Hunter Ward

Available for In-Person Sessions & Teletherapy!

I consider counseling a journey toward self-discovery, transformation, and authenticity that we will embark on together. Our journey will be motivated by curiosity, mindfulness, safety, and the commitment to take one’s existence seriously. Through these values we will discover the power within you to find a way forward to the life you desire. I will guide you through confusing issues, provide new perspectives, encourage you to exercise your strengths, and collaboratively find constructive and creative ways to move forward. The goal is to help you see the change you seek is already within you, recognizing and appreciating this core potential. This will allow you to experience yourself as more potent in your life and open possibilities in your future.

In today’s world, personal development often focuses on finding a fix or cure to who you are, and this continues to perpetuate the belief that you are a problem. Rather than viewing you as something to fix, I will focus on helping you strengthen your self-knowledge and self-direction and in doing so, aid you to discover your most authentic self. This approach is grounded in existential psychology, experiential therapies, and mindfulness. Through this method, we will not only rely on talk therapy but also bring awareness to how experiences and emotions show up in your body. Much of our inner consciousness reveals itself through unconscious habits such as posture, movement, gesture, and facial expression. Paying attention to the mind-body connection will allow us to holistically explore your deeply held beliefs and meaning. By uncovering, understanding and healing these beliefs we will allow you find long-lasting change and the life you desire.

The therapeutic journey can be a challenging one, and it is natural to be nervous about what you will explore, uncover, and learn about yourself. However, the reward on other side is being able to move closer to a place of safety, courage, and hope. I would be honored to embark on this journey with you. If my message speaks to you, I encourage you to contact me with any other questions or to explore if we would be a good fit.

More About Hunter

I was born in Houston, TX but grew up just a few hours west of Austin in the Hill Country. I was raised in a single-mother household with a younger sister. My childhood was centered around sports with the goal of becoming a professional athlete. However, it turns out I have always been much better at helping others and listening to their stories.

Over the last decade, I have spent my professional time in various health and fitness domains providing individual/group coaching alongside nutritional and lifestyle guidance. I learned through these experience that an integrative mind-body approach is important to assist others in reaching their full potential. This led me to pursue a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of Western States. During my education, I completed a fourteen-month internship at Capital Area Counseling. I worked with adults experiencing various challenges such as depression, anxiety, life transitions, identity development, family conflict, grief, trauma, life transitions, and stress. This opportunity offered me the experience of genuine contact with others and how meaningful it is to assist others in reaching authenticity in life. My previous education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master’s degree in Kinesiology with a specialization in Sports Psychology.

Outside the office, I am continuing my education to pursue an EdD in Sports and Performance Psychology. If I am not studying, you can find me reading a science fiction novel or a recent sports report. I love all things sports, especially baseball (Go ‘Stros!). I participate in a local Sandlot baseball team and love to be physically active every chance I can. I have two dogs; sometimes, they are the bane of my existence, but I don’t know what to do without them.