About Rita
Rita Porter is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois with 32 years of experience. She focuses on helping people through tough emotional times and major life changes. Her work often addresses anxiety, depression, addictive behaviors, and relationship struggles.
Clients find a calm, steady presence in sessions. She listens first, then helps people name what matters most to them. Conversations move from understanding what is happening now to practical steps to feel more in control and connected.
Rita pays close attention to family of origin patterns and how they show up in day-to-day life. She also supports people dealing with codependency, caregiving stress, blended family issues, and the stresses of aging. Practical strategies and small experiments are used alongside deeper emotional work.
Her style balances direct skills teaching with space for emotion. Techniques come from several approaches so sessions can include mindfulness exercises, cognitive reframes, and values-based action planning. The aim is to build resilience and clearer choices rather than quick fixes.
Rita works with adults who want to make lasting changes in mood, behavior, or relationships. She focuses on the person in front of her and tailors the pace and tools to each individual. For someone facing grief, addiction challenges, or major transitions, she offers steady guidance and concrete next steps.
How Rita’s approaches translate to online work
Rita uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in straightforward, practical ways. ACT helps people clarify what they value and take small actions toward those values even when feelings are hard. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and practicing different responses to reduce symptoms like anxiety and low mood.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Rita will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, then try methods that fit. Adjustments are made along the way based on what is and isn’t helping.
Confirm session formats before booking since formats were not specified in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, support shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They can also allow use of digital resources between meetings, like worksheets and mindfulness practices, so work continues between sessions.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
32+ years
Credentials
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Rita commonly address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship issues, grief, parenting strain, ADHD, and many family-of-origin and life-transition struggles.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and practical. She listens closely, uses simple skills, and pairs emotional exploration with small behavioral changes.
How many years has she practiced?
Rita has 32 years of experience as a practicing therapist in clinical settings and private practice.
What credentials and location apply?
She holds an LCPC credential and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a therapy connection?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.