Support for Girls Facing School Bullying & Harassment

Understanding School Bullying and Harassment And Where Girls Can Find Support

Introduction

Schools should be safe places where young people learn, grow, and build friendships. Yet for many girls, school becomes a place of silent suffering. Bullying and sexual harassment are not rare, distant problems. They are real, painful experiences that affect far more girls than most people realise. This blog is here to provide support for girls facing school bullying and harassment, helping them understand it’s not their fault, showing parents and schools how they can help, and exploring healing approaches such as NLP and hypnotherapy.

What School Bullying and Harassment Look Like for Girls

Bullying comes in many forms: verbal, emotional, physical, and increasingly, online. When someone deliberately tries to hurt, humiliate, isolate, or control you, that’s bullying. Sexual harassment, meanwhile, includes unwanted comments about your body, inappropriate touching, being pressured into sending photos, or being followed or stared at in ways that make you feel uncomfortable.

Sometimes it’s disguised as “just banter.” Sometimes, even your friends might join in. And sometimes, people who should protect you—like teachers or classmates—ignore it or even dismiss your concerns.

You might hear things like:

• “You’re overreacting.”
• “Boys will be boys.”
• “Well, what were you wearing?”
• “You must’ve done something to provoke them.”

But let’s be very clear: none of that makes it your fault.

Why Girls Stay Silent About Bullying and Harassment

There are so many reasons girls don’t speak up about sexual harassment and bullying:

• Fear of not being believed
• Fear of being called a liar or attention-seeker
• Fear of getting someone in trouble
• Worry that people will say it’s your fault
• Not knowing what to do or who to tell
• Embarrassment or shame

If you’ve ever thought any of these things—you’re not alone. Many girls stay silent for months, even years, before telling someone what they’ve experienced. But the longer you stay silent, the more the pain festers. Silence helps the bully—not you.

How to Get Support for Girls Facing School Bullying and Harassment

1. Tell Someone You Trust
   This could be a parent, teacher, school counsellor, coach, auntie, or older sibling. Choose someone who listens and takes you seriously. If you’re scared, write it down first and hand them the note. You deserve to be heard.
2. Document Everything
   If it’s safe, keep a record of what’s happening. Write down dates, names, places, what was said or done, and how it made you feel. If it’s online, take screenshots. These details can help others understand what’s going on and show that this isn’t just a one-time thing.
3. Know Your Rights
   Sexual harassment and bullying are violations of school policies—and in some cases, UK law. Every school in the UK is legally required to address bullying and protect students from harassment under the Education Act 2002 and the Equality Act 2010.
4. Don’t Let Shame Silence You
   If someone harasses or bullies you, it says something about them, not you. Their behaviour is the problem, not your clothes, your body, or your personality.

Parent Support for Girls Experiencing Bullying

When a child tells you they are being bullied or harassed, your reaction matters more than you might realise. Here’s how parents can support their child:

1. Believe Them—Fully and Immediately
   Don’t ask what they were wearing or why they didn’t say anything sooner. Thank them for telling you. Validate their feelings. “I’m so proud of you for telling me. This isn’t your fault.”
2. Stay Calm but Take Action
   It’s natural to feel rage, sadness, or helplessness—but your child needs you to be strong and steady. Contact the school, follow up in writing, and escalate if needed.
3. Advocate, Don’t Dismiss
   Keep logs of all communication. Insist on regular updates. If the school is unresponsive, you can go higher—to the board of governors, Ofsted, or even seek legal advice.
4. Give Them a Safe Space to Talk
   Reassure your child that they can come to you about anything, anytime. Don’t push them to “just move on.” Listen. Support. Let them heal at their pace.
5. Seek Therapeutic Help
   Children may benefit from hypnotherapy or NLP techniques that help them rebuild confidence, manage anxiety, and reframe negative beliefs formed from bullying trauma.

What Can Schools Do Better?

Schools have a duty of care to protect all students. A strong, zero-tolerance approach to bullying and sexual harassment should be at the heart of school culture.

Key Actions Schools Should Take:

• Clear Policies & Reporting Systems
  Students must know what counts as bullying and harassment, and how to report it safely. Anonymous reporting tools can help.
• Regular Staff Training
  Teachers must understand trauma, unconscious bias, gender dynamics, and how to spot subtle signs of harassment.
• Curriculum That Addresses Consent and Boundaries
  Sex and relationships education must be age-appropriate and reflect real-world issues girls face—including online harassment and body shaming.
• Mental Health Support
  Accessible counselling services, peer support groups, and well-being check-ins should be routine—not reactive.

How NLP and Hypnotherapy Can Help a Child Who’s Been Bullied or Harassed

When a young person experiences bullying or sexual harassment, it can impact their mental health, self-esteem, trust in others, and sense of safety. Many children develop symptoms like:

• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Sleep disturbances
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Fear of going to school
• Feelings of shame or low self-worth

This is where NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and hypnotherapy can offer deep support.

NLP for Children

NLP helps children understand and reframe the stories they tell themselves. A girl who was bullied might think, “I’m weak,” “Nobody believes me,” or “It was my fault.” NLP gently helps her change that internal dialogue to something more empowering, like:

• “I’m brave for speaking up.”
• “I deserve respect.”
• “What happened to me is not who I am.”

Using imagination, metaphors, and storytelling, NLP helps children build resilience, assertiveness, and positive self-talk.

Hypnotherapy for Children

Hypnotherapy creates a relaxed state where the child can connect with their inner resources and imagination. This isn’t like stage hypnosis—it’s gentle, safe, and child-centred.

For example, the therapist might guide the child through a visualization where they meet a “Confidence Fairy” who gives them tools to stand up for themselves. Or a magic carpet ride that helps them let go of shame and remember their worth.

Hypnotherapy can help with:

• Releasing trauma
• Reducing anxiety
• Increasing sleep quality
• Restoring confidence
• Building emotional regulation

A Message to Every Girl Who’s Been Bullied or Harassed

You matter.
Your voice matters.
You deserve to be safe.
You deserve to be respected.

No one has the right to touch you without consent. No one has the right to comment on your body. No one has the right to make you feel small or afraid.

You do not have to carry this alone.

Speak up. Reach out. There are adults who will believe you. There are friends who will stand beside you. And there are tools—like therapy, NLP, and hypnotherapy—that can help you heal.

Final Thoughts

Bullying and sexual harassment in schools are urgent issues—not just for the girls affected, but for all of us. Schools and families must work together to create a culture of respect, safety, and support. And every girl deserves to grow up knowing she is worthy, powerful, and heard.

Whether you are a student, a parent, a teacher, or a therapist—you can make a difference.

Let’s believe girls. Let’s support them. Let’s remind them:

“It’s not your fault—and you are never alone.”