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RP Portrait of Rita Porter

Rita Porter

Compassionate guidance for change and resilience

LCPC Illinois

Experience
32 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Rita

About Rita

Rita Porter is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois with 32 years of experience. She focuses on guiding people through difficult transitions, addressing addictive behaviors, and supporting recovery from trauma and grief.

Background and approach

Her practice also attends to a wide range of concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, ADHD, parenting challenges, and career-related distress. Rita uses a collaborative, respectful stance that prioritizes each person's individual story and goals.

She blends practical, skills-based methods with reflective, client-centered work to help clients build resilience, improve communication, and regain a sense of control. Mindfulness and acceptance-oriented strategies often complement cognitive behavioral techniques to target unhelpful thoughts and patterns while fostering greater self-compassion.

Clients can expect an approach rooted in long-term clinical experience and adaptability to changing needs. Rita emphasizes working together to identify realistic steps for change, reduce symptoms that interfere with daily life, and cultivate healthier ways of relating to oneself and others.

Sessions aim to balance short-term coping strategies with deeper exploration of underlying patterns.

Approaches That Guide Online Therapy and Growth

Rita integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address patterns that maintain distress and to build concrete skills. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression, while ACT emphasizes accepting difficult feelings and committing to actions that reflect personal values. Both approaches can be useful for issues such as stress, addiction-related behaviors, and problem-solving in daily life.

She also uses client-centered techniques to create a respectful, listening-focused foundation for work. This approach prioritizes the client's perspective, supports self-directed insight, and pairs well with skills-based methods so therapy feels tailored and collaborative. Together, these approaches allow therapist and client to decide which methods best match the client’s goals and preferences as therapy progresses.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These options make it easier to fit regular sessions into busy schedules, support continuity when life circumstances change, and allow clients to use the format that feels most comfortable for discussing personal concerns with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Rita address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family problems, parenting and career concerns, ADHD, and many related issues listed in her practice focus.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and respectful, combining client-centered support with skills-based techniques to help clients explore challenges and develop practical coping strategies.
What is Rita's clinical background and experience?
Rita holds an LCPC and brings 32 years of clinical experience working with a broad range of emotional and behavioral concerns.
Where is Rita licensed to practice?
She is licensed in Illinois with the credential IL LCPC 180.002881 and maintains her practice in that state.
Does she provide services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available for working together?
Clients may connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to availability.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy with Rita?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImmigration issuesIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

32+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English