Today we’d like to introduce you to Q Porschatis
Hi Q, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
We inevitably encounter moments where we must make choices—forks in the road that shape our paths. I’ve faced many such moments that altered my trajectory in various ways. While some decisions felt dictated to me, my journey ultimately led me to the mental health field, and in 2019, I founded Salty Counseling.
My journey began in high school when I dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player and earning a full-ride scholarship to attend college. However, that dream ended abruptly when my coach pointed out that my left-sided layups were weak and I didn’t make the High School team. I realized I needed to pivot and find another way to pay for college. Attending a four-year university was my biggest goal then, but coming from a modest background and without the emotional and financial support I needed, I had to carve my own path. I also attempted to join the military, another dream of mine since childhood, but that path was cut short as well. I was denied entry, likely due to my sexuality.
I was crushed that things weren’t going the way I had hoped. Then, I saw a commercial on TV for a local culinary school that offered free courses to high school seniors. I thought that becoming a chef would provide me with job security. So, during my senior year of high school, I enrolled in the culinary school. The commercial also advertised job placements upon graduation. After completing the program, I reminded my chef instructor about the job placement guarantee. He had a good laugh but ended up calling in a favor at a country club, where my culinary career officially began.
At 18, I started my career as a full-time prep cook at a country club. After about a year of hard work and striving to advance in the kitchen, I became serious again about my goal of attending the University of Utah for my undergraduate studies. Once admitted to the University of Utah, it opened many doors for me. While balancing full-time work as a line cook and saucier chef with part-time to full-time school was challenging, I managed to do so successfully. During my undergraduate studies, I aimed to attend graduate school to become a sexuality researcher and university professor. However, before completing my degree, I received an opportunity to move to Boston. At 23, while working as a sous chef and attending UMass Boston, I discovered my interest in business as my chef mentor taught me how to open and operate a restaurant.
Living on my own in the City of Champions at such a formative age promoted my growth in ways I could have never imagined and allowed me the space to explore myself as I began to step into my authentic self. After moving back to Utah, I graduated with degrees in both Psychology and Gender Studies. I left my culinary career behind to work at a local mental health hospital in 2013. This transition was a significant culture shock for me. In the kitchen, I was accustomed to the chaos of dinner service, with people shouting to ensure everything ran smoothly while preparing beautifully crafted dishes. In contrast, working in the mental health field had a much slower pace, where my focus was on helping others regain their well-being.
Working with people during their most vulnerable times of need and suffering made me realize my desire to work more closely with individuals in a therapeutic setting. In 2015, I applied to and was accepted into the University of Utah’s Master of Social Work program, graduating with high honors in 2017. My graduate studies and internships helped refine my ambition to open a private practice and provide individual therapy as a trauma specialist, culminating in establishing my practice, Salty Counseling, in 2019. While the forks in the road seemed unfair or confusing at the time, as I reflect on my life’s different trajectories, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It wasn’t an easy journey, but the struggles I faced, although difficult at the time, helped shape who I am today. In my 20s, my dreams felt out of reach due to the constant challenges and obstacles in my way, yet I continued to push forward. I embraced the mindset of “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” Through determination, grit, and fortitude, my resilience grew, ultimately leading me to where I am now. These experiences have not only shaped me but also allowed me to better understand and relate to the struggles of others.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am Q Porschatis (she/her), a licensed mental health therapist based in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a specialist in trauma and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, I provide therapy services tailored to high-achieving Millennial women and queer individuals. My clients often experience anxiety, stress, disconnection, and feelings of being overwhelmed due to unresolved relational trauma and current life challenges. Together, we engage in deeper therapeutic work to explore how their past influences their present, allowing them to step into their true, authentic selves and live healthier, more peaceful lives.
At Salty Counseling, my focus is on helping clients address the root causes of stress, anxiety, and trauma. I aim to guide them in transforming their inner pain and stories into awareness and personal growth, allowing them to step into their confident, unapologetic selves. Many of my clients have gone to talk therapy in the past but felt that their issues remained unresolved, leading to the same problems resurfacing over time.
My dedication to achieving goal-driven and long-lasting results sets me apart from other therapists. I believe that therapy should not be a lifelong requirement for symptom management. To help clients achieve lasting change, I use Polyvagal Theory and EMDR therapy.
Polyvagal Theory teaches clients how their nervous system works and provides strategies to improve the Vagus nerve functioning for better self-regulation. This foundational understanding is crucial, as it equips clients with the tools needed for deeper therapeutic work. Through EMDR, we identify the root causes of current-day issues and address the traumas or past events that continue to cause distress. This process allows for a total system upgrade of the brain and body. As a result, clients can free themselves from the daily triggers and emotional turmoil stemming from their past experiences. EMDR helps the brain reprocess the adverse impactful events, allowing both the brain and nervous system to finally settle and stop being in a state of constant alarm.
I take great pride in my client’s commitment to this work. It’s not an easy journey, but they consistently show up ready for therapy and apply what they’ve learned in their daily lives. Nothing is more rewarding than reflecting on how far a client has come, from the beginning of therapy to the day they graduate. Witnessing their transformation and seeing them become the best version of themselves is truly inspiring. Helping clients achieve lasting results is a significant part of my motivation as a therapist.
I want potential clients to know that I am not the type of therapist who simply listens while you talk about your week; I actively engage in the deeper work with you. Treatment is goal-oriented, which means we will create a plan together to help you achieve your ultimate goals.
I understand that working through trauma can be terrifying. That’s why I focus a lot on preparation and skills before diving into the more challenging aspects of the client’s experiences. My priority is to ensure that my clients feel safe and ready to work on their trauma. Although this work can be difficult, it is incredibly rewarding. Take it from my personal experience and from the many clients I have successfully helped.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Throughout my childhood and young adult life, I often felt like I was dealt a bad hand in terms of luck. However, I was fortunate to have many mentors and friends who encouraged me to keep moving forward. Moving to Boston was also a pivotal moment for me, and that’s when I began to feel my luck change.
I opened my business in October 2019, just before the onset of COVID-19. Initially, it felt like terrible luck as I tried to navigate the challenges of running a business during the pandemic. Now, I know that my business can withstand anything. Not many businesses survived COVID-19, but I thrived. Although I once wished to be lucky, I now realize that my experiences—including the struggles and adversity—have shaped who I am today. Without those trials and tribulations, I wouldn’t be here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saltycounseling.com/
