Dr. Athena Porter , LCPC

Dr. Athena Porter is a doctorate-level mental health professional and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) who brings more than twenty years of experience to clinical practice and community outreach. She works with people coping with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress, schizophrenia, and a range of other psychological concerns, combining symptom relief with opportunities for personal growth and wellness. Dr. Porter favors an eclectic, evidence-informed approach while often drawing on cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and sociocultural models to tailor treatment to each person’s needs.

Her work extends beyond individual therapy to life coaching and wellness-focused sessions that support balance in mind, body, and spirit. Over the course of her career she has delivered community psychology services in Chicagoland, in other U.S. cities, and in Ghana, engaging in presentations at health fairs and contributing to awareness campaigns on topics such as suicide prevention, domestic violence, PTSD, HIV/AIDS, smoking cessation, substance abuse, and Covid-19. She has also shared mental health information through media outreach.

Dr. Porter emphasizes a collaborative, strengths-based style that helps people navigate adversity, rebuild relationships, manage addiction or mood challenges, and pursue meaningful change. She welcomes the opportunity to support clients toward improved coping, clearer communication, and greater wellbeing.

Therapeutic Approaches and Accessible Online Care

Dr. Athena Porter often integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy into her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression and to build practical coping skills. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be helpful for managing intense emotions, anger, and relationship struggles. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and stress-reduction practices that support self-regulation and resilience across a range of life challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Dr. Porter works collaboratively with each client and other licensed professionals as needed to determine which combination of methods best fits a person's goals, values, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy expands access to consistent care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options offer flexibility for scheduling, allow therapy to continue amid busy life demands, and make it easier to receive ongoing support from a licensed professional without travel, while maintaining the therapy relationship and continuity of care.