Dr. Annette Burns Porter , MD, LCPC

Dr. Annette Burns Porter, MD, LCPC, brings more than two decades of clinical experience to her work supporting individuals and families through difficult life challenges. She emphasizes a collaborative process in which the client is recognized as the expert on their own life, and she partners with each person to strengthen relationships, set clear goals, and make practical changes that reflect their values and priorities.

Her career has included both inpatient and outpatient roles, serving people across the lifespan and from diverse cultural backgrounds. Dr. Porter uses an integrative, individualized treatment style that draws from multiple evidence-informed approaches to match each client’s needs. She offers both individual and family therapy, and provides trauma-informed care for adolescents, young adults, adults, and seniors.

Areas of focus include anxiety, mood and adjustment disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, post-traumatic stress, family conflict, relationship and intimacy issues, grief and life transitions, and coping with major changes such as aging or midlife concerns. She also works with concerns related to eating, anger, self-esteem, bipolar conditions, postpartum mood challenges, and issues affecting veterans and members of the armed forces.

Dr. Porter’s formal training includes a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, in addition to undergraduate study in Family and Community Development. Her listed credentials include MD and LCPC - MD indicates a medical doctor and LCPC denotes a licensed clinical professional counselor. This combination of training and practical experience informs a thoughtful, person-centered approach to therapy that balances clinical knowledge with respect for each client’s lived experience.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Dr. Porter

Dr. Porter integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her practice to help clients clarify what matters most to them and build committed action toward those values. ACT supports people struggling with anxiety, depression, and life transitions by teaching skills to accept difficult thoughts and focus on meaningful steps forward.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a structured approach that helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, mood disorders, trauma-related symptoms, and many everyday stressors where practical skills can reduce distress and improve functioning.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Dr. Porter works with each person to explore which methods fit their goals, preferences, and circumstances, and she adapts techniques over time as progress and needs evolve.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people balancing work, family, or mobility needs. Sessions with licensed professionals can be scheduled as video calls or phone sessions, and some work is available via live chat or text-based messaging. These options make regular care more accessible and help clients maintain continuity of support while addressing stress, relationships, addiction recovery, grief, and other concerns.