Dr. Athena Porter , LCPC

Dr. Athena Porter is a seasoned mental health professional who brings more than two decades of experience to her clinical work. She holds a doctorate in Clinical/Community Psychology and is an LCPC - a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - who has focused her practice on a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, parenting, ADHD, and career-related challenges. She combines evidence-based methods with empathic support to help people navigate both acute symptoms and ongoing life transitions.

She views life as a journey that engages mind, body, and spirit, and she offers therapy alongside life coaching and wellness-focused sessions to support personal growth as well as symptom relief. Her clinical toolkit reflects a flexible, client-centered stance that draws on cognitive-behavioral, dialectical, existential, hypnotherapeutic, and mindfulness-informed techniques to address emotional regulation, coping strategies, and deeper meaning-making.

Over the course of her more than 21-year career, Dr. Porter has delivered community psychology services in Chicagoland, in numerous U.S. cities, and in Ghana. Her outreach has included presentations and awareness efforts on topics such as suicide prevention, domestic violence, PTSD, HIV/AIDS, smoking cessation, substance abuse, and COVID-19, and she has shared mental health information through media channels. She welcomes new clients and is committed to helping people find balance in body, mind, and spirit.

Evidence-informed approaches and accessible online care

Dr. Athena Porter frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy alongside mindfulness-based practices to help clients manage distress and develop practical skills. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and related mood concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially helpful for intense emotions, relationship challenges, and patterns of self-harm or impulsivity. Mindfulness Therapy cultivates present-moment awareness and self-compassion, supporting stress reduction, improved focus, and coping with ongoing life changes.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Dr. Porter works with each person to explore goals, preferences, and practical needs, and she tailors treatment plans so therapists and clients can adjust methods as progress unfolds. This shared decision-making helps ensure the work aligns with what matters most to the client.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access licensed professionals from different locations while preserving the therapeutic relationship and continuity of care.