Identity & Inclusive Care

At Willamette Wellness Center, we understand that neurodivergence looks different for everyone. For our clients in Milwaukie, Portland, West Linn, Oregon City, and nearby communities, neurodivergence simply means that a person’s brain processes, learns, and experiences the world in ways that may differ from what’s considered “typical.” Neurodivergence isn’t a flaw or something to be “fixed.” It’s a natural variation in human wiring—one that often comes with both meaningful strengths and real challenges. Conditions such as Autism, ADHD/ADD, OCD, and PTSD commonly fall under this umbrella.

Many people seek therapy not to change who they are, but to reduce symptoms that disrupt daily life, like anxiety, intrusive thoughts, difficulty focusing, sensory overwhelm, or chronic stress. At WWC, our therapists provide a safe, trauma-informed, and neuroaffirming space where your differences are respected and supported. Our goal is to help you build strategies that honor how your brain works, ease the parts that feel heavy, and support you in thriving both inside and outside therapy.

It’s also important to understand the differences between therapy and medical care. Mental health therapists can provide mental health therapy sessions (treatment) for neurodivergence through talk therapy and evidence-based modalities like CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, and IFS. This form of treatment can be highly effective in helping clients manage symptoms, regulate emotions, and build practical skills for daily life. However, therapists cannot prescribe medication. If a client is seeking medication, they will need a more formal evaluation by a psychologist/or psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP), who can create a treatment plan that includes medication management, if appropriate. Some therapists may offer an initial assessment or an informational diagnosis, but clients seeking prescriptions are typically referred out for a full diagnostic evaluation.

WWC has providers who are part of neurodivergent communities themselves and who have advanced training in OCD, ADHD, Autism, and related conditions. Our clinicians are passionate about walking alongside clients on their healing journey, offering compassionate, personalized therapy that supports growth, reduces symptoms, and honors each person’s unique strengths. Although WWC does not prescribe medication, we maintain strong referral relationships throughout the Milwaukie and Portland metro area. When clients need a formal assessment, diagnosis, or medication management, we can connect them with trusted psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and medical providers who offer that level of care. At Willamette Wellness Center, we believe neurodivergent voices matter. We are proud to offer affirming, evidence-based therapy as part of our commitment to inclusive, accessible mental health care for everyone.

LGBTQ2IA+ is an umbrella term that includes people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities—such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, intersex, and asexual community members. At Willamette Wellness Center, we support LGBTQ2IA+ clients across Milwaukie, Portland, West Linn, Oregon City, Clackamas, Sellwood, Gladstone, and Oak Grove, recognizing that many seek therapy to navigate discrimination, internalized stigma, identity exploration, and relationship stress in a largely heteronormative culture.

Our clinicians provide affirming, evidence-based care using approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Affirmative Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help reduce anxiety, depression, and identity-related stress. For clients healing from trauma—whether related to marginalization, rejection, or unsafe environments—we also offer EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to support deeper emotional repair and reconnection with the self. Therapy can be especially important for LGBTQ2IA+ individuals, who may experience challenges with self-esteem, belonging, relationships, and safety. At WWC, we offer a compassionate, culturally responsive space where every identity is respected, affirmed, and genuinely supported.

Transgender support in mental health means creating an affirming, knowledgeable space where individuals can explore their gender identity with compassion and safety. At Willamette Wellness Center, we provide gender-affirming care for clients across Milwaukie, Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Clackamas, Sellwood, and surrounding communities, guided by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards.

Many transgender and gender-diverse clients seek therapy for validation, coping strategies for navigating discrimination, and support through both social and medical aspects of transitioning. Our clinicians offer letter writing for gender-affirming care, a process in which a mental health professional documents a client’s readiness for medical interventions—often a vital step in accessing hormone therapy or surgical care.

We also recognize the challenges transgender clients often face, including limited access to knowledgeable providers, experiences of bias, and the emotional strain of complex medical systems. These barriers can delay care and impact mental health, making affirming, trauma-informed therapy even more essential. At WWC, our therapists are trained to provide gender-affirming services that help clients access supportive, high-quality care in a timely, respectful, and empowering way.

Gender and sexuality concerns often intersect with stigma, discrimination, and internalized bias—factors that can affect both diagnosis and treatment within mental health systems. Historically, harmful assumptions pathologized natural variations in sexual orientation, creating understandable mistrust for many LGBTQIA+ community members throughout the Portland metro area, including Milwaukie, West Linn, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Gresham, Beaverton, Tigard, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Sexuality-related concerns may show up as confusion about orientation, difficulty expressing desires, shame around preferences, or tension between personal identity and societal expectations. In couples, these challenges can include mismatched libidos, differing sexual values, or difficulty communicating sexual needs in a safe, connected way. Many individuals and couples seek therapy for validation, clarity, and support as they navigate identity, relationships, and external stressors like rejection or prejudice.

At Willamette Wellness Center, our therapists offer both individual and couples counseling to address these concerns holistically. Individual therapy provides a confidential, affirming space to explore sexual identity, release shame, understand desires, and build a healthier relationship with one’s sexuality. Couples therapy complements this work by fostering open communication, repairing emotional closeness, and helping partners understand and honor one another’s needs without fear or judgment. By addressing both individual identity and relationship dynamics, WWC therapists empower clients to cultivate self-awareness, confidence, and more fulfilling connections—with themselves and with those they love.

BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Many BIPOC individuals in the Portland metro area—including Milwaukie, Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, and surrounding communities—experience unique challenges shaped by systemic racism, cultural stigma, and generational trauma. These stressors can contribute to anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health concerns that are often intensified by inequities within schools, workplaces, healthcare systems, and community environments.

BIPOC clients frequently seek therapy that acknowledges these realities and offers culturally responsive, identity-affirming support. A therapist who identifies as BIPOC or who is a deeply committed BIPOC ally can help create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can process personal, cultural, and societal stressors without having to explain or justify their lived experiences. Ethical, culturally responsive care requires therapists to actively engage in continuous learning and self-awareness—examining their own biases, understanding how oppression impacts mental health, and intentionally avoiding micro-aggressions or harmful assumptions.

At Willamette Wellness Center, our clinicians engage in ongoing training in cultural humility, ethics, and anti-oppression practices to deepen their understanding of the lived experiences of BIPOC communities across the Portland area. We believe the person in the client’s chair is the expert of their own life. Our job is to listen closely, follow the client’s lead, and support the priorities they identify for their healing and growth. Therapy at WWC centers on safety, collaboration, empowerment, and respect—creating an environment where clients feel seen, valued, and supported. WWC’s team includes multiracial and multilingual therapists, ensuring clients have access to providers who reflect and understand diverse cultural backgrounds. Contact our admin team to inquire about openings.