Local therapist, author aims to destigmatize mental health
By GRETA SHUSTER Beacon Media Staff Writer Aug. 6, 2026
This story was originally published in the Warwick Beacon, a publication partner of Ocean State Stories.
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WARWICK — Growing up, Tami Ward was always the girl her friends came to in need of advice and a listening ear. That hasn’t changed now that she works as a therapist with her own private practice on Jefferson Boulevard.
Ward, a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), always thought that this profession would be a dream after struggling with her own mental health and being a stay-at-home mother for 18 years. After receiving her license to practice as a therapist in 2024, she is continuously excited to help others along on their mental health journeys through her work with Anchored in Hope Counseling.
“I always wanted to be a therapist, and I just never thought that I would be able to do that because of my own mental health,” she said. Ward was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but in hindsight feels she should have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder due to what she refers to as her “episodes.”
While Ward began her career working with children, many of her clients now are neurodivergent adults or anyone who has “really big emotions and intense up and downs.”
“I’m a very relational therapist,” said Ward. “To develop a good rapport and trust and the relationship itself is the work of therapy.”
She primarily uses evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectal behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness and relational therapy for adults.
“Whatever you exhibit in the therapy room is often what you exhibit in real life,” she said. “If you’re struggling here to open up, to get to know me or if you’re struggling in general, then we [look at] what other parts of your life are those struggles showing up and where can we help you get past them.”
Ward still feels like she suffers from imposter syndrome sometimes, including feelings of self-doubt despite being educated, licensed and experienced. However, when she began her higher-education journey, she “knew it was time to step out into the world and do my own thing.”
Ward, a native Rhode Islander and current Oakland Beach resident, loves being around waterways and the coastline. Her love of the ocean is reflected in her practice’s design, decor and branding.
“This is exactly how I envisioned it in my head of how I wanted by own business to be,” she said with gratitude. “I’m blessed to be able to have it.”
Ward also recently self-published a trilogy of self-help books through her own independent publishing company Salt & Spine. The books – “Feel Everything, Rule the World,” “Handle With Care” and “Grief, Growth and the Messy Middle of Becoming” – aim to guide readers through different parts of their mental health journey.
The middle book, “Handle With Care,” is centered on relationships and how to navigate being in a relationship with someone who feels their emotions very intensely. Ward said that this topic is especially important in her life as she celebrates 30 years of marriage with her husband this year.
“I was blessed to find my soulmate,” she said. “He supports me no matter what I do, never asks me to be anybody different … He has always just accepted me and loved me the way I was.”
All of her books, including journal guides that can be used by patients in therapy sessions, are available on Amazon.
In addition to her counseling work, Ward recently became certified in Levels I and II in reiki treatments. Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive energy healing practice that helps with stress and emotional regulation. Reiki is not a replacement for counseling, therapy or mental health treatment, but can be a positive addition to one’s wellness routine.
“Everybody needs therapy sometimes,” said Ward, who is very open about her own journey with her mental health and counseling. “Everybody needs somebody to talk to.”
Ward says she accepts most insurances in her practice and recently got credentialed to serve patients with Medicaid and Medicare. She said that credential is especially impactful for the older population she has had to turn away in the past.For those in need of immediate mental health support, Ward encourages people to use United Way’s 988 crisis hotline. To learn more about Anchored in Hope Counseling, Ward’s books or to inquire about services, visit https://www.anchoredinhoperi.com
Beacon Media photo by Greta Shuster
