The counsellor must also talk to the perpetrator and plan activities. Working with the perpetrator is the only way to get them to change their inappropriate behaviours. Important elements of a counselling discussion with the perpetrator are:
– the aim of the discussion is for the perpetrator to understand the reasons for his/her behaviour and to accept responsibility for the violence committed
– the interview is carried out by the head teacher or the school counselling service (the head teacher should be present)
– a record of the interview
– notification to parents
– report to the police or social work centre, if necessary
– referral to external professional institutions if necessary
The use of behavioural and behavioural-cognitive approaches to counselling the perpetrator is effective. Starting from this approach, we set school/classroom rules that apply in dealing with others. In doing so, the rules must be clear and concrete.
For younger children, we mainly use behavioural strategies:
– a calming corner, where the child goes when he is tense or on the verge of an outburst of anger
– an agreed sign to alert others that the child is upset or furious
– training in different anger management skills
An important goal of treating and working with the perpetrator of peer violence is to accepting the consequences of their behaviour.
RESOURCES AND LITERATURE:
- PROTOKOLI ZA RAVNANJE. MEDVRSTNIŠKO NASILJE: https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MVI/SRI/NASILJE/Protokol_medvrstnisko_nasilje.pdf
- KAKO DO SPODBUDNEGA IN VARNEGA UČNEGA OKOLJA?
- https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MVI/SRI/NASILJE/Kako-do-spodbudnega-in-varnega-ucnega-okolja.pdf
- NAVODILA S PRIROČNIKOM ZA OBRAVNAVO MEDVRSTNIŠKEGA NASILJA V VZGOJNOIZOBRAŽEVALNIH ZAVODIH: https://www.zrss.si/digitalnaknjiznica/navodila-medvrstnisko-nasilje-viz-2016/files/assets/common/downloads/publication.pdf