Val Hardy

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she/her
Dip.Couns, Registered MBACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Haywards Heath RH16 & Hassocks BN6
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Hello, welcome to my page.

Life can be hard and we are living in uncertain times. We can all find ourselves facing challenging life experiences and can struggle with uncomfortable emotions. We may feel stuck, confused, fearful, overwhelmed, angry, sad....

Talking to someone who can listen, understand and provide a safe, compassionate and neutral space really can help.

You may be currently experiencing anxiety, depression or stress or perhaps you are dealing with bereavement and loss, the effects of childhood trauma, health challenges or relationship or family issues.

You may simply feel unfulfilled or have a sense that something is missing in your life...

I understand the courage it takes to decide to talk to someone and take that first step; maybe I can support you through this time.

My way of working

I am an experienced counsellor offering a warm and supportive space in which I will help you explore your thoughts, feelings and concerns without judgment.

Together we can focus on whatever is important to you right now, working at your pace and helping you to gain deeper insight and awareness of yourself and the challenges you face. I will listen sensitively and seek to understand your experience with empathy and compassion. My approach is trauma-informed and I am interested in helping you understand and trust your inner experience.

My hope is that my calm, open and collaborative approach will support you in feeling comfortable with me and starting from exactly where you are, will help you in making sense of your situation, finding effective ways of coping and in making positive choices for a fulfilling and happier life.

As an integrative counsellor the 3 main modalities which form the foundation of my approach are Person-Centred, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis (TA) which I use in a way best suited to you, your situation and what you hope to gain from counselling. I am also able to offer creative techniques.

      'The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.' - Carl Jung

  • Please do contact me for an free informal (no obligation) initial conversation to find out more and explore whether I might be the right counsellor for you.

Training, qualifications & experience

Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling (BACP accredited), Wealden Psychology Institute.

Brainspotting Phase 1 & 2 – BSP UK

I am a registered member of the BACP (MBACP) and adhere to their Ethical Code of Practice.

I have trained and worked as a bereavement counsellor, working also with anticipatory loss. I have worked at the As You Are Centre in Southwick with clients experiencing a broad range of issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, abuse, relationship difficulties, trauma, loss and bereavement .

Other relevant training:

  • Hospice Bereavement Counsellor Training (St. Catherine's Hospice)
  • Introduction to Suicide Intervention
  • Understanding and Working with Self Injury
  • Introduction to Anger Management techniques
  • TA 101 (Transactional Analysis certificate)
  • Trauma and Recovery
  • Working with Dissociation
  • Attachment
  • LGBTQ Awareness
  • Introduction to Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
  • Working with the Inner Child
  • Shame
  • Brainspotting Phase 1 & 2
  • Using Trauma-Informed Grounding Techniques
  • Polyvagal Theory

My Background

Having trained as a counsellor at a 'mature' age, my practice is I believe, enriched by life experience as well as many years of face to face work in a supportive capacity with a diverse range of people and organisations in healthcare, education and the voluntary sector.

I am passionate about working in a way which empowers individuals and I truly believe that personal growth and change are possible at any stage of life. My aim is to work alongside you, supporting you to uncover and progress along your own individual path towards healing, self-compassion, self-fulfilment and whatever you want your life to be.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).

Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.

Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.

All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Life stages and changes

Grief and loss

Living with long-term health issues including neurological conditions.

Carers

Fees

£50.00 per session
Free initial in-person or telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Trainee counsellors

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Currently I am able to offer weekday daytime and evening sessions. Online, telephone and in person.

Further information

Sessions are held in Haywards Heath and Hurstpierpoint.

Free on street parking available close by and 10 minute walk from Haywards Heath mainline train station.

Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16

Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Adults
Older Adults

Online platforms

Zoom
Val Hardy
Val Hardy