JOSEPH PORTER, MA
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - Supervisor
Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor
Certified Emotionally Focused Couples and Individual Therapist
National Certified Counselor
Services Offered
01.
I am a Certified Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Individual Therapist.
​
EFIT adapts the principles and techniques of EFT to work with individuals, focusing on their emotional experiences, relationships, and personal growth. Here are some key components and principles of Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy:
​
1. Emotion-focused approach: EFIT emphasizes the importance of emotions in understanding individuals' experiences and behaviors. Therapists help clients explore and express their emotions, identify underlying patterns, and understand how emotions influence their thoughts and actions.
2. Attachment theory: EFIT is grounded in attachment theory, which suggests that our early experiences with caregivers shape our patterns of relating to others throughout life. Therapists help clients explore their attachment history and how it impacts their current relationships and emotional well-being.
3. Exploration of emotional needs and vulnerabilities: EFIT helps individuals identify and express their emotional needs, vulnerabilities, and desires. Therapists create a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore difficult emotions and experiences, fostering self-awareness and self-compassion.
4. Identification of maladaptive patterns: EFIT helps clients recognize and understand maladaptive patterns of relating to themselves and others. Therapists help clients identify recurring themes, triggers, and coping mechanisms that may contribute to emotional distress or relationship difficulties.
5. Promotion of emotional regulation and self-soothing: EFIT teaches clients skills for regulating their emotions and managing distress. Therapists help clients develop coping strategies, self-soothing techniques, and mindfulness practices to enhance emotional resilience and well-being.
6. Building secure internal resources: EFIT aims to help individuals develop a secure sense of self and internal resources for coping with life's challenges. Therapists support clients in cultivating self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-esteem, fostering a deeper connection to themselves and others.
7. Integration of change and acceptance: EFIT integrates elements of both change-oriented and acceptance-oriented approaches to therapy. Therapists help clients explore their desires for change while also fostering acceptance of themselves and their emotions as they are.
8. Focus on personal growth and fulfillment: EFIT empowers individuals to pursue personal growth, authenticity, and fulfillment in their lives. Therapists help clients identify their values, goals, and aspirations, and support them in making meaningful changes to align their actions with their deepest desires.
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy provides a supportive and collaborative approach to helping individuals navigate their emotions, relationships, and personal development. By exploring and processing emotions, addressing attachment patterns, and fostering self-awareness, EFIT can help individuals achieve greater emotional well-being and fulfillment in their lives.
02.
I am a Certified Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Couples Therapist. I understand the complexities of intimate relationships and the challenges that couples face. Whether you're experiencing communication breakdowns, unresolved conflicts, or distance in your relationship, I work to help you navigate through these difficulties with compassion, empathy, and expertise.
Emotionally Focused Therapy is an evidence-based approach that focuses on the underlying emotional needs and attachment patterns within relationships. I am equipped with the knowledge and skills to guide you and your partner towards creating a secure and fulfilling bond.
Through a collaborative and supportive therapeutic process, our work together will identify negative patterns, heal past wounds, and foster a deeper understanding and connection between you and your partner. My goal is to provide you with the tools and insights necessary to navigate conflicts effectively, communicate authentically, and rebuild trust and intimacy in your relationship.
​
Key benefits of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy:
​
1. Promotes Secure Attachment: EFT focuses on identifying and reshaping attachment patterns within relationships. By fostering secure attachment bonds between partners, EFT helps couples feel safer, more connected, and better able to support each other emotionally.
2. Addresses Root Issues: EFT delves beneath surface-level conflicts to explore the underlying emotions and needs driving relationship dynamics. By addressing core attachment needs, such as safety, closeness, and validation, EFT helps couples break free from negative patterns and create more satisfying relationships.
3. Improves Communication: One of the hallmarks of EFT is its emphasis on improving communication between partners. Through guided conversations and experiential exercises, couples learn to express their emotions more openly, listen empathetically, and respond to each other with compassion and understanding.
4. Heals Relationship Wounds: EFT provides a structured framework for healing past hurts and resolving relationship traumas. By creating a safe space for vulnerability and emotional expression, EFT helps couples process unresolved issues and repair relationship wounds, fostering forgiveness and reconciliation.
5. Strengthens Emotional Connection: EFT helps couples deepen their emotional bond and intimacy by fostering greater empathy, trust, and responsiveness between partners. By attuning to each other's emotions and needs, couples learn to create a more supportive and loving relationship environment.
6. Enhances Relationship Satisfaction: Research has consistently shown that couples who undergo EFT experience significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, intimacy, and overall well-being. By addressing the underlying emotional dynamics of the relationship, EFT helps couples build stronger, more fulfilling partnerships.
7. Provides Lasting Results: EFT is not just about resolving immediate conflicts; it equips couples with the tools and insights they need to sustain positive changes in the long term. By cultivating healthier communication patterns and attachment bonds, EFT helps couples build a foundation for continued growth and resilience.
Overall, Emotionally Focused Therapy offers couples a powerful and transformative path towards greater connection, understanding, and fulfillment in their relationships. Whether you're struggling with communication issues, unresolved conflicts, or a lack of emotional intimacy, EFT provides a roadmap for creating the loving and supportive relationship you desire.
03.
Navigating the journey to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) can be both exciting and challenging. I understand the importance of finding the right supervisor to guide you through this process with expertise, support, and encouragement.
I am committed to providing comprehensive supervision tailored to your individual needs and career goals. Whether you're seeking licensure as an LPC or LMFT, I offer a collaborative and empowering environment to enhance your clinical skills, theoretical knowledge, and ethical understanding.
With years of experience in the field, I am equipped to offer invaluable insights, practical advice, and constructive feedback to help you navigate the complexities of the counseling profession. I strive to create a nurturing space where you can grow both personally and professionally, fostering confidence and competence as you work towards licensure.
Through a combination of individual supervision sessions, group discussions, case consultations, and ongoing support, I aim to empower you to excel in your practice and make a positive impact in the lives of your clients. My goal is not only to help you achieve licensure but also to cultivate a lifelong commitment to excellence and professional growth.
Thank you for considering me as your partner on this journey. I look forward to supporting you every step of the way towards becoming a confident and skilled LPC or LMFT.
04.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can be used to overcome past traumas, break free from negative patterns, and reclaim control over your life.
EMDR is a highly effective and evidence-based therapy approach that helps individuals process distressing memories and experiences that are at the root of their emotional and psychological difficulties. I am trained as in EMDR and am dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for clients to embark on their journey towards healing and growth.
Whether you're struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or other unresolved issues, EMDR offers a structured and systematic approach to address these challenges at their core. By engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, sounds, or tactile sensations, EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories, reduce emotional distress, and promote adaptive coping mechanisms.
I am committed to tailoring the EMDR process to meet your unique needs and goals, ensuring a personalized and effective treatment experience. With compassion, empathy, and expertise, I will guide you through each phase of the therapy process, empowering you to release the grip of past traumas and move towards a brighter and more hopeful future. EMDR therapy can help you overcome obstacles, restore balance, and live a life filled with resilience and well-being.