Writing on Instagram has brought me a lot of new and interesting experiences. I think that it is really exciting to be able to collaborate with people from all around the US and the world, whether being interviewed by someone like you or getting to chat with a therapist who lives in another country.
1. Tell us more about your background and journey.
I grew up on a farm in rural Ohio but moved to a few different states as my husband and I completed our academic training. We now live in East Tennessee where I am a licensed psychologist in private practice.
Throughout my career, I've realized that I can't predict where I will want to be 20 years from now. Instead, I can only try my best to make wise choices about the next 5-10 years, trusting myself to adapt to my career goals as I change as a person.
2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I have loved to write since I was a kid. In farming communities, there is an organization called 4-H which gives kids a chance to take on projects to learn different crafts, arts, skills, and farming practices. Each year, I always chose to do a creative writing project.
My writing continued off and on as a hobby throughout high school and college. That said, I never considered a writing career until 5-6 years ago when I was feeling unfulfilled creatively. I love my job as a therapist, but it felt like something was missing for me. Through a lot of self-reflection, I recognized that it was time to return to writing, starting an Instagram account to do just that soon after.
3. What are some challenges you have faced in your career in psychology and the steps you took to overcome them?
Psychology has a lot of academic challenges. It is quite difficult to get accepted into a Ph.D. psychology program which meant a lot of hard work in my undergraduate program. And once in a Ph.D. program, the amount of work you must complete and the quality of the work expected is quite high. Throughout my training, I leaned on friends and family for emotional support. I prioritized time for exercise and rest.
I also accepted that I wasn't going to have a lot of time for social and creative activities while in my program...but that my program wouldn't last forever. In graduate school, you don't learn much about the business side of running a private practice. Once I decided to leave the agency I had been working at to go out on my own, I had a huge learning curve to understand the financial, marketing, and legal aspects of private practice.
To figure it all out, I connected with professional organizations that offered education in those areas. I read a lot of books and talked with colleagues who started private practices before I did.
4. What is one of the most interesting things that has happened in your career so far?
Writing on Instagram has brought me a lot of new and interesting experiences. I think that it is really exciting to be able to collaborate with people from all around the US and the world, whether being interviewed by someone like you or getting to chat with a therapist who lives in another country.
I've been interviewed by news organizations that I never would have thought were possible for me. I was even featured by our local TV station, something that my clients thought was really exciting.
5. Where does your inspiration lie?
I like to be an observer of life. A lot of my Instagram posts are inspired by things that I've caught myself thinking to myself. I just have to remember to write them down as soon as I notice them. Otherwise, I will forget!
6. Which is your favorite book and why?
Nearly every year, I reread Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. I love the way that he describes the strengths and struggles of each character. They are complex enough to feel fully human, not just a product of someone's imagination.
Jennifer Hardy - Writer & Psychologist
Interviewed By: Farhana Khatoon
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