Angela Prather
Maybe you're the person everyone depends on—the capable one who keeps going. Underneath, you may be grieving, overwhelmed, questioning relationships, replaying the past, or simply exhausted from carrying so much. I'm Angela, and I work with adults navigating grief, trauma, intense emotions, attachment and relationship patterns, women's issues, and life transitions. My style is warm, human, and active. Using EMDR, ART, CBT, DBT, and attachment-informed approaches, we won't just talk about what happened—we'll understand why it still affects you and build practical ways forward. You don't have to pretend you're okay here. I work with people who look capable on the outside but feel overwhelmed underneath—navigating grief, trauma, intense emotions, relationship patterns, or major life changes. Together, we'll uncover what's keeping you stuck, understand where it began, and build healthier responses so your past no longer has to keep making your decisions for you. You don't have to have everything figured out before reaching out. Whether you're grieving, overwhelmed, stuck in old patterns, or simply tired of carrying so much alone, you deserve a space where you can be real. If you're ready for something to change, I invite you to reach out. We can begin right where you are.
First session
Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin understanding what brings you to therapy. I’ll ask about what you’ve been experiencing, what matters to you, and what you hope might feel different. You can share at a pace that feels comfortable; you do not have to tell your whole story in one meeting. I’ll also explain how I work, answer your questions, and talk with you about possible next steps. My hope is that you leave feeling heard, with a clearer sense of how we can work together.
Strengths
I bring warmth, honesty, and a steady presence to my sessions. I listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and help clients make sense of patterns they may have struggled to put into words. My approach is collaborative and practical: we make room for your story while building tools you can use outside the therapy room. My work with grief and trauma has taught me that people need more than a set of techniques. They need to feel understood and have space to move at their own pace. I draw on my clinical training and lived experience to meet you where you are, then help you find a way forward that fits your life and values.
Ideal clients
I work well with people who are carrying grief, trauma, anxiety, or relationship pain and want a place where they can be honest about how hard things feel. You may be struggling with a recent loss, noticing that an old experience still shapes your reactions, or feeling stuck in patterns you want to understand. You do not need to know exactly what your goals are or feel ready to make big changes. A willingness to be curious about yourself is enough to begin. Together, we can make room for what you have been through, build skills for the present, and explore what moving forward means to you.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT gives me a way to help a client notice a pattern, test it, and practice a different response. I can use it without making the session feel like a worksheet. For a 40-minute session, I might use this flow: 1. Choose one recent moment. I ask, “What happened this week that you’d like us to understand better?” 2. Map the cycle together. We identify what happened, the client’s immediate interpretation, their feelings and body sensations, what they did, and what happened next. 3. Get curious about the thought. I might ask, “What made that interpretation feel true?” “Is there anything you might be missing?” or “What would be a fairer way to describe what happened?” I’m looking for a believable perspective, not forced positivity. 4. Choose one action to try. Depending on the pattern, I might help the client plan a manageable activity, practice a conversation, solve a specific problem, or test a prediction in real life. 5. Agree on a small practice between sessions. We choose something that feels doable and review what the client learned next time, including if it did not go as planned. For example, if a client texts a friend and gets no reply, they might think, “I’ve upset them.” They feel anxious, send several follow-up messages, and stay on alert. I would explore what else could explain the silence. Together, we might design an experiment: send one message, wait, and record what the client predicted alongside what actually happened. My approach is collaborative. I help clients examine an interpretation; I do not tell them their feelings are irrational or try to argue them out of them. I also use behavioral tools, such as activity planning and exposure, when they fit the client’s needs. Thought records are just one option. With grief and trauma clients, I first make room for the reality of the loss or threat. A thought like “I miss him every day” does not need correcting. CBT may be helpful when an interpretation adds pain or limits the client’s life, such as “If I laugh today, I’m betraying him.” I would explore that belief gently while respecting what it means to the client.
EMDR
Sometimes a difficult experience is over, but your mind and body still respond as though it is happening now. A reminder might bring up anxiety, a painful belief about yourself, or a reaction that feels bigger than the present moment. I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to help clients work with experiences that continue to affect them. We begin by talking about what you are experiencing now and what you hope will change. I take time to understand your history, explain the process, and help you build ways to manage distress. We decide together whether EMDR is a good fit and when you feel ready to begin processing. During processing, I guide you to briefly notice aspects of a memory while using side-to-side eye movements or another form of alternating stimulation, such as tapping. I check in with you throughout. You do not have to tell me every detail of what happened, and you can let me know whenever you need to pause. My goal is to help the memory feel less overwhelming and make room for a more helpful understanding of yourself and what happened. We move at a pace that respects your needs. EMDR is one part of therapy, and I may also use conversation, grounding, and other approaches to support you along the way.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to help clients understand intense emotions and respond to them with more choice. In our sessions, we look at what happens before a difficult moment, what you feel in your mind and body, how you respond, and what might help next time. We practice skills together so you can use them in your everyday life. DBT focuses on four areas: mindfulness, managing painful emotions, getting through a crisis without making it worse, and communicating effectively. I tailor the skills to what you are facing. That might mean learning how to pause during an argument, ask for what you need, set a boundary, or care for yourself when an emotion feels overwhelming. For clients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, I approach this work with compassion and without judgment. Your emotions and experiences deserve to be understood. We can explore patterns in relationships, fears of abandonment, impulsive responses, or shifts in how you see yourself and others. I help you make sense of those patterns while building skills that support steadier relationships and a stronger sense of self. I also use DBT skills with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and other concerns when those skills fit their goals. You do not need a borderline personality disorder diagnosis to benefit from them. My approach balances acceptance and change: we make room for what you are feeling while working toward the life and relationships you want.
Narrative
I use narrative therapy to help clients explore the stories they have come to believe about themselves. Difficult experiences can leave us with conclusions such as “I’m too much,” “I always fail,” or “This loss is all I am now.” Together, we get curious about where those stories came from, how they affect your life, and whether they tell the whole truth. I listen for the values, strengths, and choices that may have been overlooked. I may ask when a problem has had the strongest hold on you, when you have felt even a little more like yourself, and what those moments say about what matters to you. This helps us see the problem as something you are facing, rather than your identity. I often use this approach in grief and trauma work. I will never ask you to turn a painful experience into a positive story or leave someone you love behind. Instead, we can make room for what happened, honor the relationship or experience, and explore how you want to carry it forward. You have a voice in how your story continues.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I believe you are the expert on your own life. My first job is to understand your experience as you see it and offer a space where you can speak honestly without fear of judgment. You do not have to arrive knowing exactly what is wrong or what you want to change. We can begin wherever you are. In our sessions, I listen closely, ask questions, and reflect back what I hear so we can understand what matters most to you. I pay attention to your strengths as well as your pain. We work together at a pace that feels right for you, and I welcome your feedback about what is or is not helping. This humanistic approach shapes all of my work, including when I use more structured methods such as EMDR, CBT, or DBT. Techniques can be useful, but our relationship is the foundation. I want you to feel heard, respected, and supported as you make choices that fit your values and the life you want to build.
Location
Virtual sessions