Dee Hardy

A conversation with Dee Hardy

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I have always been curious about people, what shapes us, why we respond as we do, and what helps us change.
  
  My earlier career in business brought me into contact with people navigating all kinds of pressures, relationships and life transitions, and I found myself increasingly drawn to the human story behind the problem.
  
  Counselling became a natural progression: bringing together that lifelong curiosity, substantial life experience and professional training to help people understand themselves, their relationships and what they want to do next.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  I am strongly influenced by the belief that every person deserves to be understood without judgement. We are shaped by different experiences, relationships and circumstances, and I value the uniqueness each person brings.
  
  I believe curiosity is more powerful than judgement: rather than asking “What is wrong with me, or them?”, we can ask “What might be happening here, and what can I learn from it?”
  
  Our experiences do not have to define us. Even difficult ones can deepen our understanding of ourselves and others. With greater awareness comes choice and with choice comes the possibility of doing something differently.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I am fascinated by human behaviour, how our experiences, relationships, beliefs and environments shape who we become and how we respond to life. I am particularly interested in relationships, connection, resilience and what happens when life changes unexpectedly.
  
  I also value the connection between physical and emotional wellbeing. Sleep, movement, nutrition, stress and our relationships can all influence how we experience life. For me, wellbeing is about understanding the whole person, not separating the mind from the life and circumstances surrounding it.

• What methods do you use?

  Listening comes first. I listen not only to what is being said, but also to what may sit beneath the words, the patterns, emotions, relationships and experiences shaping what is happening.
  
  My approach is integrative and tailored to the individual rather than applying one method to everyone. I draw from CBT, ACT, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Family Systems, Positive Psychology and mindfulness-based approaches.
  
  Just as importantly, I provide a therapeutic space grounded in empathy, curiosity and genuine human connection. From there, we work together to develop insight, challenge patterns that may no longer serve you and identify practical strategies you can take into everyday life.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Progress can begin before the first session, the decision to reach out often means something has already shifted.
  
  For me, one of the earliest signs of progress is when a client feels safe enough to speak openly, begins to make sense of what is happening and sees something from a different perspective. That may happen in the first conversation; deeper change naturally takes time.
  
  The therapeutic relationship is central. When there is trust, honesty and a genuine connection between counsellor and client, we can explore what matters, recognise patterns and begin turning insight into practical change. Progress will look different for everyone, and it should always move at a pace that respects the individual.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  I believe in therapy because I have experienced its value personally. At different times in my life, therapy has given me a space to step outside the emotion of a situation, consider perspectives I may not have seen on my own and understand myself more deeply.
  
  It has taught me that seeking another perspective is not about someone giving you the answers. Often, the greatest value comes from having a safe, impartial space to hear yourself think, question what you believe and discover your own way forward.
  
  That experience influences how I practice today. I understand the trust involved in sitting across from someone and sharing the parts of life that may be difficult to say out loud, and I never take that privilege lightly.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I love the moment when something begins to shift, when a client feels heard, gains a different perspective or recognizes strengths and possibilities they may have lost sight of.
  
  I particularly enjoy the collaborative nature of therapy: exploring ideas, asking the questions that take us a little deeper and gently “pulling at the thread” until we better understand what is really going on.
  
  For me, giving back means creating a space where someone can feel validated, regain hope and discover that they have more choices than they perhaps realized. Being invited into that process and seeing people begin to find their own way forward is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Absolutely! I get frustrated, disappointed, overwhelmed and have days when things simply don't go to plan, I'm human.
  
  What I have developed over time is an ability to find perspective. I have always been someone who looks for the other side of a situation: What can I learn from this? Is there another way of seeing it? What can I change, and what might I need to accept?
  
  That doesn't mean ignoring difficult emotions or pretending everything is positive. It means allowing myself to feel what is there without necessarily letting it determine what happens next. Curiosity, perspective and a healthy dose of humour have served me well, both personally and professionally.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  I think one of our greatest challenges is disconnection in an age when we have never been more connected.
  
  We have extraordinary access to information, technology and one another, yet we are constantly stimulated, distracted and expected to respond. There is increasingly little space simply to be, to think, feel, notice and genuinely connect.
  
  I believe we need to rediscover presence. Put the phone down. Have the conversation. Walk outside. Notice the air, the water, the person sitting opposite you. Hold the warm cup of coffee and actually taste it.
  
  Technology has enormous value, but so does stillness. Sometimes the most important connection we need to restore is the one with ourselves and with the people right in front of us.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  It depends on the day!
  
  For pure energy, Rasputin, the Majestic and Boney M. remix. It is upbeat, joyful and one of those songs that simply makes me want to move.
  
  I love art in all its forms because I am fascinated by what it reveals about the person who created it. I'm equally drawn to books that make me think, particularly The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
  
  And when I want to completely switch off? Give me a good espionage or spy thriller, Daniel Silva is a favourite.
  
  I think inspiration can come from anywhere: something profound, something beautiful, or sometimes simply a great song that makes you turn the volume up.