Workplace Bullying Is Still Legal — What Therapists Are Missing , With Andy RegalWorkplace Bullying Is Still Legal — What Therapists Are Missing , With Andy Regal
The Mental Health Toolbox Podcast
Patrick Martin and Andy Regal talk about workplace bullying as a legal yet damaging form of abuse and how it shapes anxiety, shame and self‑esteem. The conversation focuses on what therapists might be missing in sessions and how employees can begin to cope and heal.
56:52•27 May 2026
Workplace Bullying, Hidden Trauma and What Therapists Often Miss
Episode Overview
- Workplace bullying is still legal in most of the US unless it targets a protected class, leaving many employees with no formal recourse.
- Those most often bullied tend to be devoted, conscientious staff who care deeply about their work and their bosses’ opinions.
- Therapists are urged to listen for shame, self‑blame and job‑related fear when clients report anxiety, depression or burnout.
- HR departments often lack the power to challenge senior bullies, especially so‑called "brilliant jerks" who bring in revenue.
- Coping and healing can involve positive self‑talk, reclaiming psychological safety, and eventually forgiving both self and bully.
“"Where you find people at work, you'll find bullies at work."”
What drives someone to seek a life without daily dread of going to work? This conversation between psychotherapist Patrick Martin and former media executive Andy Regal zeroes in on workplace bullying as a serious mental health issue that still slips past most therapy assessments. Andy shares how years of bullying in high‑pressure TV news left him with nightmares, digestive problems, and Sunday-night terror. As he puts it, "We can't sleep. We can't eat.
We can't keep down food." He explains that the most loyal, hard‑working staff are often the ones targeted, precisely because they care so much about their jobs and what their bosses think of them. The chat is especially helpful for therapists working with adults who present with anxiety, depression or burnout. Patrick and Andy talk through shame, self‑blame and that nagging "What's wrong with me?" loop that keeps many clients stuck.
Andy suggests that clinicians listen closely for workplace dynamics, power imbalances, and psychological safety rather than just ticking the "occupation" box in an intake. There’s practical talk too: why HR often can’t protect staff, how hostile bosses poison a whole organisation, and Andy’s idea of simple codes of conduct that could curb legal but harmful behaviour.
He also shares his six tenets of coping and healing, including positive self‑talk and eventually forgiving yourself – and even the bully – so they no longer live rent‑free in your head. If you work with clients whispering about their jobs in session, or you’ve ever cried on the way to work yourself, this episode might change the way you hear those stories. Could the “problem client” actually be a model employee stuck in a bully culture?
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