ABOUT DR. GARY HARDWICK, LPC

Some Basics

 I was born at a very early age…ok let’s fast forward a bit.  I was born in Jackson, Mississippi and grew up in the Deep South (Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina…we’re talking DEEP South) during the 50s and 60s. Why is that important?  Along with an appreciation for Southern hospitality (It’s a real thing), I was aware of the racial divides and tensions that were part of that time and place, and it sensitized me to ways that people can hurt and traumatize others. I also met people who worked with passion and dedication to overcome those divisions and tensions.  As a therapist, I seek to address many different kinds of divides and tensions, not on a global scale but with individuals, couples and groups.

 I have been a Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) in Oklahoma since 2003. Before that, I was a Licensed Professional Counseling and Certified LPC Supervisor in Texas for 11 years.  I’ve done counseling in many different settings: small private counseling centers, churches, large medical clinics, and now private practice. I have also been trained to do mediation for divorce, custody, civil, employment, and commercial issues.

 Along with my counseling and mediation practice, I enjoy teaching.  I have offered workshops and seminars to various groups in the community.  These workshops have focused on mindfulness and meditation practices, stress reduction, and building better relationships.

 So, I’ve been in the mental health field for a while, but it started some time ago…

How it all began

When I was in high school, we had the assignment to interview someone who had a career that was of interest to you.  I chose a psychologist. I picked a name out of a phone book and met with him, not really sure what to ask.  I do remember being fascinated with the way he talked about helping people with difficult problems. 

 I have always been an introspective person. In high school, I would often go to the mall and sit and just watch people go by. I would notice the looks on their faces, how they interacted with one another. I would even make up stories about what might be going on with a person, a couple, or a group of people.

 So what is happening in people and between people has been of interest to me for a while.

And Now?

I work with all types of problems: anxiety, depression, trauma, stress.   I have a special passion for couples counseling.  Why?

 A strong and vibrant marriage is very important to the well-being of a family.  One of the best gifts you can give children is a strong and vibrant marriage.   Even if you do not have children, the closeness and intimacy of marriage offer amazing opportunities for personal growth.  One writer has called marriage “a people making machine.”  The intimacy of marriage can bring out the strengths and gifts in your life; it can also bring out the challenges and ways you might need to change to be a better person.

 I also have a specialty for Anxiety Treatment. Anxiety is one of the most common complaints for people who come to counseling, and anxiety is something that is present in so many ways in the world in which we live. I can give you a variety of ways to develop a different relationship with your anxiety and stress.

But, Wait, There’s More

Away from the office I am a bit of a homebody. I enjoy sitting on the front porch or in front of the fireplace on our back patio…greeting neighbors as they walk by, catching up with my wife, hanging out with friends, or the dogs (three big girls).

 But I do enjoy golf, usually playing by myself where I can keep score and practice at the same time. I love snow skiing. I play the guitar, mostly for myself. Over the last eight years, I have learned to play the hammered dulcimer, and play it for different groups in the community and at church.