Chosen Family Is Real Family
As the holidays roll in, many of us are asked—explicitly or silently—to perform connection. To return home. To make the best of strained relationships. But what if your family isn’t safe? What if your love doesn’t live at your childhood dinner table? For queer folks, trans folks, neurodivergent people, and trauma survivors, “family” often looks different. At Sprout Therapy PDX, we know that chosen family is real family.
You Don’t Have to Go Back to Belong Belonging isn’t about obligation. It’s not about enduring harm to keep the peace. It’s about feeling seen, accepted, and supported. You are allowed to:
Skip the trip “home” this year
Redefine what holiday connection looks like
Choose the people who choose you
Build traditions that actually nourish you
What Makes Chosen Family So Powerful? Chosen family is:
Rooted in consent and mutual care
Formed from shared values and real acceptance
Built with people who see your identity—not just tolerate it
For many LGBTQ+ folks, disabled folks, and survivors, chosen family is not just a preference—it’s survival.
If the Holidays Are Tender This Year… It’s okay if you’re grieving a family that never offered safety. It’s okay if you feel disconnected, lonely, or unsure of where you belong. Therapy can help you:
Process grief or estrangement without shame
Explore what family means for you
Reclaim joy and belonging outside traditional norms
You Deserve to Be Surrounded by People Who Get It At Sprout, we offer identity-affirming therapy that understands the complexity of family—biological or chosen. You don’t need to explain why you’ve built your own support network. We get it.
You are not less worthy of love, care, or tradition because you’ve chosen your own people. That choice is sacred. That love is real.
If you’re navigating the holidays without family—or with the family you’ve chosen—Sprout Therapy PDX offers therapy that honors your experience. Reach out today to get support that aligns with who you are and what you value.