Tara Prestridge, LPC, NCC, LPC-S | Licensed Professional Counselor & Clinical Supervisor

Tara Prestridge is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and board-certified clinical supervisor with over 15 years of experience in mental health counseling. She brings comprehensive expertise across diverse treatment settings and specializes in therapeutic relationship development and evidence-based interventions.

Specializations & Counseling Services

Tara provides professional counseling for adolescents and adults addressing:

• Depression and anxiety treatment
• Trauma therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Substance abuse and addiction counseling
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training
• Mental health crisis intervention
• School-based counseling services
• Intensive outpatient therapy
• Clinical supervision for associate counselors

Education & Advanced Training

• Ph.D. Candidate in Counselor Education, University of Arkansas (dissertation in progress on warmth and caring in therapeutic relationships)
• Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Henderson State University (2007)
• Bachelor of Science, Henderson State University (2004)
• EMDR Trained Therapist for trauma treatment
• Board-Certified Clinical Supervisor (LPC-S) for licensed associate counselors

Comprehensive Clinical Experience

Tara's diverse mental health experience includes:

• Outpatient therapy and individual counseling
• Inpatient psychiatric hospital care
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Substance abuse treatment programs
• School-based mental health services
• Case management and care coordination
• Assessment and psychiatric admissions
• Community support services and day treatment
• DBT skills groups facilitation
• Recreational therapy programming
• Teaching undergraduate counseling courses at the University of Arkansas

Therapeutic Approach

Tara's clinical work emphasizes the importance of warmth, caring, and genuine connection within the therapeutic relationship—the focus of her doctoral research. She utilizes evidence-based treatment modalities including:

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma processing
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation and distress tolerance
• Client-centered therapy focused on building strong therapeutic alliances
• Integrated treatment approaches tailored to individual client needs

Clinical Supervision Services

As a board-certified clinical supervisor (LPC-S), Tara provides professional supervision to Licensed Associate Counselors (LACs) pursuing full licensure, offering mentorship in clinical skills, ethical decision-making, and professional development.

Personal Life

Tara lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.

Licensing & Credentials

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)
• Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor (LPC-S)
• Licensed in Arkansas