{"id":588,"date":"2026-04-21T16:36:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T23:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dnc-test.myddns.me\/wave-counseling\/therapists\/melissa-collins-porter\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T13:58:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T20:58:49","slug":"melissa-collins-porter","status":"publish","type":"wt-staff_therapist","link":"https:\/\/dnc-test.myddns.me\/wave-counseling\/therapists\/melissa-collins-porter\/","title":{"rendered":"Melissa Collins-Porter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hello! I\u2019m Mel and I\u2019m so glad you\u2019re here. I\u2019m passionate about helping people feel more at peace with themselves and the world around them. Life can be messy and complicated, and therapy is a place where we can make sense of it together. Before becoming a therapist, I spent many years teaching film studies. I\u2019ve always been fascinated by stories\u2014the ones told on screen and the ones we carry inside. In therapy, I see each person\u2019s story as unique and worth honoring. We\u2019re all shaped by our experiences, our families, our culture, and our biology. I take a holistic approach that acknowledges the full picture of who you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you walk into my office, my goal is for you to feel accepted just as you are. You\u2019ll be met with warmth, curiosity, and respect. I leave my own values at the door, because this space is about helping you live in alignment with your values. We all exist on a spectrum of mental health, and your struggles are simply part of being human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My work is rooted in attachment-based and psychodynamic theories, drawing from Jung, Rogers, Frankl, Klein, and Satir. I work with individuals, couples, and families of all ages\u2014from kids and teens to adults\u2014helping people heal, grow, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">connect more deeply with themselves and others. My approaches are trauma-informed, LGBT-QIA- affirming, and neurodiversity-embracing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outside of therapy, you\u2019ll likely find me running, reading, watching movies, soaking up sun at the beach, or spending time with my family, friends, and two labradoodles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specialties:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Trauma<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anxiety and depression<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Personality disorders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Substance use disorders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pornography and sexual issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parent coaching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support for families of children with special needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perimenopause and menopause support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Therapeutic Approaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Internal Family Systems (IFS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mindfulness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brainspotting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motivational Interviewing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":358,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"wt-staff__therapist__email":"insurance@wave-therapist.org","wt-staff__therapist__licenses":"AMFT#159601","wt-staff__therapist__phone":"","wt-staff__therapist__pronouns":"She","wt-staff__therapist__role":"","wt-staff__therapist__titles":"Associate Marriage and Family Therapist\r\nSupervised by Lani Riedler LMFT 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