Deana Porter, LMFT
Therapist using practical, evidence-informed approaches
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- Relationship focus
- Trauma support
- Practical tools
About Deana
With 29 years of experience, she draws on a few core approaches to guide sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people spot and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers skills for managing strong emotions and improving reactions to stress.
She also uses the Gottman Method when relationship patterns are a central concern, working on communication and connection in concrete ways. Internal Family Systems helps people understand and calm conflicting inner parts that get in the way of decisions and relationships.
Deana adapts each conversation to fit the person in front of her. She focuses on goals like rebuilding trust, improving sleep and mood, navigating parenting challenges, coping with grief, and managing career stress. She offers straightforward tools and practices clients can try between sessions.
She emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion in every session. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
29+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
How these approaches guide online work
Deana commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors so daily routines and moods improve. DBT teaches concrete skills for handling strong emotions, reducing reactive behavior, and improving stress tolerance.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, personal preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Confirm the session formats available before booking, since the biography does not specify them. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing commute time and offering shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people use video, phone, or other supported formats to match energy level, bandwidth, or comfort with being on camera. Licensed professionals work with clients to pick practical ways to make sessions useful and convenient.
Frequently asked questions
What issues does this therapist help with?
Focus areas include relationship problems, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, self-esteem, stress, anxiety, grief, sleep and eating issues, parenting, anger, career strain, bipolar and depression, and coping with life changes.
What is the therapist's general approach or style?
The approach is practical and collaborative, combining structured techniques with supportive conversation to help clients change patterns and meet goals.
How much experience does the therapist have?
The therapist has 29 years of professional experience working with a wide range of concerns related to relationships, trauma, mood, and life transitions.
What credentials and region are listed?
The clinician is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, licensed in California.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session formats before booking, as the therapist's biography does not list specific formats on file.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with this therapist?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.