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DP Portrait of Deana Porter

Deana Porter

Compassionate therapy focused on meaningful change

LMFT California

Experience
29 years in practice
Focus areas
Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Languages
English
Continue with Deana

About Deana

Deana Porter is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in California who draws on nearly three decades of clinical experience to support people facing relationship and personal challenges.

Background and approach

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside other evidence-informed methods to help clients explore patterns that influence emotions, behavior, and mutual interactions. Her work often addresses relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related difficulties, and issues of self-esteem and motivation.

Porter also attends to a broad range of life stressors including anxiety, grief, eating and sleeping problems, parenting and fatherhood matters, career transitions, bipolar and depressive symptoms, and compassion fatigue. She brings a respectful, sensitive, and compassionate stance to sessions, adapting conversations and treatment plans to reflect each person’s unique circumstances.

Deana frames the first step toward change as an act of courage and offers steady support while clients pursue clearer goals and improved functioning.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life



Deana Porter uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; this approach is practical for managing anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. She also integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques when clients need tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. These methods are presented in clear, approachable ways so clients can practice skills between sessions and track progress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the collaborative work in therapy. Porter partners with each client to assess needs, goals, and personal preferences, then tailors interventions and a treatment plan rather than imposing a single method. That collaborative process helps determine whether CBT, DBT skills, or other strategies will best support the client’s objectives.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and accessibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats allow clients to engage in skill-building, structured interventions, and conversational work from locations that suit them while coordinating appointments around daily life.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with a wide array of issues including relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, self-esteem, stress, anxiety, grief, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting challenges, anger, career stress, bipolar and depression, and compassion fatigue.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with other modalities to explore thought and behavior patterns while emphasizing respect, sensitivity, and compassion in the therapeutic relationship.
How long has she practiced?
She brings 29 years of professional experience to her work, applying long-term clinical exposure to a range of relationship and personal concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, credentialed as CA LMFT 46489, and practices in California.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
She provides services in English and is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and preferences.
How is cost and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteem

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyGriefEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDependent personalityDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesNarcissismSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Gottman MethodInternal Family Systems

Experience

29+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English