A little more about me…

Hey! My name is Will Hardy (he/him) and I am a qualified Integrative Counsellor (BSc). I am a cisgender gay and queer man and I use he/him pronouns. 

In my secondary and further education, I studied, trained and volunteered within social care and support roles. However, I decided to work within the media industry across various creative, management and relational roles for 10 years. Although this career was incredibly rewarding and a lot of fun, something was missing for me. So during the global pandemic, I started my journey into training as a counsellor, after I started to question what I valued within my life and wanted to find a different sense of purpose. Through my counselling training and my own long term experiences of personal therapy, I discovered that I wanted to support people through their healing and discovery processes within therapy. 

My core training, accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), lasted three years. Within this time I completed my clinical placement, as a Volunteer Counsellor at elop, a LGBTQ+ counselling service, where I worked with individuals across various gender, sexuality and relationship diversities. In addition to this, I previously volunteered with Opening Doors London where I helped coordinate events for LGBTQ+ individuals over the age of 50. I also volunteered at Switchboard taking calls and responding to instant messages from individuals who reached out for support. I have also undertaken additional continuing professional development (CPD) to ensure I am consistently developing my experience, practice and knowledge. 

I am interested in working with anyone who wants to talk about their experiences to potentially understand them more. My practice is open and inclusive to all who identify within the LGBTQ+ community, those who are unsure or questioning and for those who don’t. If you want to discuss further, you can reach me on will@willhardytherapy.com



Training and qualifications

I am currently studying a post graduate diploma in GSRD Therapy until the summer of 2024.

  • 2023 - 2024: Gender, Sexuality & Relationship Therapy Diploma - Pink Therapy

  • 2020 - 2023: BSc (Hons) Counselling (BACP Accredited) - University of East London

  • 2021: Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling - Counselling Tutor

Professional experience

Prior to my counselling training and qualifications, I worked within creative, media and marketing roles for 10 years.

  • 2022 - 2023: Volunteer Trainee Counsellor - elop (East London Out Project)

  • 2022: Listening Volunteer - Switchboard

  • 2021 - 2022: Group Volunteer - Opening Doors London (Age UK Camden)

CPD (professional development)

I am currently undertaking additional training and professional development across areas of neurodiversity, trauma, LGBTQ+ and wider identities.

  • 2023: Working Alongside Trans, Gender Diverse and Questioning People (Gendered Intelligence)

  • 2023: Loss and Bereavement Awareness Training (Cruse)

  • 2023: Understanding Autism, Asperger's & ADHD (University of Derby Online Learning)

  • 2021: Introduction to Trans Awareness Training (Gendered Intelligence)

Recent research

As part of my core training, for my dissertation, I conducted research into the experiences of counsellors who have worked therapeutically with gay men who are drag performers.

  • 2023: ‘Qualitative exploration of counsellors’ experiences of working with cis gay male clients who perform in drag’

Performer voguing in heels. Image credit to Trendify & Sketchify via Canva. Will Hardy Therapy.
Non binary and trans individuals in patterned shirts and dresses. Image credit to Trendify & Sketchify via Canva. Will Hardy Therapy.
Two lesbian women hugging each other. Image credit to Trendify & Sketchify via Canva. Will Hardy Therapy.