Meet Angela Prior: Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor and Registered Yoga Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Prior and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, I just knew I wanted to create a business that reflected how I wanted to do things. I was feeling stifled working at hospitals in the traditional medical model. I wanted to create a mental health practice that allowed for creative expression, that allowed me more control over the clients I treated, and being able to integrate alternative therapies such as yoga therapy and mindfulness. I started small with just myself as a solo practioner and in the past 4 1/2 years the business has grown to include 2 other therapists, a movement studio, an art program, and hopeful after the pandemic we will be bringing back our mental health yoga classes.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
AP Counseling and Yoga is an Integrative Mental health center. We provide mental health counseling from licensed mental health professionals and supportive therapeutic yoga services to support mental health. As a practice we have integrated and melded both traditional talk therapy along side somatic and alternative modalities to support and facilitate healing. As Eating Disorder, Anxiety, and Trauma Specialists we have a core belief that we are all stronger together. The therapists at APCY achieve this though strong collaboration with additional providers throughout the community based on our client’s individualized needs. As health care providers we have seen inequity and discriminatory practices and we are committed as allies to the LGBTQIA+ community and to the Health at Every Size movement. Health at Every Size is an approach to celebrating body diversity, social justice movement, values body knowledge and lived experience, finding the joy in movement, and eating in a flexible and attuned manner.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As I am a native Ohioan all my visitors are usually brand new to visiting Texas so my first stops is to always introduce everyone to yummy Texmex and I personally love Blue Goose on Greenville. I love introducing people to Deep Ellum, the murals, and Emporium Pies for sweet late night treat. Downtown views and drinks from the Belmont Hotel is a must with the mid century architecture and the views of the skyline lit up at night. A new favorite would be the beer garden at Manhattan Project Brewery especially on a perfect spring day. And I could never forget a walk around the lake at White Rock. It’s our own little slice of heaven in the middle of the metroplex.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband. He has been my biggest and most steadfast supporter. Whenever I waivered with the risk or felt that I couldn’t do something he was right there cheering me on and pushing me forward. As I enter into a new season of life that also includes motherhood as well as being a business owner I know that I would not be able to do this without him.

Website: www.apcounselingandyoga.com
Instagram: @angelapriorlcsw and @apcounselingandyoga
Linkedin: Angela Prior
Facebook: apcounselingandyoga