Melissa Porter

Hi! I’m Melissa. I strive to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel comfortable being themselves and talking openly about what they are experiencing. I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship begins with genuine connection, empathy, and respect for each person’s individual experiences and perspective. I also believe therapy works best as a collaborative process, where we work together to understand what matters most to you, identify what may be getting in the way, and make meaningful changes that move you toward the life you want to live. I enjoy working with adolescents, adults, and families. I am especially interested in helping clients navigate anxiety, life transitions, relationships, identity, self-esteem, and other challenges that can arise throughout different stages of life. My approach is strengths-based, with the understanding that therapy should be tailored to each client's unique needs, goals, values, and personality. I am a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student at Concordia University Chicago and am completing my clinical training as a therapist intern. Before pursuing a career in counseling, I spent more than 20 years working in television production. Throughout my previous career, much of my work centered around listening to people’s stories, building trust, navigating difficult conversations, and connecting with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Those experiences ultimately helped lead me to counseling and continue to shape the way I approach my work with clients.