) What was actually said or done; 4) What your response to this behavior has been in the past — this is where the investment of your first responsibility pays off; 5) What you anticipate those in authority will do to return the workplace or school environment to safety.

Consistently complete these reports for every incident and immediately submit them to the school principal or Human Resources department at your workplace. Make sure to let them know you have kept a copy for your own records and ask them for a timeline by which they will respond to the bullying behavior and get back with you.

We all deserve a safe environment at school and at work. My experience has been that those in authority really do desire to be helpful and the documentation we provide gives them the actionable data to do so.

Scott M. Erickson is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Kemmerer who has provided counseling services in southwest Wyoming for the last eleven years. Erickson’s mission is to “be a dynamic catalyst helping you to empower your best self.” He can be reached at his website www.scottthecounselor.com or his Facebook page: Erickson Counseling & Coaching LLC.