Dr. Phaecia Ward
Dr. Phaecia Ward
(she/her)
I’m Dr. Ward, and I help people who are tired of pretending they’re okay when they’re not. My clients are strong, capable, and deeply overwhelmed—managing marriages that feel distant, kids who need more than they can give, and the weight of everyone else’s needs on their shoulders. I work with women and couples who are running on empty but still showing up every day, quietly asking, “What about me?” In therapy, we make space for you. We untangle the pressure, the silence, the self-doubt—and we start telling the truth. Not just about what’s going wrong, but about what you want, what you deserve, and how to stop shrinking to survive. My work is honest, direct, deeply compassionate, and always rooted in helping you feel like yourself again—not the version of you that’s just barely holding it together.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Your first session isn’t about running down a checklist—it’s about starting a conversation that feels real. I ask thoughtful, engaging questions that go beyond the surface because I want to really understand who you are—not just your symptoms or what’s “wrong,” but how you’ve been holding it all together, what you’ve been carrying, and what matters most to you. We’ll talk about what brought you in, yes—but also about the moments that have shaped you, the relationships that are pulling at you, and the parts of yourself you’ve had to put on the back burner just to make it through the day. My job in that first session is to listen closely, connect the dots, and create a space that feels safe, grounded, and judgment-free. By the end of our session, you'll know what we’re working toward together. You won’t leave wondering, “So… now what?” You’ll leave with clarity, a sense of direction, and hopefully, the relief of knowing this space is finally yours.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I’m not just a doctor with credentials and fancy letters after my name—I’m a real person who knows what it feels like to carry the weight of emotional exhaustion, complicated relationships, and the pressure to keep going when everything inside you is begging for rest. I’ve been through it. I’ve done my own work. And that’s exactly why I’m so passionate about helping you do yours. My greatest strength as a provider isn’t just my training—it’s my clarity. I know what it’s like to feel stuck, misunderstood, or emotionally stretched too thin. I know what it’s like to want change but not know where to begin. I bring that knowing into every session. Clients often tell me they feel seen in ways they never have before—like I “get it” without them having to explain everything. I show up with honesty, warmth, and zero judgment. I ask the questions that get to the heart of the matter—not the cookie-cutter stuff—and I’m not afraid to hold space for the hard things and the healing. I blend clinical excellence with lived experience, which means you get a therapist who’s not just an expert in the theory—but someone who understands the real-life messiness behind it all. That’s where real growth starts.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
You’re my kind of client if you’re the strong one. The one who keeps the family running, shows up for everyone else, and still lies awake at night wondering why you feel so unseen, so disconnected, or so emotionally exhausted. Maybe your relationship feels like it’s stuck on autopilot. Maybe you’re pouring into everyone and getting nothing back. Maybe you’ve mastered looking “fine” in public while privately unraveling in silence. The clients I work best with are smart, self-aware, and tired of carrying emotional burdens that were never meant to be theirs alone. You want change—you just don’t want fluff, judgment, or a therapist who nods while you drown. You want someone who will tell you the truth, hold you with compassion, and walk with you while you figure out how to stop just surviving and start feeling whole again. If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.
About Dr. Phaecia Ward
Dr. Phaecia Ward offers therapy covered by UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicaid in Ohio.
I identify as
Specialties
Serves ages
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) in my work because it’s a powerful yet practical approach that helps people make meaningful changes without getting stuck fighting their thoughts or emotions. ACT is all about learning how to accept what’s out of your control, connect with your values, and take committed action toward the life you want. I like using ACT because it’s easy for clients to understand and apply. It doesn’t rely on long, drawn-out processing—instead, it gives you tools you can start using right away to feel more grounded, focused, and in charge of your decisions. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, low motivation, relationship struggles, or just feeling stuck, ACT helps you move forward without waiting for everything to feel “perfect” first.
Attachment-based
I use attachment-based therapy because I’m passionate about helping people understand the why behind their patterns—why you react the way you do, why certain relationships feel hard, or why you might shut down or push people away without meaning to. Once we understand that “why,” it becomes a whole lot easier to figure out the how—how to heal, how to connect, and how to show up differently in your relationships. Attachment work looks at the emotional blueprints we develop early in life—usually through our caregivers or early experiences—and how those patterns show up in the present. The goal isn’t to blame the past, but to make sense of it so you can move forward with more clarity, compassion, and confidence. I believe that when people feel emotionally safe and seen, real change happens.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) because I believe in helping clients tap into their own strengths, wisdom, and decision-making power. This approach is all about focusing on what’s working, identifying your goals, and building practical steps to get there—without spending session after session rehashing what’s wrong. Instead of digging endlessly into problems, SFBT helps us explore your resources, past successes, and the small shifts that can lead to big change. I love using this method because it puts you in the driver’s seat. You get to define what progress looks like and what matters most, and together we’ll build a plan that feels real and doable for your life.