Tina LaPorta , LMFT

Tina LaPorta is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 15 years of clinical and teaching experience. She holds two master’s degrees in psychology - one focused on college teaching and a second in counseling with a specialization in marriage and family therapy - and brings that combined background to work with adults and adolescents facing depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use concerns, relationship and family challenges, and life transitions.

Her professional path began in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she spent six years as an adjunct professor in psychology before transitioning to hands-on clinical work. Early clinical roles included community-based mental health treatment for adults with severe, chronic symptoms such as schizophrenia, and later work in outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), and partial hospitalization programs treating co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

LaPorta also has experience providing counseling to military populations, including active duty service members and combat veterans. She worked for the federal government in roles at Fort Sam Houston and Fort Bliss, and later served in Vet Centers with the Department of Veterans Affairs as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is licensed in Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, and Arizona. LaPorta favors a cognitive behavioral therapy approach, emphasizing cognitive and behavioral change strategies to help clients reach their goals, and she combines that focus with a broad background in family systems and trauma-informed care. For questions, she welcomes inquiries via written contact.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Tina LaPorta commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy to support people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and substance use concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, which can be helpful for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and many everyday challenges. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy and collaboration, creating a space where clients explore goals and values and build self-directed solutions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and LaPorta works collaboratively with each person to determine what methods fit best with their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors strategies over time, combining elements of different approaches when appropriate so the plan aligns with the client’s priorities.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for people seeking flexibility and accessibility. Sessions can take place by video call, by phone, through live chat, or via text-based messaging, allowing therapy to fit around work, family, and other commitments. Working remotely also makes it easier for people in different locations, including international clients, to connect with licensed professionals and therapists who have the right expertise for their situation.