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Dr Thomas Ward

AVATAR2 Therapy Coordinator / Research Clinical Psychologist

Research interests

  • Psychology

Biography

Dr Thomas Ward is a Research Clinical Psychologist working at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. He is the Therapy Lead for the AVATAR therapy team (a digital relational intervention for distressing voices) and the SlowMo therapy team (a digital blended therapy for paranoia) and has played a key role in recent randomised trials of both approaches. He has previously coordinated a large-scale study investigating the psychosis continuum by comparing individuals with persistent psychotic experiences with and without a ‘need for care’ (the UNIQUE study; led by Dr Emmanuelle Peters). His research interests include a) elucidating the social and cognitive pathways involved in the development of psychosis b) understanding the role of thinking, reasoning and response style in driving clinical distress c) developing and evaluating novel therapeutic approaches (including the application of digital technology).

    Research

    AVATAR_head_only_large
    The Avatar Project

    The AVATAR Project was a clinical research trial of an innovative new therapeutic treatment designed to help people suffering from distressing voices.

    Project status: Completed

    avatar logo
    AVATAR2

    AVATAR therapy offers a new approach to working with distressing voices (auditory hallucinations), using digital technology to allow ‘face-to-face’ dialogue between the voice-hearer and a computerised representation of their voice (the avatar). We are now taking this forward in the AVATAR2 trial.

    UNIQUE-Logo--Standard-A4-Size-at-600dpi-A556
    UNIQUE Research Group

    UNIQUE Research group carries out a range of sudies involving people who experience persistent, full-blown psychotic experiences but are not in need of care

    vrlab_banner-image_children_placeholder
    IoPPN Virtual Reality Lab

    The IoPPN Virtual Reality Research Lab (VR Lab) is a world-leading multidisciplinary group dedicated to VR based research, assessment and treatments to improve mental health, enhance well-being and promote resilience.

    News

    £1.3 million Wellcome funding awarded to SlowMo

    SlowMo, an inclusive, digitally supported therapy for paranoia, has been awarded £1.3 million funding by Wellcome to scale up in three NHS Trusts.

    Person is shown holding a mobile phone with the SlowMo app open. Another person is shown walking past them. The top of the screen displays the text "Hi Angela, what are you thinking about?'. In the middle of the screen, a worry bubble is shown which has the text 'Someone is following me'. The bottom of the screen says 'What is you thought? Tap the bubble to enter your thought or swipe to see previous thoughts'

      Research

      AVATAR_head_only_large
      The Avatar Project

      The AVATAR Project was a clinical research trial of an innovative new therapeutic treatment designed to help people suffering from distressing voices.

      Project status: Completed

      avatar logo
      AVATAR2

      AVATAR therapy offers a new approach to working with distressing voices (auditory hallucinations), using digital technology to allow ‘face-to-face’ dialogue between the voice-hearer and a computerised representation of their voice (the avatar). We are now taking this forward in the AVATAR2 trial.

      UNIQUE-Logo--Standard-A4-Size-at-600dpi-A556
      UNIQUE Research Group

      UNIQUE Research group carries out a range of sudies involving people who experience persistent, full-blown psychotic experiences but are not in need of care

      vrlab_banner-image_children_placeholder
      IoPPN Virtual Reality Lab

      The IoPPN Virtual Reality Research Lab (VR Lab) is a world-leading multidisciplinary group dedicated to VR based research, assessment and treatments to improve mental health, enhance well-being and promote resilience.

      News

      £1.3 million Wellcome funding awarded to SlowMo

      SlowMo, an inclusive, digitally supported therapy for paranoia, has been awarded £1.3 million funding by Wellcome to scale up in three NHS Trusts.

      Person is shown holding a mobile phone with the SlowMo app open. Another person is shown walking past them. The top of the screen displays the text "Hi Angela, what are you thinking about?'. In the middle of the screen, a worry bubble is shown which has the text 'Someone is following me'. The bottom of the screen says 'What is you thought? Tap the bubble to enter your thought or swipe to see previous thoughts'