- Anxiety and depression
- Family of origin issues
- CBT and DBT approaches
About Athena
Dr. Athena Porter is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 21 years of experience. She works with adults facing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, stress, and relationship and family concerns. She also helps people coping with life changes, addiction, grief, and challenges related to parenting and career adjustments.
Porter uses several evidence-based approaches. She often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, alongside existential and mindfulness-based ideas. She also uses hypnotherapy when appropriate and brings a sociocultural perspective to conversations about identity and stress.
In sessions she focuses on practical skills and clearer thinking. Clients can expect to talk through specific problems, practice strategies for managing mood and worry, and work on communication and coping skills. She offers life coaching and wellness work alongside clinical support when goals include personal growth or behavioral change.
Her background includes community psychology work in the Chicago area and efforts in other U.S. cities and Ghana. That work has involved public presentations, awareness campaigns, and media outreach on topics such as suicide prevention, PTSD, substance misuse, and smoking cessation. These experiences inform how she thinks about social and cultural factors that affect mental health.
Porter frames therapy as a collaboration. She helps people recognize patterns that come from family of origin issues and current stressors, then develop concrete steps to change how those patterns show up in daily life. The focus is on techniques that can be used between sessions and on realistic goals for everyday functioning.
Approaches used in online sessions
Dr. Porter commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and trying different behaviors to change mood and functioning, which can help with anxiety, depression, and mood regulation. DBT emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication skills, which is useful for managing intense emotions and relationship stress.She also integrates mindfulness techniques to help people notice patterns of thought and reduce reactivity. Together these approaches give practical tools to try between sessions. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. The therapist will work collaboratively with the client to decide what fits their goals, needs, and preferences rather than imposing a single method.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the available online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - they can save travel time, allow a shorter check-in when schedules are tight, and reduce the need to arrange childcare or long commutes. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT, DBT, and mindfulness exercises to work well in virtual appointments, and this can help translate skills into everyday routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
21+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, stress, anger, addiction, relationship and family concerns, and related problems such as grief and parenting strain.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses practical approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, plus existential and mindfulness ideas, and hypnotherapy when appropriate.
How much experience does she have?
She has 21 years of professional experience providing clinical and community psychology services.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is an LCPC, licensed in Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.