Rate Spencer Porter

As a licensed psychotherapist here in Maryland for over three decades, I have developed a deeply rewarding practice of assisting individuals as they navigate the complex emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual landscapes that each of us encounter in our inner and outer daily lives.

My initial apprenticeship with a Chinese acupuncturist gave me an appreciation of the profound effectiveness of giving time and space to listen into a person's subjective experiences, either finding words to express symptoms or sitting together quietly as the still wordless place of some form of pain or distress finds expression.

My work as a psychotherapist is effective, in part, because I have come to understand that every problem of living contains the seeds of its own resolution. We are ALL profoundly resourceful creatures.

The process of psychotherapy is one of awakening and reviving our natural instincts: instincts for health and healing, for creativity, for intimacy, for work, and for community.

The collective forms of 'othering' others that our times are revealing become more understandable when our own experiences of suffering are tended-- first, from outside the familiar perimeter and then gradually and tenderly from closer at hand.

Such shared attention to what is missing from and what is present in one's daily life can reveal an undernourished source of greater clarity for peace of mind. Noticing the ways that past experience constricts and undermines our present lives is an important step in conserving energy for use to cultivate an inner repertoire of tools for self-liberation.

Choosing in the therapeutic environment to engage any tender, frightened, angry, grieving, or despondent part of ourselves requires a trustworthiness that only compassionate, respectful, attuned, and courageous interactions can bring. It also necessitates the acknowledgement of --among other determinants--the racial, gendered, spiritual, developmental, and generational underpinnings of the self.

In these ways, greater understanding of our human complexity can simplify our living.

I am committed to creating a supportive environment where people can explore their feelings, develop resilient coping strategies, and pursue their goals. My practice is grounded in respect, active listening, and a dedication to helping individuals navigate their emotional reserves with confidence and hope.

Getting to know and appreciate who we are as individuals in the expanded self-awareness of the therapy hour allows us to notice resources that are easily overlooked within the demands of navigating day to day life.

In summary, it is my experience that self-healing is facilitated by the transforming capacity of careful attention to that which is present in and that which is absent from our everyday life.

Such careful attention given to any hidden fear, self-doubt, rage, anxiety, grief, dread, or despair can create a missing outlet for the yearning to find a voice.

It is a privilege to work with individuals to undertake these efforts.