Transforming Aggressive Behavior into Assertive Communication

Challenge:

A young girl on the therapist’s caseload was frequently aggressive toward peers — yelling, hitting, and escalating conflicts at school.

How GrowthMinded Helped:

The therapist used self-regulation resources and role-play worksheets focused on assertive communication. Together, they practiced phrases like “I don’t like it when you say that” and created scripts the child could rehearse.

Impact:

✅ The child applied the strategy independently at school, calmly setting a boundary and removing herself from the conflict — without aggression.

“Normally she would retaliate... but this time she said, ‘I don’t like it when you say that,’ and then left the space.”

— Social, Emotional Learning Specialist