Facing Anxiety with Compassion: How a Portland Therapist Can Help You Find Calm

Anxiety counseling with a Portland Therapist

Portland is a city with so much to offer: a strong sense of community, a creative culture, and a connection to nature that provides solace for so many. Whether it’s a quiet winter walk through Mt. Tabor or the vibrant energy of a summer’s afternoon at your local farmers' market, there’s a lot to love about living here. But even with these opportunities for grounding and connection, you may still find yourself pulled into the whirlwind of anxiety.

Anxiety can creep in for many reasons, personal experiences, external pressures, or the current unfolding political horror show. It can make you question whether you’re safe and leave you stuck in a loop of overthinking. These feelings can become isolating, but they’re more common than you might think. And here’s the good news: a Portland therapist can offer a compassionate and effective path to addressing anxiety.

What Does Anxiety Feel Like?

Anxiety shows up in countless ways, sometimes as a racing heart or restlessness at night, other times as a constant nagging sense of unease. Living in Portland, where many of us strive to align with values like community and sustainability, can bring its own pressures. While these values are meaningful, they can amplify anxiety when life doesn’t feel well-balanced.

It’s also important to acknowledge the impact of larger societal issues. From dramatic political shifts and threats, to the uncertainty of global events, these stressors can weigh heavily, leaving many feeling untethered and overwhelmed. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why does everyone else seem to have it all figured out when I feel like I’m barely managing?”, know that you’re not alone.

Anxiety counseling in Portland offers a space to untangle these layers, providing clarity and practices to help you move forward with greater confidence. Whether your anxiety stems from personal experiences or reactions the world around you, support is available to help you find relief, one step at a time.

How a Portland Therapist Helps Cultivate Calm

Anxiety can feel like it’s running the show, an overwhelming force pulling you in different directions or a constant hum of unease in the background of your day. Sometimes, it shows up as a tightness in your chest or a swirl of racing thoughts. Other times it’s more subtle; that familiar inner critic telling you you’re not doing enough or questioning your worth.

These experiences can be deeply frustrating. In therapy, we take a compassionate look at these patterns, not to push them away, but to understand them and create space for growth and change.

Living in Portland, a city so grounded in community, sustainability, and connection, can add another layer to these struggles. While these values are beautiful, the pressure to align with them perfectly, or the stress of navigating a world that feels uncertain, can leave you feeling stuck.

Therapy offers a space to untangle this complexity with curiosity and purpose. By approaching these moments with self-compassion, you can create a sense of calm, reconnect with your strengths, and take the next steps toward healing.

The Role of Mindful Self-Compassion in Easing Anxiety

When anxiety shows up, it’s often accompanied by a harsh inner critic. You might hear a voice in your head that says, “This is never going to get better” or “What’s wrong with you?” These thoughts don’t just feel bad, they can actually intensify your anxiety, creating a feedback loop that’s hard to escape.

That’s where mindful self-compassion comes in. This practice is all about meeting yourself with kindness, especially when you’re struggling. Imagine if, instead of beating yourself up, you could say, “It’s understandable that I would feel this way, given what I’m going through. I’m doing my best.” Mindful self-compassion doesn’t erase the challenges you’re facing, but it does change how you respond to them.

For example, let’s say you’re overwhelmed by a mistake at work. Instead of spiraling into self-criticism, you might pause, take a deep breath, and remind yourself, “I’m human, and humans make mistakes. This doesn’t define me.” Over time, practicing this mindset can help you soothe your anxiety, build resilience, and approach life’s challenges with greater confidence.

Through anxiety therapy in Portland, you’ll learn how to cultivate this skill, making it a part of your everyday life. The result? A calmer inner critic, a calmer mind, and a stronger sense of self-compassion.

An LGBTQ+-Affirming Approach to Anxiety Therapy

If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, anxiety can sometimes feel like it’s operating on a different level. Along with the usual stressors of daily life, there may be additional layers of pressure, like dealing with discrimination, navigating microaggressions, or simply trying to find spaces where you feel safe and accepted. These experiences can lead to feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and shame.

As a Queer Portland therapist specializing in LGBTQ+-affirming approaches, I understand how these unique challenges can impact mental health. My goal is to create a space where you can show up as your full, authentic self; no masks, no pretending, and no need to explain “why.” Together, we’ll explore how anxiety is showing up in your life, acknowledge what conditions are present, and build practices to support your growth and resilience.

You deserve to feel seen and supported, not just as a person managing anxiety, but as a whole, multifaceted human. Therapy can be a place where you begin to reclaim your power, reconnect with your worth, and move toward a future that feels both grounded and hopeful.

You Don’t Have to Navigate Anxiety Alone

Eric Goodwin, Portland Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor

Support is here, and it starts with one small, mighty step. Whether you’re looking for in-person support in Portland or online therapy anywhere across Oregon, I’m here to help.

Take the first step toward calm today by scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation. Let’s talk about how we can work together to create the peace and clarity you deserve. Reach out at 971-533-5590 or click here. I look forward to connecting with you!