Bullying counsellingIt isn’t your fault, and you’re not facing it alone.
Bullying is not "just part of growing up". Being repeatedly mocked, excluded, threatened or humiliated, at school, online or both, can leave a young person anxious, ashamed and convinced that something is wrong with them.
Online in English, with a therapist from our team, wherever you live · Sessions in Greek are with Matina Ladikou.
Each session lasts 45 minutes and costs 70 €. All fees
At Art of Mind, a centre founded by psychotherapist Matina LadikouAt a glance
- Format
- Online by video on Google Meet, 45-minute sessions.
- Who you work with
- A therapist from our team, in English. In Greek, Matina Ladikou.
- Getting started
- Send an enquiry; we reply within 24 hours.
There is help
You don’t have to face this on your own
With cyberbullying, there is often no escape: the messages follow them home and into the bedroom at night. For parents, discovering that your child is being bullied can bring helplessness, anger and worry about doing the wrong thing.
It is never the fault of the person being bullied, and they do not have to face it alone. At Art of Mind, a psychotherapy centre founded in Patras, Greece, in 2019, counselling after bullying in English takes place online by video with a therapist from our centre. We work with teenagers aged 12 and over, with parents, and with adults who are still affected by bullying in the past.
What bullying and cyberbullying are
Bullying is repeated, intentional behaviour that hurts, intimidates or excludes someone, usually where there is an imbalance of power. It can be:
Verbal
Name-calling, insults, threats, mocking someone's appearance, accent or background.
Social
Excluding someone, spreading rumours, turning friends against them.
Physical
Hitting, pushing, damaging or taking belongings.
Online (cyberbullying)
Hurtful messages, sharing images or private information, impersonation, group chats designed to humiliate.
Cyberbullying has been rising. The WHO/Europe Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study reported that 15% of adolescents had experienced cyberbullying, an increase since 2018, with similar rates for boys and girls1.
For the people around you
Signs a parent or teacher might notice
Young people often hide bullying out of shame or fear. Possible signs include:
- reluctance to go to school, or frequent headaches and stomach aches on school days;
- changes in mood, irritability, tearfulness or withdrawal;
- a sudden drop in grades or interest in activities;
- anxiety around their phone or computer, or abruptly stopping using it;
- losing friends, avoiding social events;
- damaged belongings, unexplained injuries;
- sleep problems, changes in eating;
- negative comments about themselves, such as "everyone hates me".
The psychological impact
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 165 studies found statistically significant associations between bullying victimisation and a wide range of health and psychosocial problems, with the strongest evidence for causal links with depression, anxiety, poor general health, and suicidal ideation and behaviour2. Bullying can affect self-esteem, trust in others and social confidence, and these effects can continue into adulthood if they are not addressed.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in seven 10–19-year-olds experiences a mental health condition, and notes that these conditions often remain unrecognised and untreated3. Taking bullying seriously and offering support early can help prevent longer-term difficulties.
Is it time?
When to seek help
Consider counselling if:
- bullying is ongoing and your teenager is struggling to cope;
- the bullying has stopped but they remain anxious, low or withdrawn;
- they are avoiding school or social life;
- there are changes in sleep, eating or mood lasting more than a couple of weeks;
- you, as a parent, are unsure how to respond;
- as an adult, past bullying still affects your confidence, relationships or mood.
Seek urgent help if a young person talks about wanting to die, harms themselves, or is at risk of physical harm. In an emergency call 112.
Our approach
How counselling helps after bullying
Our therapists work in an integrative, evidence-informed way, adapted to age. Decades of research show that psychological therapy can help young people, with particularly good results for anxiety, and that remotely delivered interventions can also be effective4.
With teenagers, sessions focus on:
- creating a safe space where they can talk without being judged or pressured;
- understanding that the bullying says something about the bully, not about them;
- managing anxiety, low mood, anger and shame;
- rebuilding self-esteem and a sense of what they are good at;
- practical strategies: responding, seeking help, protecting themselves online, and building or rebuilding friendships;
- using techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy, where helpful, to challenge beliefs such as "it's my fault" or "nobody likes me".
