Tina LaPorta , LMFT

Tina LaPorta is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with fifteen years of clinical experience working with adolescents and adults. She holds two master’s degrees in Psychology - one focused on college teaching and a second in counseling with a specialization in marriage and family therapy. Over the course of her career she has combined academic work and hands-on clinical practice, beginning as an adjunct professor of psychology in the San Francisco Bay Area and later moving into community-based mental health care.

Her clinical background includes work with adults who have severe, chronic symptoms as well as outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), and partial hospitalization programs for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. She also has military counseling experience with active duty service members and combat veterans, and has served in federal roles at Fort Sam Houston and Fort Bliss before working in Vet Centers for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Tina has treated a broad range of concerns including depression, anxiety, PTSD, relationship and family problems, substance abuse, anger, grief, and life adjustment issues.

Licensed in Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, and Arizona, Tina prefers a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach that focuses on practical cognitive and behavioral changes to help clients reach their goals. She also integrates family systems and motivational techniques when appropriate to address relationship patterns, attachment concerns, and recovery from trauma and addiction.

Approach to Therapy Online and How It Helps

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured approach that helps clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and substance use by teaching practical skills for coping and problem solving.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, acceptance, and collaboration. This approach supports self-exploration, improves self-esteem, and strengthens relationships by creating a nonjudgmental space where a client’s priorities guide the work.

Motivational Interviewing is a conversational, goal-oriented method that helps people resolve ambivalence about change. It is especially useful for addressing addictions, readiness for change, and commitment-related issues by building intrinsic motivation.

Determining the right therapeutic approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences and then tailor techniques accordingly, often blending approaches to meet the situation.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for those balancing work, family, or mobility constraints. Licensed professionals can meet with clients through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing continuity of care and easier scheduling while maintaining therapeutic focus and connection.