Stephanie Portka
Stephanie Portka
(she/her)
Hola! I’m a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist committed to providing high- quality care through convenient telehealth sessions. Since 2017, I have helped adults, children, and families navigate depression, stress, anxiety, major life events, and issues specific to the Latinx, BIPOC, and immigrant communities. I aim to create a therapeutic experience that is truly your own. Recognizing diverse experiences and backgrounds, I tailor interventions to be both culturally sensitive and responsive to each person's unique situation. I use a holistic, strength-based, and integrative perspective to address the whole person within their environment, rather than isolated symptoms. Using techniques from approaches like CBT and Mindfulness within a Person-Centered framework, I will help support and empower you in recognizing your resilience and provide tools for positive change, resulting in a more fulfilling life.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Within a calm, warm, and supportive environment, I will help you process personal thoughts and feelings, recognizing that this can be difficult, especially at first. The initial session focuses on building rapport as you tell me your story. You can expect to answer some questions about your background and the reasons for seeking therapy. This will help to determine how to provide the best support for you. The goal is to establish a clear direction for your therapy journey.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I am authentic. My focus is always on my clients. Our session is at 7:00 am? I am there with you, coffee in hand, ready for whatever you bring to session. I really care about my clients and deeply empathize with them. I believe creating a safe and trusting space is a key strength for a therapist, enabling clients to feel seen, heard, and understood without judgment. I approach each session with calmness, empathy, active listening, and authenticity, which I have witnessed has helped build strong therapeutic relationships. This in turn encourages open communication and vulnerability, which are essential for healing and personal growth. My goal is to make you feel understood and valued, providing a non-judgmental space for open expression. I'm patient in building a trusting relationship with you, aiming to empower you to feel comforted, heard, and validated.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
With a foundation built on extensive training through the Department of Mental Health, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals through diverse mental health challenges, from acute crises to processing past trauma and everyday obstacles. My approach offers a pathway for those seeking relief from depression, stress, and anxiety, who are ready to build self-awareness and confidence. As a mother of two and child of immigrants, I understand the challenges of postpartum life, motherhood, and the unique mental health needs of the Latinx, BIPOC, and immigrant communities. The focus of my practice is to support those navigating any major life event, situational adjustments, intergenerational trauma, and perinatal / postpartum changes to help you achieve a more satisfying life.
About Stephanie Portka
I identify as
Serves ages
Licensed in
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I aim to create a therapeutic experience that is truly your own. I use a holistic, strength-based, and integrative perspective to address the whole person within their environment, rather than isolated symptoms. Within a Person-Centered framework, I will help support and empower you in recognizing your resilience and provide tools for positive change, resulting in a more fulfilling life.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I teach mindfulness-based skills that will, with time, help you intentionally focus your attention on the present moment with acceptance and non-judgment. This often helps clients observe their thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in reactive patterns, ultimately fostering greater emotional regulation and well-being.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I often use techniques from CBT to help you identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to emotional distress or problematic behaviors. These skills help you learn to replace negative patterns with more realistic and adaptive ways of thinking and acting, leading to improved emotional regulation and overall well-being.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Recognizing diverse experiences and backgrounds, I tailor interventions to be both culturally sensitive and responsive to each person's unique situation.