Damian Stoupe

A psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, life coach/mentor and mediator with a special interest in helping victims of workplace abuse, practicing in the West Country [UK]

Damian says: Nearly three years ago the process of bullying me out of the workplace started. I was bullied by my previous manager in a large defence company and I did not realise it! Like so many people it was not until someone pointed out the obvious that I realised what was going on. I looked at the Andrea Adams website (jfo was not around in those days unfortunately!) and read some more information and I was convinced about what was happening - but surely a man in his late thirties does not get bullied when he has left school?

The procedures where supposed to have been there to protect me from these sorts of things in the workplace – they were not. I was advised by Occupational Health that if I did not have to work there and could afford to hand my notice in then I would be better doing that!!

I went to seem my doctor and he told me that I should never step foot in the place again – a chorus of others urged me to follow that advice – my pride said that now they know I know what has been happening everything would stop. So after a few weeks off sick I went back in – and their efforts were doubled, within three weeks I went of sick and never returned.

I do not think I will ever really know for sure what made the guy treat me in the way that he did – everything points to the fact that I was a threat to him. I no longer spend time looking at the whys and wherefores of what happened it wastes too much energy and hindered my recovery.

Once I had agreed my “voluntary redundancy” I actually felt an immense sense of freedom. I had left the corporate world of sycophants, hypocrites, and dictators to start a new life. My health improved in leaps and bounds. I embarked upon a series of training courses to help me begin my transformation from a victim to a victor.

I have retrained and am now self-employed as a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist (nothing to do with Paul McKenna’s stage entertainment!!) and life coach/mentor with a practice here in the West Country. For obvious reasons I have a very special interest in helping victims of workplace abuse.

It is in dealing with workplace issues that I operate two other strands of my business. Firstly, my training continued, and I obtained a qualification in mediation which I utilise in the workplace on behalf of victims of abuse. I also use my experience with some enlightened organisations to put into place anti-bullying policies to ensure that their employees are protected as far as they can be. I also provide mentoring and other psychological help for ‘bullies’ to help them identify their own issues to assist with their own transformation.

In respect of paying something back into the community I have started the West Country Support Group and acts as a mediator with out local mediation service dealing with primarily neighbourhood disputes.

What of the future? I am branching out to learn more about philosophical counselling – sometimes know as “counselling for the sane!” I am developing an internet based counselling service and starting to develop the life coaching business across the country. I also trained as a Reiki Master and am developing aspects of that business.

I do not know where the future will take me – what I do know is that I have won one of the biggest battles of my life and I fully intend to make the most of the new life I have found. A wise counsellor said something that I would like to pass on. When we go into a deep depression we have two options – we can have what is commonly called a ‘nervous breakdown’ or we can have a ‘nervous breakthrough’ – the choice is ours. If we choose the second we can learn to smile again – and that was the biggest breakthrough for me!

And I am still smiling – despite all the funny looks from people in the street!!!!

Damian Stoupe

BA (Hons), DipHyp(Hons), DipCP, MHS, MCPS

Registered Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist

“Helping you to shape your future”

Tel: 07792 779017

web: www.dstherapies.com

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