Gender-Affirming Therapy for Children, Teens, and Young Adults in Portland, OR

What Is Gender-Affirming Care?

Gender-affirming care recognizes and supports each person's experience of their gender identity. Some children, teens, and young adults may feel clear and confident in their gender, while others may be questioning, exploring, or experiencing uncertainty. Gender-diverse individuals may also experience gender dysphoria, which can involve distress related to one's body, social role, or the ways others perceive and respond to them.

Gender exploration is not a mental health problem. However, navigating identity development in a world that is not always understanding or affirming can contribute to anxiety, depression, stress, family conflict, social challenges, and other mental health concerns. Therapy can provide a supportive space to explore these experiences, build self-understanding, and strengthen resilience.

Gender-Affirming Therapy

As a gender-affirming therapist and child and adolescent psychologist in Portland, OR, I provide affirming, evidence-based mental health care for transgender, nonbinary, gender-diverse, and questioning children, teens, and young adults.

My approach is collaborative, respectful, and client-centered. Therapy creates space to explore questions related to gender identity, gender expression, relationships, family dynamics, school experiences, transition-related decisions, and overall emotional well-being. I work from the understanding that each person's journey is unique, and I do not assume any particular outcome or identity.

Because gender-diverse young people may also experience anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, ADHD, autism, or other emotional and behavioral concerns, treatment often integrates evidence-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), family-based interventions, and parent support.

WPATH-Aligned Assessments and Letters of Support

When requested, I provide assessments and documentation to support access to gender-affirming medical care, including letters of support consistent with current WPATH Standards of Care.

My approach is informed by principles of collaboration, informed consent, and respect for client autonomy. The goal of these evaluations is not unnecessary gatekeeping, but rather helping individuals access appropriate care safely while ensuring that assessments are thoughtful, individualized, and developmentally appropriate.

I frequently collaborate with families, physicians, and other healthcare providers to support coordinated care and help clients navigate next steps related to medical transition when desired.

What to Expect During Therapy

Therapy begins with an opportunity to learn more about your experiences, strengths, goals, and concerns. Together, we will explore factors that may be affecting your well-being, whether those involve gender identity, relationships, mental health symptoms, family dynamics, school experiences, or life transitions.

For younger children and adolescents, parents and caregivers are often included in treatment when appropriate. Therapy may focus on strengthening family communication, increasing understanding, navigating transition-related decisions, building coping skills, and supporting emotional well-being.

The goal of gender-affirming therapy is to help children, teens, and young adults feel more understood, connected, confident, and empowered to live authentically.