Anxiety Therapy in Portland That Honors Your Whole Story

Finding Anxiety Therapy in Portland, Oregon

There’s more to anxiety than just nerves or overthinking. For many people, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, anxiety is deeply tied to personal history, identity, family dynamics, and messages absorbed over time. You might be carrying stories that shaped how you see yourself, stories that still echo in your thoughts or tighten in your chest when life gets overwhelming.

If you’ve ever felt like therapy only focused on “coping skills” or tried to fix your symptoms without understanding the full picture, you’re not alone. The truth is, anxiety therapy is most powerful when it sees all of you and not just the part that’s struggling.

That’s what I offer in my practice: anxiety therapy in Portland that honors your whole story, not just the surface symptoms.

More Than Just Coping: Anxiety Therapy That Sees You Clearly

Portland is full of anxiety counseling options. That’s a good thing, but it can also feel overwhelming. With so many approaches out there, it’s easy to wonder: Which one will actually help me feel better?

A lot of anxiety therapy centers on managing symptoms. While that’s useful, it’s not the whole picture. You’re not just looking for relief, you’re looking to be seen, understood, and supported as a full human being.

Therapy that honors your story doesn’t reduce you to a diagnosis. It asks, What happened to you? What’s it been like to carry this? And how can we gently shift your relationship with anxiety together?

Your Whole Story Deserves a Place in the Room

Anxiety doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It’s shaped by how you’ve learned to navigate the world—often in response to messages from your family, culture, or early experiences. It may be tied to the roles you’ve had to play, the emotions you’ve had to hide, or the identities you’ve had to protect.

For people within the LGBTQ+ community, anxiety can be a reaction to the ongoing stress of not knowing if a space will be safe or affirming. For others, it may stem from perfectionism, people-pleasing, or years of being told to toughen up. Therapy should make space for all of that; your identity, your lived experience, and your nervous system’s very understandable response to it all.

There’s no need to filter or “clean up” your story before bringing it into therapy. You don’t have to be less sensitive or more certain to get started. The whole, complex, evolving version of you is welcome.

The Hidden Cost of Holding It All Together

Sometimes anxiety shows up like a tightness in the chest, a racing mind, or a constant loop of what ifs. Other times, it’s quieter; the pressure to be perfect, the avoidance of things that feel vulnerable, or the exhaustion from always having to keep it together.

If you’ve learned to manage your anxiety by masking it or pushing through, you’re not alone. Many clients I work with have spent years appearing “fine” while feeling overwhelmed beneath the surface. Therapy offers a different path, one where you don’t have to perform or prove anything.

We gently explore what your anxiety is trying to protect, and how those strategies might be softened over time. You don’t need to force change to earn support. Being seen as you are is what starts the shift.

How Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Help You Rewrite the Script

Therapy that honors your story doesn’t just offer insight, it gives you practices to support yourself with care. That’s where mindfulness and self-compassion come in.

Mindfulness helps you notice your anxious thoughts without getting swept away by them. It’s not about forcing calm, it’s about creating space to respond rather than react.

Self-compassion goes a step further. It invites you to meet anxiety with kindness instead of criticism. Rather than thinking, Why am I like this? self-compassion says, This is hard and I’m here for myself anyway.

These aren’t fluffy ideas. They’re grounded, research-backed approaches that help you stop fighting yourself and start building trust in your own capacity to heal. Especially for LGBTQ+ clients and others who’ve been told to tone it down or hold it in, these practices can be truly transformative.

Choosing the Right Fit for Anxiety Therapy or Counseling in Portland

With so many therapy options in Portland, it’s easy to second-guess whether you’re making the “right” choice. But here’s the truth: the right therapist for you is someone who makes you feel safe to be your full self.

That means more than just credentials. It’s about whether you feel understood. Whether the therapist’s words feel like an invitation rather than a performance. Whether you leave a consultation feeling a little more hopeful.

You deserve a therapist who gets that your anxiety isn’t just a problem to solve, it’s part of a much bigger story. One that includes resilience, insight, strength, and a deep desire to live more fully.

Eric Goodwin, Anxiety Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor in Portland, Oregon

You don’t have to keep carrying everything by yourself. Whether you’re new to therapy or looking for something deeper and more affirming, support is within reach.

My approach to anxiety therapy in Portland is mindfulness-based, LGBTQ+-affirming, and grounded in compassion. I work with people who are tired of being hard on themselves and ready to explore their story with honesty, care, and curiosity.

I offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit. Sessions are available in person in Portland or online across Oregon. If you’re ready to feel more seen, supported, and grounded, I’d love to connect.

Call 971.533.5590 or click here to schedule your free consultation today.