Looking for LGBTQ+ Affirming Anxiety Therapy in Portland? What to Ask First
With therapy for anxiety in Portland, you don’t have to explain your existence just to get help.
LGBTQ+ affirming anxiety therapy in Oregon honors connection, safety, and the courage it takes to seek support.
If you’ve ever sat across from someone who was almost getting it…but not quite…you know how exhausting it can be to try to make yourself understood. To cautiously, soften your language, to leave parts of yourself at the door, or to weigh whether it’s worth correcting your therapist when something doesn’t quite land.
Especially for Queer clients navigating anxiety, the last thing you want is to feel like therapy is one more space where you have to translate your experience. And that’s exactly why finding LGBTQ+ affirming anxiety counseling in Portland matters.
You deserve care that gets you; not just clinically, but humanly.
And you’re allowed to ask for it.
Affirming Therapy Doesn’t Start with a Label. It Starts with How You Feel in the Room
When psychotherapy is truly affirming, something in your body knows. It’s like a breath you didn’t realize you were holding finally releasing. It’s like the moment you say something vulnerable and realize you’re not being judged or analyzed, but really heard.
For many Queer clients who reach out to me, there’s often a hope (sometimes in the background) that this could be a space where they don’t have to explain the basics. That it won’t be a conversation full of assumptions. That they won’t have to justify the pain they carry or defend why it makes sense to be anxious in a world that often scrutinizes them for who they are.
And still, it’s not always easy to know how to ask for that. Especially when previous experiences have taught you to expect microaggressions, erasure, or even well-meaning therapists who “mean no harm” but miss the mark.
That’s why part of our work is helping you reconnect with your own inner compass, and that can begin with trusting your gut in the search for a therapist.
You’re Allowed to Ask the Questions That Matter to You
If you’re exploring anxiety therapy in Portland and want to make sure the therapist is LGBTQ+ affirming, here’s the truth: you don’t need a perfect script or clinical language. You’re allowed to ask what matters to you in the way that feels most true.
Some clients want to know: Do you work with Queer folks regularly? Others may ask: How do you support people who are working through internalized self-criticism or shame? And some might be quietly asking themselves: Can I really be all of me here…or just the “easiest” parts?
In our work together, I invite those questions. I don’t expect you to come in already trusting me, and I don’t assume I’ll get it right every time. In fact, I let clients know from the beginning that they have full permission to say, “That didn’t land,” or “That’s not quite it,” without ever needing to apologize.
Because that right there is part of the healing: learning you don’t have to perform in therapy. You don’t have to filter or shrink. You’re allowed to take up space, to speak up, to be whole.
Anxiety That Makes Sense in a World That Doesn’t Always Feel Safe
Anxiety comes in many shades of intensity and experience. Sometimes, it’s a subtle belief that you’re too much. Or not enough. Or that if you just get it right, maybe you’ll feel okay.
For Queer folks, those whispers are often shaped by more than just personal experiences, they’re shaped by living in a world where we’re too often misunderstood, policed, or erased. And in today’s climate, with rising hostility toward LGBTQ+ communities, it makes sense if you’re feeling more activated, more on edge, or more isolated than usual.
You are not imagining it. You are not being dramatic. And you are not alone.
In anxiety counseling in Portland, we honor that context. We don’t pathologize your experience. We recognize the intelligence behind your symptoms. Your vigilance, your self-doubt, your fear of being “too much” didn’t come from nowhere. They came from real moments where those parts of you kept you safe. And that is worth honoring.
Therapy That Feels Like a Soft Landing
Good therapy doesn’t demand that you trust right away. It invites you into a space where trust can grow.
Clients often tell me they’re surprised by how different therapy can feel when they’re truly affirmed. That being asked, “Is there anything about this that feels related to prejudice, or pressure to be a certain way?” helps them realize how often they’ve carried those experiences alone. That a therapist asking for clarification, rather than making assumptions, feels like an unexpected relief. That they don’t have to apologize for having strong feelings. That they’re not “too sensitive.” That they’re human.
And slowly, those beliefs begin to shift. The self-criticism softens. The anxiety begins to quiet. The internal voice that once said, “What’s wrong with me?” starts to say, “Maybe I make sense.”
This is the kind of care I offer: thoughtful, collaborative, and attuned to your lived experience. It’s not about quick fixes or pretending anxiety will vanish. It’s about building a relationship to yourself that feels more spacious, more truthful, and more compassionate, one step at a time.
You Deserve Therapy That Sees You Fully
If you’re looking for LGBTQ+ affirming anxiety therapy in Portland, I want you to know that it exists and that you’re allowed to ask for it. This guide can help you sort through your options for psychotherapy for anxiety in Portland.
You don’t have to settle. You don’t have to carry this alone. You don’t have to make yourself smaller to receive care.
Whether this is your first time reaching out, or your fifth time trying to find a therapist who actually feels like a good fit, I see you. You deserve a place where your identity is understood, your anxiety is treated with respect, and your whole self is welcome.
You’re not asking for too much.
You’re asking for care that meets you where you are and that’s exactly what you deserve.
Author Bio
Eric Goodwin, LPC, offers trauma-informed and LGBTQ+ affirming anxiety therapy in Portland and across Oregon with compassion, clarity, and deep respect for your lived experience.
Eric Goodwin, LPC, is a Queer-identified Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in LGBTQ+ affirming anxiety therapy in Portland and across Oregon. He works with clients navigating self-doubt, internalized criticism, shame, and overwhelm; offering therapy rooted in mindfulness, compassion, parts work, and deep respect for lived experience. If you’re ready to begin this work together, you can learn more here or book a free 15-minute phone consultation, (971) 533-5508 or by clicking here, to see if it feels like a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions about LGBTQ+ Affirming Anxiety Therapy in Portland
How do I know if a therapist is LGBTQ+ affirming?
Affirming care isn’t just about having a rainbow sticker on a website; it’s about how you feel in the room. Do you feel seen, heard, and respected? Do you feel safe sharing without having to teach or explain your identity? You’re allowed to ask questions upfront to get clarity. A therapist who’s truly affirming won’t bristle at those questions, they’ll welcome them.
Can anxiety therapy really help with things like internalized homophobia or shame?
Absolutely. While anxiety therapy often begins with addressing symptoms like panic, overthinking, or chronic stress, we often uncover layers of self-criticism and shame that have been shaped by years of external judgment or rejection. In therapy, we don’t rush to fix. We learn to understand and soothe these parts of you with care.
What’s different about anxiety therapy for LGBTQ+ folks?
Your experiences exist within a broader cultural and social context. That means anxiety might be linked to safety, visibility, or years of navigating spaces that didn’t fully affirm you. Affirming therapy takes that context seriously and creates a space where you don’t have to explain or defend who you are, it’s already respected and honored.
Do I have to talk about my identity in every session?
Not unless you want to. You get to set the pace and focus. Some clients want to unpack how their identity intersects with anxiety; others are just relieved to be in a space where they could go there if needed. You don’t have to perform or educate. You just get to be you.
Is it okay if I’ve had bad experiences with past therapists?
Unfortunately, many Queer clients come to therapy carrying hurt from past providers who weren’t truly affirming. If that’s part of your story, I honor that. You deserve to take your time building trust again. In our work together, you’ll be invited to name when something doesn’t feel right and I’ll respect your voice every step of the way.
I feel like I should “have it all together” by now. Is therapy still for me?
You’re not too late, too messy, or too sensitive. You’re human. And the pressure to “have it together” often comes from systems that don’t see you clearly. Therapy isn’t about fixing you, it’s about supporting you in coming back to yourself with more compassion, curiosity, and steadiness.