Olde Port Counseling, PLLC

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United States
Portsmouth, NH
Olde Port Counseling, PLLC

Healing relationships, connecting families, and empowering change. Services are offered both in person and online.

Olde Port Counseling, PLLC is a collection of therapists working toward the same goal: serving the community to better the lives and relationships of families on the seacoast. We offer an array of child and adolescent therapy, family therapy, couple and marital, and individual counseling to uncover the issues that contribute to problems and help you obtain the vision you always wanted for your family.

02/02/2026

Meet Laurie A. Couture, LCMHC. 👋

If you are a parent looking for support for your child, we want you to meet Laurie.

With over 25 years of experience, Laurie specializes in helping children, teens, and young adults (ages 3–22) navigate developmental trauma, attachment challenges, and behavioral struggles.

Her philosophy is simple: Healing should be supportive, encouraging, and even fun.

Laurie takes a "whole-child" approach. She doesn't just look at behaviors; she looks at the heart of the family. Using tools like EMDR and connection-based parenting coaching, she partners with parents to help children smile, thrive, and reconnect.

She is also a published author and a passionate advocate for families in the Seacoast area.

If your family needs a compassionate guide to help navigate a tough season, Laurie is here to help.

Ready to start the journey? Visit the link in our bio to read her full profile and request an appointment.

01/28/2026

You can't out-run a high-stress life.

You can do everything right physically—clean diet, gym, sleep tracking—but if your mind is stuck in high-gear anxiety, your body will never truly be healthy.

The cold hard truth: Insurance companies know this. Their data shows that when people invest in therapy, their physical medical costs decrease.

Why? Because your doctor manages the hardware, but therapy upgrades the software.

If you want to be physically healthy this year, you need both.

Complete your health team today.

01/26/2026

You don’t have to have the perfect script to be a great partner.

We put so much pressure on ourselves in relationships. We think we need to be eloquent, witty, or have the perfect "therapist response" ready at all times.

We act like if we stumble over our words, we fail.

But here is the good news:

Science tells us that the actual words you use are the smallest part of the equation.

The vast majority of connection doesn't come from your vocabulary. It comes from your tone, your eyes, and the safety you create just by being there.

This is a relief.

It means you don't have to be a poet. You don't have to be a lawyer. You don't even have to know exactly what to say.

You just have to show up with a soft tone and a kind heart.

Watch the reel for the surprising breakdown of how we actually connect.

01/21/2026

Welcome to The Tune Up: A monthly series where we give you one clinical tool to keep the engine running smooth.

This Month: The 5 Whys.

We often find ourselves screaming about a sock on the floor, or a dishwasher, or a traffic jam... and thinking, "Why am I reacting like this?"

In therapy, we call this the presenting problem. It’s the thing you think you are mad about. But usually, the real pain is buried about five layers down.

How to use the tool: When you feel triggered, ask yourself "Why does this upset me?" Then take that answer, and ask "Why?" again. Do it 5 times.

Layer 1: Logistics ("The house is messy").

Layer 3: Emotion ("I'm overwhelmed").

Layer 5: Core Belief ("I am unsupported").

If you can communicate from Layer 5, you might actually get heard. If you stay at Layer 1, you'll just keep arguing about chores.

Save this tool for your next "unexplained" bad mood.

01/19/2026

The biggest enemy of progress isn’t laziness. It’s perfectionism.

We often paralyze ourselves waiting for the "A+" scenario:

Waiting for a full hour to work out.

Waiting for the perfect quiet time to meditate.

Waiting for enough energy to tackle the whole project.

And because that perfect moment rarely comes, we end up doing zero.

Mental Fitness is about embracing the "B- Effort."

A messy 10-minute walk beats sitting on the couch. Reading one page beats reading none. Doing it imperfectly beats waiting for "perfect."

Stop waiting to get it right. Just get it going.

If you are stuck in the all-or-nothing loop, we can help you build a plan that actually sticks. Click the link in our bio to grab a spot on our calendar.

#603

01/14/2026

Mental Fitness: Missed Connection Edition

Have you ever found yourself snapping at your partner just because they glanced at a screen?

And then, later, you sit there wondering: "Why did I get so angry? It was just a text."

The Mental Fitness Concept: You aren't fighting about the phone. You are experiencing a Missed Connection.

We often spend years acting like lawyers, trying to prove our Intent. "I didn't mean to be rude." "I was just checking the time." "I was listening!"

