Anxiety, depression, and relationship problems are experiences that we all go through from time to time. If you feel overwhelmed by negative, unwanted feelings or believe you are dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or any combination of stress that has impacted your peace of mind or disrupted your relationships, then we would be a good fit. You are certainly not alone in your struggle and deserve to recapture the peace of mind and joy that escapes you these days. As such, my primary goal is to help you shift from feeling good to living well. Drawing from diverse educational, career, and life experiences, I use a blend of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Process-Based Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as well as mind-body approaches to support individuals holistically. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 30 years of experience. I use compassion, positive psychology, and understanding to help adults and adolescents become their best selves. Therapy is a safe space to address mental health struggles or challenges while also helping you overcome obstacles. As mentioned, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Positive Psychology, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) heavily influence my therapeutic approach. This approach is most effective in treating addiction, anxiety, depression, anger, and trauma and in helping individuals or couples facing relationship or parenting difficulties. Through ACT, you'll learn to be more psychologically present, connect with your values, make room for life's inevitable pain, take effective action despite emotional discomfort, and appreciate each moment of your life. While my specialty is brief therapy, in some cases, an extended therapeutic relationship may be necessary and helpful, especially for adults and parents trying to navigate complex mental health struggles as well as difficult child-rearing adjustments at home.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), aims to help individuals maximize their potential and live a meaningful life while effectively managing the inevitable pain that comes with it. In our first session, I will help you identify what truly matters to you and teach you the skills to handle challenging thoughts and emotions, fully engage in your activities, and appreciate the fulfilling aspects of life. I will also ask about your therapy goals and how you will measure the success of our time together. In subsequent sessions, my main focus will be identifying improvements and positive changes in your life.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
In my work, I prioritize building solutions rather than just addressing problems. Positive Psychology, similar to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is a form of psychotherapy that helps individuals change their perspective and take control of their lives. This method, when combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), draws from traditional behavioral and cognitive therapy and has shown effectiveness in treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, addiction, self-harm, and post-traumatic stress. It also aids individuals and couples dealing with relationship or parenting challenges. In my practice, I am primarily interested in observing objective and visible behaviors rather than focusing on diagnoses or labels. The therapeutic relationship involves understanding the client's perspective on a problem, whether it involves loneliness, anxiety, depression, anger, or family conflicts. In my practice, the key to therapy is being sensitive to how clients or families perceive their problems, considering factors such as age or stage of life.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I combine Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Positive Psychology in my therapeutic approach. My focus is on promoting self-compassion and empathy towards others. Establishing trust and a strong rapport with my clients is crucial, and I am committed to deeply understanding their experiences, triggers, and behaviors. My approach involves practicing empathy, active listening, and immersing myself in the client's perspective, which has proven effective in addressing a wide range of issues, including depression, anger, anxiety disorders, workplace stress, PTSD, and relationship or parenting difficulties. With a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy and certification in behavioral analysis, I specialize in addressing challenging child behaviors such as ADHD at home, school, or both.
About Dr. Walter Prather, Ph.D., LMFT, BCBA-D
Specializes in
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT, in combination with Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), stems from traditional behavior and cognitive behavioral therapy and is the cornerstone of my most relevant experience and training.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Like positive psychology, SFT is a form of psychotherapy that focuses more on what the client can do with solutions rather than the origin of the problem. Solution-focused practitioners focus on goal-oriented questioning to assist and guide clients to envision a future without the problem. When dealing with any client concern, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship difficulties, the SFT technique focuses on identifying the exception—instances where things worked well despite the problem. By examining the exception, a path towards a solution can be developed.