Andrea Porter MSW
Thank you for taking the time to review my profile. I hope what you read meets your needs and helps ground you in the knowledge that there are people in the world dedicated to helping others meet their personal goals, while overcoming personal struggles. Throughout our lifetime we may experience various changes, challenges, barriers and losses leaving us feeling overwhelmed, stressed, depressed, and alone. I will help you understand the connections between the thoughts you have, the moods and emotions you feel, and the behaviours you engage in. We will learn skills and strategies to work through your current struggles, while highlighting and bolstering existing strengths.
I am a Social Worker registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and am in good standing. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree (psychology major) from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Ryerson University, and a Master of Social Work degree from Windsor University.
My formal training and experiences are rooted in CBT, ACT, CPT and DBT. I often thread in self compassion and mindfulness, and am well versed in crisis planning. I consider myself a lifelong learner, believing that any new information or tools that I can learn, can only serve to benefit the people I connect with every day. I have 20 years of experience working in mental health, with children through to end stages of life, within various community and hospital-based settings.
My approach is collaborative and non judgmental while anchored in cultural humility. We live in a community with diversity in its membership and it is of utmost importance to attempt to establish a feeling of safety in our sessions. I would be honoured to support you as you strive towards achieving balance and wellness in your life.