Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC
I'm full but can often schedule in assessments for gender affirming surgery (letters). There's no charge if I can't bill your insurance.
Client Status
503-780-4169
631 Northeast 102nd Avenue
Portland, 97220
Rate: $80-$125
Provides free initial consultation
Provides telehealth services
Practicing Since: 2015
Languages: English
People who come to me are generally looking for politically informed therapy with an anti-oppressive lens. Most are specifically looking for a queer and/or trans counselor. They're generally very values driven and hard on themselves. Many are trauma survivors and many minimize their struggles by comparing themselves to others. They seem to be down for a collaborative and engaged approach and building trust to work from a place of vulnerability. They're pretty damn great and are doing big work.
Specialties
Feminist therapy is about empowerment: power that comes from within and collectively and allows you and your people to make change and impact your lives. I want to help you to support, nurture, and grow mutual empowerment in your relationships. I see therapeutic goals as rooted in moving towards connection and increasing mutuality in relationships rather than focusing on independence and separation.
Therapeutic growth requires a genuine and authentic counseling relationship that we build together. To support that, I work to really show up in the room. I am soft, warm, empathetic, and compassionate. I’m also expressive, fierce, and engaged. I’m goofy and often laugh at the absurdity of our world. I am not shy about the impact of my politics on my work. And I swear. If that sounds like a good fit for you, let’s talk!
I'm all about working to increase the room between who you are and the problems you’re struggling with. I think developing this distinction can reduce suffering and empower change. I incorporate writing and stories. While not technically narrative therapy, I want to give a shout out here to one of my favorite trauma treatments: Narrative Exposure Therapy. It’s a beautiful intervention involving stones, flowers, candles, metaphor, testimony, story, and so much courage on the part of the client.
Specialties
Systems of oppression are at the root of so much suffering and disconnection from each other and they also intensify it. While systemic change is beyond the scope of therapy, therapy can provide support with the impacts of oppression and support you in any work you are doing to resist or and dismantle systems of oppression. A lot of my work involves working to reduce and resist internalized oppression.
I am queer and trans and committed to working in these communities. I understand these identities broadly and I know that sharing them does not mean we have the same experience. I want to make room for your experience under this queer umbrella, including as it relates to race, gender, ability, size, sexuality, culture and socioeconomic status.
I bring my own experience of being trans and want to be here for your experience of gender: your story, your life, your identity, and your family, culture, and communities. And I'm here to write letters to help with accessing medical care too.
Colette Gordon has not posted any group sessions.
Colette Gordon has not published any articles.