Target Bullying Intervention Program

Background of the Study

The Target Bullying Intervention Program (T-BIP) is an IRB-approved research study aimed to address the cognitive and behavioral issues of students involved in bullying. The study has been running since 2005. A decade of research and the insights of a middle school principal influenced the development of T-BIP, resulting in three central premises that have guided its design and implementation.

Because the perceptions and cognitions of bullying participants often underlie, perpetuate and escalate bullying interactions, the intervention adheres to the principle that these social-cognitive perceptions warrant just as much attention as the aggressive behaviors themselves. Second, compelling research suggests that one-size-fits-all group interventions do not help – and may even impair – the aggressive youth they seek to assist. Finally, the intervention aligns with the research-based knowledge that zero-tolerance policies – and the related practices of suspension and expulsion – fail to change students' behaviors.

Guided by these premises, the intervention program provides a framework for school counselors and school psychologists to work directly with students who bully others, helping them curb bullying and adopt more pro-social behaviors. Learn more about the intervention!


Selected Publications

Information coming soon.


Selected Presentations

Carney, C. M., & Swearer, S. M. (2022, February 15-18). The healthy context paradox for targets of bullying [Poster Presentation]. National Association of School Psychologists annual convention, Boston, MA.

Crinion, M. P., Swearer, S., M., Carney, C. M., & Noetzel, A. G. (2021, August). Bullying intervention treatment acceptability among students with disabilities [Poster Presentation]. American Psychological Association convention (Virtual). [Division 16 Student Blue Ribbon Winner].

Torres, C. A., Swearer, S., M., & Noetzel, A. G. (2021, August). Bullying is in the eye of the beholder: Differences between student and adult attitudes [Poster Presentation]. American Psychological Association convention (Virtual). [Division 16 Student Blue Ribbon Winner].

Crinion, M. P., Jones, C., & Swearer, S., M. (2020, August). Perceptions of power imbalance across roles in the bullying dynamic [Poster Presentation] American Psychological Association convention, Washington, DC., USA (Virtual) https://convention.apa.org/. 

Kesselring, S.A., Swearer, S.M., Morris, T.I., & Jones, C.M. (2020, August). Power imbalance: Internalizing problems in youth involved in bullying. [Poster Presentation] American Psychological Association convention, Washington, DC., USA (Virtual) https://convention.apa.org/. 

Torres, C. A., Noetzel, A .G., Swearer, S. M., Palmer, J. & Palacios, R. A. II. (2020, August). Empowering students to report bullying behavior [Poster Presentation] American Psychological Association, Washington D. C., USA (Virtual) https://convention.apa.org/. 

Gutierrez, G., Swearer, S. M., Noetzel, A. G., Mosher, K. M., & Loogman, K. A. V. (2019, November). 34 reasons why students perpetrate and are victims of bullying: Implications for intervention. Poster presented at the 16th Annual Conference of the International Bullying Prevention Association, Chicago, IL.

Torres, C., Gutierrez, G., & Swearer, S. M. (2019, November). Racial disparities in referrals to an individualized bullying intervention program. Poster presented at the 16th Annual Conference of the International Bullying Prevention Association, Chicago, IL.

Noetzel, A.G., Swearer, S.M., Mosher, K.M., & Loogman, K. (2019, February). Reasons why students perpetrate bullying and implications for intervention. Poster presented at the annual National Association of School Psychologists 2019 annual convention, Atlanta, GA. 

Noetzel, A.G., Swearer, S.M., & Mosher, K.M. (2018, August). Bullying involvement: Unearthing the role of social anxiety. Presented at the annual American Psychological Association convention, San Francisco, CA.

Solesbee, C. Swearer, S. Suzuki, H. Gonzalez, S. (November, 2017). Anxiety and Bullying: The Role of Self-Perception Competencies as a Mediator. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, San Diego, CA.

Suzuki, H. Swearer, S. Solesbee, C. Gonzalez, S. (November, 2017). Reduced Cognitive Distortions Among Depressed Bully Perpetrators Following the Target Bullying Intervention Program. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, San Diego, CA.

Mosher, K.M., Swearer, S.M., & Noetzel, A.G. (2017, November). Who cares?: A CBT intervention for bullying. Presented at the annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies convention, San Diego, CA.

Damme, A. M., Swearer, S. M., Palmon, S., & Meredith, M. J. (2017, August). Predicting school climate: Effects of traditional discipline practices on bullying. Presented at the American Psychological Association convention, Washington D. C. [Division 16 Student Blue Ribbon Winner]

Asay, N. J., Swearer, S. M., Cathcart, A. M., Palacios, R. A., & Zweifel, M. (2016, August). Attitude adjustment: School climate as a predictor of bullying attitudes. Poster presented at the American Psychology Association convention, Denver, CO.

Gonzalez, S., Swearer, S. M., Garcia, A. G., & Berri, B. (2015, February). Cognitive and behavioral outcomes of the Target Bullying Intervention Program. Poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists, Orlando, FL.

Berry, B., & Swearer, S. M. (2013, April). Decreasing frequency and severity of bullying behaviors: Outcomes of the Target Bullying Intervention Program. Poster presented at the Society of Research on Child Development Biannual Meeting, Seattle, WA. 



Reasons to be a T-BIP Interventionist