Welcome to
Jeannie Hardy Psychotherapy and Development
Helping to Make a Difference
Psychotherapy for individuals in a safe, comfortable and private setting
Welcome, and thank you for visiting
My name is Jeannie Hardy and I live in Bishop Auckland, a town in County Durham within the beautiful North of England.
Who am I as a therapist?
I am a UKCP accredited and experienced psychotherapist, committed to ‘making a difference’ to the lives of other people, however we encounter each other.
Whether you are a child or adult, you are on your own unique personal life journey. You may encounter times in life when issues or problems arise with which you need help and support. Or you may just be struggling to be your true self. Working with me can help you to understand and work through what is problematic.
My experience includes working with a variety of issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, lack of confidence, relationship difficulties, traumatic experiences and eating problems.
Alongside my therapeutic work, I have also provided coaching support to women transitioning from prison and those experiencing difficulties at work. More recently I have been working with children in a primary school setting, using a non – directed play therapeutic approach.
Before becoming a therapist, I have enjoyed a long career working in the NHS in various clinical and developmental roles.
I have studied and undertaken various Psychotherapy and Coach training, so bring a rich mix of approaches and experience to the work I do.
How I work
I offer a person-centred approach to therapy work and like to use awareness practices such as Mindfulness to help build self-awareness I explore both body and mind in my working practice, as this is how we experience ourselves. Our work together can be short or long term depending on what is required by you. This means we could have 4-5 sessions, or up to 20 sessions, which will depend on your needs.
I aim to help you to leave each session with a positive state. I see clients via on-line platforms (Skype or Zoom), telephone and have regular face to face sessions at Durham Therapy centre on Tuesdays. I also see clients at the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe.
Session Information
Depending on your needs, I can provide shorter or longer term support. Anything from 5-6 weeks up to 20 weeks depending on what is needed.
Each session lasts for 50-60 mins and costs £50 per session.
I also am able to offer reduced prices for those on low incomes or students.
A problem shared
I am an accredited Psychotherapist with experience of working with both adults and children of primary school age. I have also had many years’ experience working in the NHS as a Nurse and other various roles. My family is now grown up and I like to spend time with my grandchildren because they keep me young at heart.
I have developed a great love of the outdoors and particularly enjoy spending time in my garden and newly acquired allotment. I love to experiment with growing vegetables and caring for flowers and plants and have learned the importance of environment to the life of both plants and people. We all need to have good self-care practices that ground and nourish us. My go to place is in my kitchen baking bread, which I find is a good source of personal nourishment.
I have lots of life experiences and with that comes a good understanding of the stresses encountered throughout life.
My approach
Psychotherapy for adults
I provide a calm and nurturing approach to psychotherapy practice.
By working with me, you will have a safe and confidential space to reflect on any issues. This will enable you to develop awareness and encourage you to make any required changes.
Psychotherapy for children
I work creatively with children in a play-centred approach, helping them to explore emotions in a way that is comfortable for them. This is often through metaphorical play.
What issues can psychotherapy help with?
People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through therapy:
Feelings of stress or anxiety
Panic attacks
Relationship problems
Grief, loss or bereavement
Problems with addiction
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Abuse
Depression
Problems with confidence or self-esteem
Anger management
Issues relating to sexuality
Difficulties at work or in retirement
Problems with family or school life
How I work with you
I can have an initial chat with you for 10-15mins (no charge) to discuss what you need and then we decide together how to proceed ie. how to work and where and when to meet. Some clients have around 6 sessions and may find that is enough. There is always an option to have more and this will depend on what each person needs.
My fees are £50 per session of 50 mins. The initial assessment session is usually around 75 mins.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how psychotherapy works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to psychotherapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07708108119 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no ideal or fixed length of time for the therapeutic process; it varies from person to person and will often depend on the depth of issues you are facing. While I can work on an open-ended basis with clients, I find it is helpful for us to both agree before we start on undertaking a certain number of sessions and reviewing where we are at once we reach that point. You are able to decide how long your therapy willl last, and in return my aim is to make sure therapy continues for only as long as it is of benefit to you.
This depends on what your needs are. Some people find that after only a very few sessions they have some clarity and focus and are ready to end the therapy. Other people value the ongoing support and relationship with me and will continue to come for weeks, months, or even years. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' when it comes to therapy.
My aim is to offer you a first appointment, known as an assessment session within 1-2 weeks, this is once I receive your completed client pack back. However, waiting times will vary according to pressure on our resources, your own availability and the service you seek.
Confidentiality is one of the main ways in which therapy differs from many other forms of helping - for example, talking to friends or family can rarely offer the same degree of confidentiality as talking to a counsellor. Because of this confidentiality, you will find that - as you get used to coming for therapy - you are freer to talk about whatever you wish to.
No therapist can offer 100% confidentiality: there are some situations where the law requires disclosure of risk (e.g. certain child protection issues) and in common with most other therapists, there are some situations where I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. In particular, if someone tells me that they are thinking of harming themselves in a way that I believe puts them at serious risk, or if someone tells me that they are doing something that could put others at risk, I may not be able to keep such information confidential. However, breaking confidentiality is rare, and only happens after talking to the person concerned.
You may not know it, but you’ve already taken the first step...
It can be scary and confusing making the decision to contact a therapist, but in my experience people will struggle with a mental health issue, a personal crisis or problems with a relationship for much longer than is healthy. Sometimes a friend has proved a source of comfort, but this help can only go so far. Realising that resolving a problem requires something more means you have actually already taken the first step towards improving your life.
How I see it...
I have worked as a therapist for a number of years now, and have come to believe that unless someone wants to change and has the desire to ‘put in the yards’ and undertake the work, therapy will likely be of limited value. The skill of a therapist is in helping people to help themselves... the person coming to therapy has to want that help, and be prepared to act on it.
A fascinating journey begins here...
Seeing a therapist is not a passive act; it isn’t like visiting the doctor to be measured, assessed and treated. You don’t come away after one appointment with a pill to take and the responsibility ends there. Therapy is a journey with a guide through a familiar but somehow unusual land; this can be rewarding, sometimes confusing and often revelatory.
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