Therapy

Warm. Relational. Accessible.

At Live Oak Psychological Services, we are a small, mission-driven group practice rooted in relational, experiential, and psychodynamic approaches to healing. We provide thoughtful, present-focused psychotherapy for adults and older adults, and we are committed to making high-quality care accessible. Our clinicians share a deep respect for the emotional lives of our clients, the complexity of their histories, and the importance of feeling understood. We offer therapy and psychological assessment grounded in curiosity, attunement, and authentic connection.

McDonald (“Mac”) Porter, M.A.

Registered Psychological Associate Working Under the Supervision of Susan Ryan, PsyD.

Relational–Narrative Therapy for Adolescents and Adults

Mac works with adolescents and adults through a deeply relational and narrative lens. He is interested in the stories people carry — the ones they were handed, the ones they learned to survive, and the ones they are ready to revise. His style is warm, reflective, collaborative, and grounded in psychodynamic thinking.

Mac has extensive experience supporting youth and families navigating trauma, major transitions, identity development, and complex relational histories. His clinical work draws from years of community-based and school-based therapy and assessment. Whether working with a teenager sorting through overwhelming emotions or an adult trying to piece together a new sense of self, Mac helps clients understand how relationships shape their inner world and how new stories can open pathways toward healing.

Jonathan D. Vasquez, M.A.

Registered Psychological Associate Working Under the Supervision of Susan Ryan, PsyD.

Therapy for Adults Ready to Look Deeper, Understand Themselves, and Grow

Jonathan offers psychotherapy that invites honest self-examination and meaningful change. His work is deeply relational and psychoanalytic, paying close attention to how your emotional patterns show up in the room and in your relationships. He brings a steady, attuned presence while also gently challenging the defenses, avoidances, and fears that keep you stuck.

Clients experience him as warm, collaborative, and willing to go beneath the surface to understand what’s been hard to face alone. His goal is to help you see yourself more clearly, work through old relational templates, and build a life that feels more authentic, connected, and fully your own.

Susan Ryan, Psy.D.

Psychotherapy for Adults & Older Adults | Relational, Present-Focused, Emotionally Attuned

Susan is a present-focused, emotionally attuned therapist who works with adults and older adults facing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship struggles, and significant life transitions. Her work centers on helping people understand what they are feeling in the moment and what those feelings are asking for — all while staying closely connected to each person’s pace, nervous system, and needs.

Grounded in relational psychodynamic therapy and informed by her extensive experience in geropsychology, Susan offers a compassionate space where clients can slow down, reflect, and build inner capacities that support meaningful change. She is also committed to accessibility and serves Medicare beneficiaries as part of her dedication to reducing barriers to care for older adults.