Meet Julia Ward

We are thrilled to welcome Julia Ward to our team! Read on for more about Juiia in her own words…

Hello community!

My name is Julia Ward and I’m thrilled to join GT Therapy as an Associate Therapist.

I’ve spent my career as an artist, entrepreneur, and educator. Arts education has been a through line in my professional life, and connecting with children and teens has been my greatest delight. Youth is a time of constant change and discovery. Having supportive adults in your life is key to navigating the inevitable confusion and challenges therein; we get to be examples, guides, ears, and students of the children in our lives. What a privilege!

As an educator, I was honored to support hundreds of young people both in and out of the classroom. I was lucky enough to teach a wide range of classes: from gardening to songwriting to personal essays, and many more in between. This gave me the opportunity to not only share knowledge, but to get to know my students on a personal level. While sharing playlists or planting tomatoes, we would talk about all kinds of things and I got to be privy to the inner lives of my students. It was these interactions that influenced my decision to go back to school and become a therapist. 

My educational philosophy and my therapeutic approach are similar: I aim to empower people to build on their strengths and interests, to develop skills incrementally, and to follow their curiosity. If we can make noise or get a little messy in the process all the better!

In my spare time, I spend a lot of time with my son and our family. We love to rock climb, build legos, walk our 3 big dogs, listen to music, and travel. I also play music with a few bands, practice yoga daily, garden like crazy, read, and volunteer with local food-aid groups. It’s a full and busy life and I’m grateful to my family and community for the support that makes it all possible. 

None of us exist in a bubble and we, as humans, need one another. Learning how to be in community with others is lifelong work and I am honored to be a part of that journey for children and families as a therapist.