Portland therapist Chiara Procaccio offers trauma-informed therapy to help you heal and live authentically.

A Space to Heal, Grow, and Reclaim Your Voice

Chiara Procaccio (she/her) knows when trauma feels like it won’t let go, or anxiety keeps you stuck in survival mode, therapy can feel like a lifeline.

As a Portland-based therapist, Chiara offers exactly that: a safe, affirming space for teens and adults navigating trauma, depression, anxiety, and the complexities of neurodiverse life.

Serving clients across Oregon and Washington, she takes a collaborative, autonomy-first approach that helps people reclaim their voice, their agency, and their hope.

From Seattle Roots to Portland-based Therapist

Chiara grew up in Seattle as an only child—an experience that taught her to listen deeply.

“Hearing about the lives of other people was something that was really fascinating to me,” she remembers. “I enjoyed listening to people talk about their lives, the things they wanted to do, and some of the hard stuff, too.”

That early instinct for compassion deepened during high school, when she spent summers in New Orleans helping rebuild homes in the Lower Ninth Ward—nearly ten years after Hurricane Katrina’s landfall. Volunteering with Shirts Across America (now SAA Builds), in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the St. Bernard Project, she witnessed entire communities rise from devastation. The lesson stayed with her: healing isn’t about erasing pain, but creating the conditions to rebuild.

“I kind of became a space for folks to feel safe and unburden their soul to me. It was a big honor—and it just flowed from there.”

Today, she sees that same urgency in her therapy practice, where many clients arrive asking, “When is my last day of being safe, and how safe am I right now?” For Chiara, holding space for that fear—and helping clients find resilience and hope in the midst of it—is at the heart of her work.

Healing in Therapy: “I’m Not the Magician—You’re the Healer.”

For Chiara, therapy is not about fixing someone—it’s about walking with them through their own healing process.

“One big misconception about therapy is that we’re the people who heal others. Actually, no. I am not healing you. You are doing your own healing. I’m just here with tools, support, and a safe space.”

Clients often arrive carrying the weight of traumatic childhoods, single overwhelming events, or years of ongoing stress. Chiara helps them name and face those experiences—without judgment—and integrate them into a life that feels more whole.

“Your trauma may define a part of your life, but it doesn’t define all that you are.”

Safety, Choice, and Real Talk About Agency

Walking into therapy can feel intimidating, especially when shame or stigma whispers that you “should” handle everything on your own. Chiara works hard to dismantle that pressure.

“I tell people right away: you have a right to tell me if there’s something you don’t want to talk about. You have a right to say, ‘I don’t think we’re a good match.’ Whether or not they feel empowered to make that choice at first, it plants the seed that this space is truly theirs.”

For clients who struggle with people-pleasing—a survival skill often born from trauma—this can be transformative. Bit by bit, they learn to say no, redirect conversations, and advocate for themselves.

“It’s amazing to see folks further down the line being able to say, ‘No, I don’t want to do that.’ And I tell them, ‘You’re right—you don’t have to.’”

Tools that Meet You Where You Are

Chiara draws from a range of approaches, tailoring each session to what feels most supportive.

She often incorporates Internal Family Systems (IFS), which helps clients understand and befriend their inner parts, turning self-criticism into self-compassion. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers practical skills for managing overwhelming emotions, while Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides tools for breaking out of unhelpful thought loops—especially useful for social anxiety. Chiara also weaves in narrative therapy and body-based practices, encouraging new perspectives and reconnection with the body.

“I love tailoring my work around what feels best and safest for my clients, while also gently challenging them when it’s helpful,” she says.

Her years working in eating disorder treatment also shaped her approach. “Sometimes clients feel angry or overwhelmed. I sit with them in it and say, ‘You’re allowed to feel that. I understand why you’re angry.’ That validation itself can be healing.”

Community and Connection in Portland: Joy as Resistance

Chiara believes healing also happens in community. She points to Queer Cute PDX, a grassroots group that organizes art markets, speed dating, and even a group queer wedding.

“Our resistance is joy,” she says with conviction. “Our resistance is love and caring for one another.”

She also recommends Bradley Angle, a Portland domestic violence shelter that supports women and trans folks, including survivors of intimate partner violence and human trafficking. For Chiara, highlighting these resources is part of widening the circle of care.

What Therapy with Chiara Feels Like

Above all, Chiara wants clients to feel seen as people—not just diagnoses.

“I want my clients to come in and know that I see them as a person who is also dealing with something—not just as a diagnosis.”

Sessions are collaborative. Some days are about processing deep trauma; other days are about learning simple skills to manage stress in the moment. Clients set the pace, and Chiara adapts.

Therapy with her is steady, compassionate, and empowering. No rushing. No pressure. Just real work, done at your speed.

Start Your Healing Journey

For Chiara, therapy is both a calling and a privilege. “I love my job. I’m so grateful that people feel safe enough with me to tell me things that aren’t easy to hold. It’s an honor to watch people grow and start their own healing process.”

If you’re in Oregon or Washington and ready for therapy that respects your voice and pace, Chiara invites you to reach out. The first step is simple: a conversation. No pressure, just a chance to see if it feels right.

Healing isn’t about erasing your past—it’s about reclaiming your future. And you don’t have to do it alone. Fill out our new client form to get started.