About Eric Goodwin,

Portland, Oregon Therapist for Anxiety, LGBTQ+ Affirming Counseling and Mindfulness

The anxiety, shame and “stuck” feeling have become overwhelming. You don’t think you can handle another day having to put on a brave face just to get through your day. What was once merely uncomfortable is now urgent – like a blinking red warning light in your heart that it’s time for a change. You’re ready for help but finding the best therapist for you is daunting when you’re feeling distressed and overwhelmed. Finding someone you trust and who can understand what you’re going through is essential!

Therapy and healing:

There is hope that you can feel better and I’m here to help! As a Licensed Professional Counselor and queer therapist in Portland, OR, I specialize in work with Anxiety, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) Affirming Therapy, Mindfulness and Self-Compassion, and untangling Shame + Self-Criticism. When my shit hit the fan, having a place to be understood and the support of a compassionate therapist in a safe and affirming space helped me grow and heal, and inspired me to become a therapist myself. Seeing and relating to the pain and suffering in the LGBTQIA+ community and the community-at-large, and wanting to help ease that suffering further drew me into this work. In sessions, I have seen incredible things happen as the people I work with begin to take those meaningful steps forward toward healing and the changes they hope to see in their lives.

What to expect when working with me:

Therapy with me is grounding, warm, and collaborative. Clients often describe feeling safe, seen, and deeply understood in our sessions. One of the things I realized after I opened my practice was how hard people are on themselves when they’re already suffering! I believe that the most important person to have in your corner when you’re facing fears and healing wounds is yourself, and I’ll be there to remind you along the way (just in case you forget). I’m not a distant observer. I’ll be present with you in the tough moments and celebrate the small (but powerful) steps forward. If something feels off or unclear, I’ll check in, because our work is built on trust, not perfection.

A Practice That Honors Creativity and Complexity
Creativity is something I see as essential to healing. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in music, theatre, and then arts education and I continue to be moved by the creative self-expression of the people I work with. Whether or not you identify as an artist, your life is a story in motion. Therapy can be a place where you reclaim authorship, where you explore what’s shaped you, what you believe in, and how you want to move forward. These elements can all be part of your healing.

I also bring a deep respect for learning into my practice. I’ve pursued extensive post-graduate training in Mindfulness and Meditation in Psychotherapy, Mindful Self-Compassion, and Compassion-Focused Therapy, not only to deepen my skill set but because I believe therapy is most helpful when it’s informed, intentional, and attuned to your needs.

My Credentials:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (C7586) registered with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists.

• National Certified Counselor (NCC) (331919)

• I have completed post-graduate training in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) Parts-Work and Mindful Self-Compassion.

• I earned my Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY - Brockport in 2014

Professional Memberships:

• Proud member of GLMA -Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality

• Member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) since 2012.

What to do next:

Do you have more questions before getting started? Call me at 971.533.5590 or click here and let’s see if I’m a good fit. If so we’ll schedule our first session together, set our goals, and go from there!