With parents, sessions focus on:
- listening in a way that helps your child open up;
- managing your own anger and worry so you can act calmly;
- planning how to approach the school and what to ask for;
- supporting online safety without cutting your child off from friends;
- recognising signs that your child needs more help.
With adults affected by past bullying, therapy explores how those experiences shaped beliefs about yourself and others, and helps you build confidence and trust in the present. See also our page on self-esteem therapy.
How to support your child through bullying
- Listen first. Stay calm, thank them for telling you and avoid immediately promising to "sort it out".
- Make it clear it is not their fault.
- Keep a record: dates, what happened, screenshots.
- Agree the next steps together, respecting their wish for some control.
- Contact the school in a calm, factual way, and follow up.
- Do not advise fighting back, and do not take away their phone as a punishment, which can stop them telling you next time.
- Strengthen life outside the problem: activities and friendships where they feel valued.
Online, by video
Online counselling for teenagers and parents
Many teenagers find video sessions natural and less intimidating than sitting opposite an adult in an office. A meta-analysis of randomised trials found that videoconference-delivered therapy for children, adolescents and their parents produced outcomes similar to in-person treatment5. A teenager needs a private room and headphones; parents can help by protecting that space.
Online, by video
How online counselling with us works
Send an enquiry.
Through our contact form. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian contacts us first. Include the young person's age, your time zone and preferred times.
We reply within 24 hours.
To arrange a first conversation and, with consent, the first session with a therapist from our centre.
Sessions take place by video.
On Google Meet, for 45 minutes, Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 21:00 Athens time.
Progress is reviewed.
With the young person, and with parents in the agreed way.
Sessions in English cost 70 € per 45-minute session. See our pricing page. Read more about teen counselling and parent counselling.
If you need urgent help
In an emergency call 112. In Greece you can also call 1018 (suicide prevention) or 10306 (mental-health support). For helplines in your country, see findahelpline.com.
Our founder
Art of Mind, founded by Matina Ladikou
A centre where you can talk without fear of judgement, at your own pace.
Matina Ladikou, psychotherapist and founder of Art of Mind, set up the centre in Patras, Greece, in 2019. Sessions in English are with a therapist from our team; sessions in Greek are with Matina, and you can book Greek sessions directly.
We don’t promise a “guaranteed” or “instant” result; we offer a space of trust and work at your own pace.
Trained in Biothymic Psychotherapy and Clinical Hypnosis, in Mental Health Counselling and in NLP, with an MSc in Criminology from Panteion University.
About Matina and the centreNext step
Nobody deserves to be bullied
Whether you are a parent, a teenager or an adult still carrying old hurt, a short message is enough to start.
Before you start
Frequently asked questions
Who is this support for?
We work with teenagers from 12 years old who are being, or have been, bullied, with parents who want guidance on how to help their child of any age, and with adults who are still affected by bullying in the past. For younger children, we work with the parents, so that they can support their child. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian contacts us first.
Should we report the bullying to the school?
In most cases, yes. Schools have a responsibility to respond to bullying, and keeping a calm, factual record (dates, what happened, screenshots for online bullying) helps. Counselling can help you and your teenager plan how to raise it and what to ask for.
My teenager does not want me to get involved. What should I do?
This is very common: young people often fear that adult involvement will make things worse. Listening first, agreeing next steps together and respecting their need for some control usually builds trust. If there is a risk to safety, however, adults need to act.
Can bullying in childhood still affect me as an adult?
Yes. Research shows strong links between bullying victimisation and later mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Many adults carry its effects in self-esteem, trust and social anxiety. Therapy can help you make sense of those experiences and loosen their hold.
How much does a session cost?
Sessions in English are 70 € per 45-minute session. Full details are on our pricing page.