Dealing with bullies - Building Boundaries and Resilience
Trainers:
Dr Mary Joan Camilleri, Head of Counselling Services
Ms Donatella Pace Olivari, Social Worker
Target Audience: All members of staff
Workshop Duration: 3 hours
Delivery Mode: Class-based
Note: This training is a joint initiative by the Counselling Services at the Health and Wellness Centre and the Equity Office.
In an increasingly complex professional and academic landscape, maintaining personal integrity and psychological safety is paramount. This workshop, offered through the Health & Wellness Centre, provides participants with a robust toolkit to navigate difficult interpersonal dynamics and toxic environments.
The session begins by examining the foundations of personal boundaries, moving beyond physical space to include social, emotional, and legal frameworks. Participants will explore the transformative concept of "learning how to learn"—viewing self-development not just as a skill-building exercise, but as a primary defensive mechanism against burnout and stagnation.
A core pillar of the training is the cultivation of Third-Level Resilience. While basic resilience focuses on survival and recovery, third-level resilience empowers individuals to extract profound personal growth from negative experiences. By the end of this workshop, participants will be better equipped to identify early signs of bullying, apply practical self-defense strategies, and utilise "active learning" to insulate themselves from the long-term trauma associated with toxic encounters.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
Define and differentiate between various forms of boundaries, including physical (space and touch), social (group dynamics and exclusion), emotional (vulnerability and empathy), and legal (harassment policies and institutional rights).
Recognise the "Red Flags" of bullying and harassment within workplace and social contexts, identifying when a boundary is being tested or breached.
Apply assertive communication techniques to establish and maintain clear professional boundaries without escalating conflict.
Analyse the "Learning how to Learn" framework as a tool for personal agency, shifting the mindset from a passive recipient of circumstances to an active developer of self.
Evaluate personal triggers and responses to toxic behavior, using self-reflection to reduce the emotional impact of workplace stressors.
Integrate lifelong learning habits into a personal well-being plan, ensuring that self-development remains a priority even during high-pressure periods.
Demonstrate an understanding of Third-Level Resilience, specifically the ability to process "post-traumatic growth" by finding meaning and learning opportunities in adverse events.
Implement "Cognitive Reframing" to protect the psyche from being traumatized by toxic encounters, transforming "victimhood" into "insight and strategy."
Navigate institutional pathways to defend oneself legally and administratively when personal boundaries are violated.
