MELBOURNE Forensic Counselling & General Counselling
Compassionate, Evidence-Based Counselling
Hard Cuddles provides specialist counselling for individuals, families and forensic contexts helping you move forward with confidence, regulation and support.
The Hard Cuddles organisation is an innovative mental health service that specialises in counselling, forensic counselling, life navigation, and peer support facilitated in an outdoor environment.
What We offer
FORENSIC
COUNSELLING
At Hard Cuddles, our forensic counselling supports individuals navigating legal and justice contexts, providing expert guidance, emotional support, and practical strategies to promote insight, regulation, and positive outcomes within complex court or system-involved situations.
INDIVIDUAL
COUNSELLING
Our team connects with our clients through empathy, compassion and lived experience. Life navigation and sharing life’s load. It’s much easier to go into uncomfortable places with someone you know has been there themselves.
PUBLIC
SPEAKING
We pride ourselves on delivering the truth about mental health from a front line perspective. Conveying simple but effective strategies that compel audiences to ask themselves hard questions and understand one another from a compassionate lens.
IMMERSIVE
EXPERIENCES
Everything to do with Hard Cuddles is based on outdoor therapy. Getting back to nature and experiencing the elements has proven to be the catalyst for undeniable change. Into the Wild retreat is a jewel in the crown of the Hard Cuddles journey.
Counselling Support That Meets You Where You Are
Life doesn’t always fit neatly into categories and neither should therapy.
At Hard Cuddles, we work with people navigating complex emotional, relational and legal challenges, offering counselling that is both deeply compassionate and practically grounded.
Our work focuses on:
Emotional regulation and resilience
Trauma-informed support
Behaviour change and insight development
Navigating high-stress or high-risk environments
Supporting people involved with systems (legal, family, institutional)
We don’t rush, minimise, or over-simplify — we work carefully, respectfully, and with intent.
MEET THE FOUNDER
James Harding, Founder & Counsellor
James Harding is the founder of Hard Cuddles, a proud father of five, and a devoted husband. With deep empathy for people from all backgrounds, James combines personal experience, professional training, and a passion for emotional wellbeing to guide clients through complex challenges.
At Hard Cuddles, he channels his expertise in counselling, forensic support, and peer work to help individuals navigate legal, emotional, and behavioural difficulties with insight, compassion, and practical strategies.
HOW WE DO IT
Our focus is building trust and an emotional connection with our clients through sharing and understanding the power of our stories. The Hard Cuddles team harnesses our lived experiences and personal growth to provide workshops, presentations and keynote speaking designed to navigate the intricacies of mental health, emotional wellbeing, self-worth and leadership. Put simply; anyone can get caught up from time to time, Hard Cuddles delivers the support you need to find your way back home.
Where the Hard Cuddles team works:
Anxiety, depression, addiction, autism, behavioural disorders, ADHD, PTSD, ABI
DFFH, Department of Justice, Child Protection, Corrections Victoria
Forensic, complex mental health & intellectual disability
Prison system, Education Victoria, Sporting organisations
Relationship & family counselling, group therapy
Testimonials
★★★★★
“Due to the huge response and success we have invited the Hard Cuddles team back and are working towards having Hard Cuddles present on a regular basis within Reintegration Services and we look forward to seeing what the future brings for James and Hard Cuddles within the Corrections environment as the passion he shows is astounding.”
Hayley Couwenberg
Transition Co-ordinator | Hopkins Correctional Centre
★★★★★
“Hard Cuddles has truly changed my life, the encouragement, wise words, constant support and loving energy has had such a profound impact on me, while under no illusion I have changed my own life. Having Hard Cuddles as my mentors, my counsellors & most of all my friend has been something so special its beyond words. To give you all an idea of where I was at before meeting James to put it simply I was a full time criminal, it was my job. I was 7 years deep into a daily heavy ice & GHB addiction and my future was not bright, since having Hard Cuddles in my corner I am currently now clean 6 months, at TAFE studying mental health, alcohol & other drugs, have my own place and life is truly going in the complete opposite direction it was less then a year ago.
Thank you so much Hard Cuddles.”
Scott Besanko
★★★★★
“Hard Cuddles helped my son to help himself and he is now helping other men. An alternative rehabilitation of coming to terms with addiction, with a team that have experienced their own hardships in a supportive, natural and healthy environment. It has enormously changed our family’s life for the better. Contact Hard Cuddles. I hope it will change yours.”
Heather Kline
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