Posts in Identity & Inclusion

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.

Identity & InclusionEmelie DouglasDecember 22, 2025chosen family, queer mental health, LGBTQ holidays, therapy Portland Oregon, inclusive therapy, trauma-informed therapy, OHP therapy, identity-affirming therapy, family estrangement, holiday support

Men Get Sad Too: Rethinking Strength and Mental Health

You’ve probably heard the messages your whole life: Be strong. Don’t cry. Handle it. For many men—and anyone raised with expectations of masculinity—these beliefs become barriers to emotional expression and mental health care. During Movember and Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re here to say: you’re allowed to feel. And getting support isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.

Identity & InclusionEmelie DouglasNovember 24, 2025men's mental health, Movember, masculinity and mental health, therapy Portland Oregon, LGBTQ therapist Oregon, trauma-informed therapy, mental health support, inclusive therapy, identity-affirming therapy, OHP therapy