About Dave Porter, MA, LMHC, SUDP

Dave Porter Therapy is passionate about mental health and working with individuals, couples, and families. As an integrative psychotherapist his counseling style is collaborative, strength-based, and rooted in Systems Thinking.  

While providing therapy services to individuals and couples, Dave supports people in discovering their strengths and resources to achieve the desired change. The therapeutic modalities which inform his work include Family Systems Therapy, Existential Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Nature Therapy. 

During treatment, he is likely to draw on ideas from one or more of these therapeutic methodologies based on the unique needs of each individual. Dave may suggest “homework” – things you can do at home between sessions to build upon our work together. He may also teach a practice of mindfulness, including breath meditation exercises to decrease stress, increase insight; while enabling improved mental health and well-being. He will employ a diverse set of resources and modalities of therapy to assist in bringing about change, growth and solutions. With full appreciation of you as a person, Dave will respect your individuality and diversity.

Collaboratively we will work to clarify your goals, and together we will identify concrete strategies you can take to improve your relationships, overcome your challenges, and feel better. Dave encourages you to take an active role in our work together, to ask questions, voice concerns, and openly share your thoughts and feelings. 

I am a Seattle native, a parent and have been married for over 35 years. Growing up in the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest has instilled in me a strong sense of how our mental, physical, and spiritual health is a continuous interaction between us and our environment. This systemic perspective is fundamental in my therapeutic work both personally and professionally as I strive to maintain my own wellbeing. My own practice of optimal health includes running, biking, hiking, yoga, nutrition and daily meditation, along with social engagement to bring about positive change in myself and the world.

After successfully working in the high technology industry for twenty-five years, I began my journey as a therapist in 2014 when I started chemical dependency counseling while completing studies of chemical dependency counseling. After completing a second master’s degree in clinical psychology from Saybrook University I am dually credentialed as a License Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), and a Substance Use Dependency Professional (SUDP).

I earned my bachelor’s degree (BA) from Western Washington University and my Master’s (MA) in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in counseling from Saybrook University.  I also have a Master’s (MA) in Organizational Leadership from Seattle University. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) through the Washington State Department of Health with license# LH 61161650 and a Substance Use Dependency Professional (SUDP) with license# CP 60937683.