But here is the shift: Your partner isn't reacting to your Intent. They are reacting to your Impact.

You can argue about etiquette. You can argue about the facts. You cannot argue with Impact.

If your partner feels unimportant, no amount of logic regarding your "good intentions" will fix that. You have to address the feeling, not the phone.

The Rep for this week: The next time a small moment triggers a big reaction, try to translate the impact.

Ask yourself: "What is the real question I am asking right now?"

If you can be brave enough to say, "I'm feeling unimportant" instead of "You are addicted to that screen," you stop the fight and start the connection.

01/12/2026

If you are arguing, there is still hope.

We tend to panic when conflict spikes in our relationships. We assume it means we are incompatible or that things are falling apart.

But here is a different perspective: Conflict is often a "bid" for connection. It’s a signal that you are still trying to bridge the gap between you and your partner. It’s messy, yes, but it’s alive.

The real enemy of a relationship isn’t anger. It is indifference.

It’s when you stop bringing things up because you’ve decided it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s when the house goes quiet because you’ve stopped trying to reach each other.

So, if you and your partner have been clashing lately: Don't view it as a failure. View it as energy that just needs a new direction.

You don't need to stop arguing. You just need new tools to help you communicate better—so the conflict leads to understanding instead of distance.

We can help with that.

Click the link in our bio to schedule a session with one of our couples therapists.

#603

01/07/2026

Hey you! It’s time...

We are one week into the New Year. The routine is kicking back in. And if you are like a lot of people, there is one item on your mental to-do list that keeps getting pushed to "next week."

Finding a therapist.

Maybe you are looking for yourself because you want to stop white-knuckling your anxiety. Maybe you are looking for couples counseling because you want to reconnect with your partner. Maybe you are looking for your child or teen because you want to give them the best support possible.

Whatever your "Why" is, this is your sign to stop waiting.

You don't need to wait for a crisis. You don't need to wait until things are "falling apart." You are allowed to get support simply because you want things to feel better than they do right now.

Let’s make this the week you finally send the email.

Click the link in our bio to meet our team. We work with individuals, couples, and families right here on the Seacoast.

01/05/2026

Finding the right therapist is all about the fit.

If you have been looking for someone who combines deep clinical experience with a truly collaborative approach, we want to introduce you (or re-introduce you!) to Meredith.

Meredith is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over 12 years of experience. She doesn’t believe in a "one-size-fits-all" manual for therapy.

Instead, she strives to meet you exactly where you are, without judgment.

She might be the right fit for you if:
🌱 You are navigating a transition: Meredith specializes in supporting young adults as they navigate the complex jump into adulthood.
🧠 You need support with ADHD or Anxiety: She offers evidence-based strategies to help manage neurodivergence and mood disorders.
❤️‍🩹 You are processing Trauma: She has extensive background in Trauma-Focused CBT to help you heal safely.

She can see clients in both New Hampshire AND Maine (perfect for our border-town neighbors!).

Meredith offers sessions both in-person in Portsmouth or via Telehealth.

"I believe a successful therapeutic relationship is built on trust, respect, and openness to growth."

Meredith has openings for new clients. To schedule an appointment, click the link in our bio and select Meredith from our team page.

#603 #207

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! ✨

From all of us at Olde Port Counseling, we are wishing you fresh energy, good health, and moments of joy in 2026.

Thank you for being part of our community here on the Seacoast. We are so grateful to share this space with you.

Cheers to a new chapter!

#603

12/29/2025

Don't treat your life like a home renovation project.

We have been conditioned to treat January 1st as "Demo Day." We set resolutions that feel like a gut renovation; tearing down our habits, our bodies, and our personalities to build something "better."

You are not a fixer-upper. 🛑

The version of you that navigated 2025 is resilient, capable, and strong. You don't need to rip out the floorboards to be enough.

The challenge for you this year: Focus on maintenance, not demolition.

Instead of trying to build a whole new you, just focus on clearing out the clutter.

👋 Trash the guilt.
👋 Donate the heavy expectations.
👋 Sweep out the old narratives that don't fit anymore.

The foundation is already good. You just need a little space to breathe.

#603

12/25/2025

Whether you are celebrating with a full house or having a quiet day on the Seacoast, we are sending warmth your way.

Thank you for letting us be part of this community.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Address

406 The Hill
Portsmouth, NH
03801

Website

http://www.oldeportcounseling.com/, http://linktr.ee/olde_port_counseling

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