aute porter

registered associate marriage and family therapist #119539

  • pronounced /awe-tay/ like latte

    I was born in Tahiti to my Tahitian-immigrant mother and my white-Californian father, and was raised in the small beach town of Carpinteria, CA. Growing up as a sensitive human-being, I greatly felt the effects of being told who I was expected to be from those around me, and often responded to implicit messages of “not belonging” through achievement and the aspiration for perfection. As someone who presents as ethnically-ambiguous, and who is multiracial, multicultural, first-generation, and a holder of white privilege, I have felt as though I am continuously untangling myself from all that is projected onto me, while also trying to locate what feels like the real “me” in the process.

Now as a therapist, my hope is to assist anyone who feels as though parts of themselves are unacceptable or not good enough, and assure them of the beauty these “unacceptable” parts are capable of. 

Outside of the therapy office, you’ll probably find me sipping iced coffee, tending to my extensive houseplant collection, or spending quality time with my adorable long-haired dachshund. Some things I love are: art, taking photos, traveling, soup dumplings, and finding the best chocolate chip cookie recipe.

 

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology - University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

  • Master of Marriage and Family Therapy - University of Southern California (USC)

CLINICAL TRAINING

I completed my Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree from USC, where I had the privilege of learning from powerful voices in the field, and receiving education well-oriented to an integrative approach, and to intersectionality. I have additional training on the decolonization of the mental health field, and incorporating ancestral healing modalities from the Genesis Healing Institute. I am currently completing training on Traumatic Stress Studies, covering the scope of trauma presentation and treatment, from the Trauma Resource Foundation. The bulk of my clinical experience stems from working with individuals coping with anxiety, depression, complex-trauma, BPD, PTSD, identity development, relationship conflicts, grief, anger, and major life transitions. Alongside my work in private practice, I also am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at the Community Counseling and Education Center (CCEC) in Santa Barbara, CA.