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

You’re Allowed to Grieve During the Holidays

The holiday season often arrives wrapped in expectations of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for many, it’s a season of grief—grief for people who have died, identities we’ve left behind, families that aren’t safe, or versions of life we hoped to have. If this time of year brings more ache than cheer, you’re not broken. You’re human.

Seasonal Support, Grief & LossEmelie DouglasNovember 17, 2025grief, holiday grief, chosen family, trauma-informed therapy, family estrangement, inclusive therapy, LGBTQ therapist Oregon, OHP therapy, therapy Portland Oregon, mental health support, identity-affirming therapy