It’s Okay to Come Back to Therapy (Even If It’s Been Awhile)

Maybe you ghosted your therapist. Maybe you missed a few sessions and never rescheduled. Maybe life just got busy. Whatever your story is—you’re not alone. Many people pause therapy and feel unsure how to return. At Sprout Therapy PDX, we want you to know: it’s okay to come back. No shame. No judgment. Just support.

Therapy ProcessEmelie DouglasJanuary 26, 2026returning to therapy, therapy break, therapy shame, therapy Portland Oregon, trauma-informed therapy, inclusive therapy, OHP therapy, mental health support, identity-affirming care

Using Insurance to Start Therapy in the New Year

Thinking about starting therapy in 2026? You’re not alone. The beginning of the year is a great time to take care of your mental health—and your insurance benefits might make it more accessible than you think. At Sprout Therapy PDX, we’re here to help you understand how to use your coverage to get started with therapy.

Accessing TherapyEmelie DouglasJanuary 19, 2026insurance therapy Oregon, OHP therapy, therapy Portland Oregon, mental health coverage, therapy benefits, how to start therapy, inclusive therapy, trauma-informed care, identity-affirming therapy

Changes to SNAP and Medicaid Eligibility: What You Need to Know in 2026

If you're a recipient of SNAP (food benefits) or Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid), you may have heard about changes in how often you need to renew, what paperwork is required, or even whether you still qualify. These shifts impact your access to food, housing, healthcare, and mental health services. At Sprout Therapy PDX, we want to help you understand what’s changing and how to stay connected to the support you deserve.

Systems & Support AccessEmelie DouglasJanuary 12, 2026SNAP eligibility, Medicaid renewal, Oregon Health Plan, OHP therapy, case management, therapy Portland Oregon, mental health access, trauma-informed care, inclusive therapy, social determinants of health

NEW! Supplemental Services at Sprout Therapy PDX

As we move into the new year, many clients are navigating stress, burnout, or complex needs that therapy alone may not fully address. At Sprout Therapy PDX, we offer more than just weekly sessions—we’re building a team-based model of care. That means your therapist doesn’t have to be your only support person. You deserve a full team.

Therapy ProcessEmelie DouglasJanuary 5, 2026team-based care, supplemental services, peer support Oregon, case management therapy, therapy Portland Oregon, mental health support, inclusive therapy, identity-affirming therapy, OHP therapy, medication management

You Don’t Need Big Resolutions—You Just Need to Keep Going

As the new year approaches, you might feel pressure to set goals, make resolutions, or reinvent yourself. But what if the most powerful thing you could do is keep going? At Sprout Therapy PDX, we believe that survival, healing, and small, steady steps are worth more than any dramatic reset. You don’t need to overhaul your life to be making progress.

Therapy ProcessEmelie DouglasDecember 29, 2025new year reflections, anti-resolution, therapy Portland Oregon, inclusive therapy, trauma-informed therapy, identity-affirming therapy, mental health support, OHP therapy, self-compassion

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

What Did Therapy Help You Survive This Year?

As the year winds down, you might be thinking about goals, plans, or what’s next. But before you leap ahead, we invite you to pause and reflect: What did therapy help you survive this year? Not just what you accomplished—but what you endured, healed, grieved, or made it through.

Therapy ProcessEmelie DouglasDecember 15, 2025therapy reflection, therapy progress, mental health support, trauma-informed therapy, therapy Portland Oregon, identity-affirming therapy, inclusive therapy, OHP therapy, surviving the year

You’re Not Obligated to Make the Holidays Magical

If you’re feeling pressure to make the holidays special for everyone else—while running on fumes yourself—you’re not alone. Many people, especially caregivers, parents, and those socialized to prioritize others, carry the unspoken expectation to “create magic” this time of year. At Sprout Therapy PDX, we want you to know: you’re not obligated to perform holiday joy. Your well-being matters too.

Seasonal SupportEmelie DouglasDecember 8, 2025holiday stress, emotional labor, burnout, perfectionism, therapy Portland Oregon, mental health support, inclusive therapy, identity-affirming therapy, OHP therapy, boundaries during holidays

Winter Doesn’t Have to Feel Like a Struggle: Mental Health & the Season Shift

As the days grow shorter and colder, you might find yourself feeling more tired, irritable, or disconnected—and wondering why. Winter can bring on big emotional shifts, especially for those navigating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), grief, depression, or burnout. But the problem isn’t you. It might just be the season. At Sprout Therapy PDX, we believe your mental health deserves care that honors the natural rhythm of winter.

Seasonal SupportEmelie DouglasDecember 1, 2025seasonal affective disorder, winter depression, SAD therapy Oregon, therapy Portland Oregon, trauma-informed therapy, mental health support, inclusive therapy, identity-affirming therapy, OHP therapy, low energy winter

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