Works with
- Anger
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Self esteem
How Deana works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- California
- Years in practice
- 29
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Deana
Deana Porter is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 29 years of experience. She focuses on practical approaches that help people manage anger, work through relationship difficulties, and cope with anxiety and depression. Deana aims to create a calm, respectful space where people can talk about what matters most to them.
She often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients notice unhelpful thoughts and try different responses. Dialectical behavior therapy skills are used for managing strong emotions and developing distress tolerance.
Background and approach
The Gottman Method informs her work on communication and conflict patterns in relationships. Deana tailors conversations and plans to each person's needs. Sessions are straightforward and goal-focused, with room for listening and reflection.
She helps people develop concrete skills they can use between visits to reduce stress and improve sleep or eating patterns. Her background includes long-term clinical work in California, supporting people coping with trauma, grief, and life changes. She also addresses issues related to parenting, adoption and foster care, caregiving stress, and family of origin concerns.
This range gives her experience with many common life strains. People who reach out can expect clear explanations, step-by-step skill building, and respectful collaboration. Deana emphasizes steady progress rather than quick fixes.
She supports each person’s pace while focusing on practical ways to feel safer and more competent in daily life.
What Deana works with
Everything Deana lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Deana's practice.
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Narcissism
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Deana lists
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Gottman Method
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Deana commonly draws on cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy in online sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors to change mood and reactions. Dialectical behavior therapy offers practical skills for handling intense emotions, building distress tolerance, and improving emotional regulation.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan based on what works in real life.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video calls work well for longer therapy sessions and face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions can fit into a busy day or use less bandwidth. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief check-ins, skill reminders, or when writing feels easier. These options help people balance therapy with work, family, or travel.
Questions people ask about Deana
What concerns does this therapist address?
Deana helps people with anger, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy concerns, self-esteem, stress, anxiety, grief, eating and sleeping problems, parenting questions, career changes, bipolar disorder, and depression.
What is the general therapeutic style?
She uses clear, skills-based approaches and listens closely to each person. Sessions mix practical exercises with time to talk through feelings and patterns.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
She brings 29 years of professional experience working with adults on relationship and emotional concerns in California.
What are the therapist's credentials and location?
She holds the LMFT credential and practices in California.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can be held via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.