Liz Prather, MS

Liz is a therapist in the Bend, Oregon office who works with children, adolescents, and families. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she completed the clinical track with a focus on trauma-informed and relational care. Liz is passionate about helping young people and families better understand their experiences, strengthen relationships, and develop practical skills for navigating emotional and behavioral challenges.

Liz brings extensive experience working with children and adolescents in both traditional and experiential therapeutic settings. Prior to completing her graduate training, she spent several years at Deschutes Wilderness Therapy, where she supported adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges and later moved into leadership roles supervising and training field staff. Her work included supporting family interventions, responding to crises, facilitating therapeutic and experiential activities, and helping young people build emotional regulation and healthier relationship skills.

During her clinical social work training, Liz provided individual, family, and group-based services to children and adolescents experiencing trauma, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and behavioral concerns. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and has facilitated trauma-focused groups in elementary schools. She also has experience providing caregivers with psychoeducation and practical strategies for understanding trauma, emotional regulation, and behavior.

Liz’s therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, relational, strengths-based, and grounded in family systems. She believes that behavior often communicates something important about a child or teen’s experiences and needs. Rather than focusing only on symptoms or problematic behaviors, Liz works collaboratively with clients and families to understand what may be contributing to those struggles while identifying existing strengths and building new skills. She incorporates TF-CBT, client-centered therapy, behavioral interventions, emotional regulation strategies, and family systems approaches based on each client’s developmental needs and goals.

Liz strives to create a supportive and nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship where children and teens feel understood and respected. She values collaboration with caregivers and recognizes the important role that family relationships, culture, environment, and life experiences play in a young person’s well-being. Her goal is to help clients develop greater resilience, strengthen their relationships, and feel more confident navigating challenges both within their families and in their everyday lives.