Meet Our Team
Cheryl Porter (Founder/Executive Director)
Hi, my name is Cheryl Porter and I am the founder and Executive Director of Porter’s House Inc. I started Porter’s House in 2016 with the goal of teaching emotional, behavioral, and life skills to local youth in the community in hopes of supporting them in utilizing the skills across all environments.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Management as well as 15 years of experience working with children ages 5-18 in behavioral health settings and in the context of various roles/positions. At Porter’s House, I am responsible for running all facets of the business. We aim to provide high quality care and easily accessible programs for the youth and families in our community. I look forward to leading and collaborating with my team at Porter’s House in order to ensure a positive and impactful experience for all youth and families participating in one of our programs!
Contact Info:
203-519-2222
Sara Wrenn, LCSW (Clinical Coordinator)
Hi, my name is Sara Wrenn. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 9 years of experience in the mental health field. I have worked with teens experiencing challenges with addiction where I collaborated closely with the teens and their families. In this role, I provided individual, family, and group therapy to assist them in exploring triggers, learning coping skills, and implementing learned skills to support them in living a substance free life. I have also worked in an Extended Day Treatment Program, working with youth ages 5-17 as well as their families. In this capacity, I worked with youth experiencing various mental health challenges, including but not limited to: oppositional behaviors, difficulty focusing, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and depression. I also have experience working as a school social worker in special education schools. I believe it is important to utilize humor and highlight client strengths in order to assist children in creating change during treatment which they will be able to maintain after discharge. I’m excited to help you and your child make these changes!
Contact Info:
203-675-3079
Christie Caneschi, LMFT, RPT (Clinical Coordinator)
Hi! My name is Christie Caneschi. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who enjoys working together collaboratively with the family system in an effort to support family members in creating sustainable change and increasing functional patterns of interaction. I have experience working in Extended Day Treatment (EDT) programs where I provided group, individual, and family therapy to children experiencing significant emotional and behavioral concerns.
I am also a Registered Play Therapist and believe strongly in the therapeutic powers of play, often incorporating play-based techniques in my work with children and families as play has been found to be one of the most effective and natural forms of communication for children. Additionally, I believe there to be undeniable healing power in the human-animal bond. Further, as someone who has been living with Type 1 Diabetes since age 6, I not only have personal experience in this area, but I have also completed training through the American Diabetes Association and the American Psychological Association to demonstrate competence in treating the mental health needs of people with diabetes. I look forward to helping you and your child achieve your goals!
Contact Info:
203-675-3738
Keyana Sabbakhan, LPCA (Outpatient Clinician, School-Based Clinician)
Hi, my name is Keyana Sabbakhan. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) who is very excited to have recently joined the Porter’s House team! I received my Master's in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University in 2019. I have experience working in both the school and outpatient clinic settings, providing therapeutic services to children and adolescents. Most of my previous work has been rooted in prevention, providing children and families with coping skills to help navigate current and future stressors. Typically, my therapeutic approach involves supporting clients in identifying challenging behaviors and/or emotional states and inviting them to explore healthy solutions and tools in order to function more effectively. I have a primary interest in using hands-on approaches, often incorporating play and the arts. I strongly believe in being curious and explorative with children, which often means taking the time to figure out how they best communicate their concerns and needs, especially when that form of communication is nonverbal.
I also believe in a Family Systems approach. I think it is important for the family to be involved in the process of therapy, even if it is individual counseling for one child. So, I am excited to also support parents and guardians in discovering the solutions and tools that work for their family. As someone who grew up in Waterbury, I am eager to offer support and guide those in my community toward their goals!