Bullying
Bullying in adult life is rarely a single incident. It is a pattern. It can exist in a workplace, a team, a professional community, or an institution, and it can quietly erode a person's sense of themselves over months or years.
I work with adults who have experienced workplace or institutional bullying. Therapy is online, weekly, and focused on your recovery and your ability to think clearly about what has happened. I do not work with children or young people, and I do not work with people who bully others.
What bullying can look like in adult life
Adult bullying often hides. It can show up as repeatedly having your contributions claimed by others, being excluded from meetings or information, being given impossible workloads, being undermined in front of colleagues, or being criticised for things that are not actually mistakes.
It often lives in the space between rudeness and something nameable. That is part of what makes it so disorienting. When you try to describe it, each example sounds small. Taken together, they are not small.
Why therapy?
A grievance process, HR, or legal advice may be part of what you need. Therapy is a different kind of support. It is a confidential space to think about what has happened, what it has cost you, and what you want to do with it.
In my experience, clients who have been bullied often second guess themselves heavily. One of the quiet goals of the work is to rebuild a steady sense of your own judgement.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to prove I was bullied before starting therapy?
No. Therapy does not require you to build a case. We work with your experience as you describe it.
Will you help me prepare for a grievance meeting?
Indirectly, perhaps, by helping you think clearly. Directly, no. I do not coach people through HR processes or legal action.
Can I do this work while still in the job?
Yes. Many clients work with me while still employed. Others come after leaving. The shape of the work adjusts to what you are living with at the time.
Is this the same as workplace discrimination?
Bullying and workplace discrimination overlap but are not identical. Where bullying is tied to a protected characteristic, there may be a discrimination claim to consider with legal support. My work with either focuses on your experience and recovery.
Thinking about therapy for bullying?
A free 15 minute introductory call is the best way to start.