The counselor in Brand-New Emily is pretty much clueless, huh? I purposely made that character lame because doing so moved my plot forward. But in real life, school counselors are way smarter than the fictional Mrs. Moore.

Bullying has gotten a lot more vicious since I was in middle school, and the rise of technology has made it easier for bullies to do their work. But there are ways to protect yourself, even if you don’t have a celebrity publicist at your disposal.

If You’re Bullied:

1. Tell the bully, “What you’re doing is bullying, and it’s against school rules. I’ll report it, and you’ll get in trouble if you don’t stop.” Sometimes bullies may not even realize that their behavior is actually bullying, so this may serve as a wakeup call.
2. If you’re afraid to report the bullying, consider sending your school’s administration an email through anonymouse.org. Keep in mind, though, that schools can’t legally suspend a bully based on an anonymous tip.
3. Save the evidence. Print out any emails or website bullying, complete with addresses and time stamps.
4. Get support. Talk to a trusted adult, and ask your friends to go with you to report the bully. There’s usually strength in numbers.
5. Work with your school administration to develop a written policy stating that retaliation from reported bullies is considered a further offense.

If a Friend Is Bullied:

1. Ask, “What can I do to help you get through this?”
2. Listen to your friend. Offer a hug. Just be there.
3. Be sensitive and have patience. Don’t rush your friend to “just get over it.” The humiliation of bullying takes time to heal.

Thanks to Russell Sabella, PhD, Professor of Counselor Education at Florida Gulf Coast University, for these tips. (See? I told you real counselors were smarter than Mrs. Moore!)