What Is Individual Counseling and How Can It Help?
Understanding Individual Counseling
Sometimes you just need a space that’s yours. A place where you can say what’s been sitting heavy on your chest, or unpack the thoughts you haven’t yet said out loud. Therapy isn’t only for crisis—it can be for curiosity, for clarity, for growth. It’s for folx who want to understand themselves more deeply, shift old patterns, or explore identity on their own terms.
At Chiron Counseling, individual therapy is an affirming, collaborative space centered around your lived experience. Whether you’re working through pain, healing from trauma, questioning who you are, or simply trying to live more aligned with your values, you deserve a space that holds all of you—with care, not judgment. Chiron Counseling provides individual counseling and mental health support services in Oregon and Washington to individuals interested in everything from healing to self-exploration.
In this blog, we’ll explore what individual counseling looks like, how it can support your growth, and what to expect when working with an inclusive, trauma-informed therapist who sees healing as inherently political, personal, and possible.
The Importance of Inclusivity & Intersectionality in Therapy
Everyone experiences life in a unique way: we come from different backgrounds, we struggle with different challenges, and we express love differently. When you meet with a therapist, you bring to your session all these aspects of you. Therapy should be accessible and affirming of all identities, including LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and non-monogamous individuals. Inclusive therapy affirms your identity – it acknowledges all the parts of you and how they affect your lived experience.
How does your race influence your lived experience? How about your gender? Sexuality? Class? Ability? Since we all have different lived experiences, therapists should be aware of how all of these factors impact your identity. Culturally competent counseling involves providing intersectional mental health support to folx of all lived experiences, with consideration for how these factors like race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability are part of your identity and impact how you interact with the world around you and others.
Mental health cannot be separated from these factors. I believe that the therapist’s role is to hold space for these systemic challenges, cultural identities, and personal experiences without judgment.
Neurodivergence and Individual Therapy: A Different Approach
Not everyone’s brain works the same way. That’s not a flaw, it’s a fact. Being neurodivergent means your brain might process information, emotions, or sensory input differently than what society deems “typical.” And while terms like ADHD, autism, or dyslexia can help make sense of these differences, they don’t define you—they’re just part of your unique wiring.
The term “neurodivergence” acknowledges this natural variance in how our brains function and process information. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently than that of a “neurotypical” person. People who are neurodivergent may also use the term “neurospicy,” a colloquial, empowering descriptor that sees these differences as adding more “spice” to an individual’s life.
At Chiron Counseling, I offer neurodivergent-affirming therapy that centers your lived experience, not a clinical checklist. I understand that things like masking, executive functioning struggles, sensory overwhelm, or burnout are real. You may have spent years feeling misunderstood, or even gaslit, in systems that weren’t built with you in mind.
But, neurodivergent folx also have unique strengths. It is important for people who are neurodivergent to find a therapist that understands and works with one’s unique brain wiring. Neurodivergent-affirming therapists in Oregon can provide ADHD and autism counseling. These tailored therapy sessions are adapted to these different communication styles, sensory needs, and executive function support.
Therapy Modalities Used in Individual Counseling
People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons. Maybe you’re trying to untangle old relationship patterns, process grief or trauma, navigate your gender or sexuality, or simply figure out why you’ve been feeling stuck. There’s no “right” reason to begin therapy. If something’s on your heart or mind, that’s reason enough.
Therapy at Chiron Counseling is never one-size-fits-all. I draw from a range of approaches, called modalities, to meet you where you are and walk alongside you toward where you want to go. These methods aren’t about forcing you into a framework: they’re flexible, collaborative, and tailored to your needs, values, and lived experience.
Here are a few modalities I often use in individual counseling:
Narrative Therapy – Reclaim your story. We’ll explore the narratives you’ve been handed and help you rewrite the ones that no longer serve you.
Sex Therapy – Explore identity, pleasure, and relationships without shame, stigma, or judgment.
Social Justice & Antiracism in Therapy – Unpack how systems of oppression impact your mental health and reclaim space for healing and resistance.
Anti-Colonial & Holistic Support – Blend traditional therapeutic tools with practices like mindfulness, body-awareness, and cultural wisdom.
Systemic & Attachment-Based Therapy – Understand how early relationships and societal systems shape your adult life and emotional landscape.
Whatever brings you here, we’ll choose tools that help you feel more connected, more empowered, and more you.
What to Expect in Individual Therapy Sessions
What happens in a therapy session? What is the therapy process?
Seeing a therapist for the first time may feel daunting. You may even feel nervous because you don’t know what to expect. But once you know, therapy becomes less of an unknown. Therapists want you to feel comfortable during the therapy process and we want to help you accomplish your goals. My job isn’t to rush you or make assumptions, it’s to create a space where you can show up as you are, at your own pace.
In our first session, we’ll start by getting to know each other. I’ll ask about what’s bringing you in, what you’re hoping for, and anything you want me to know about your identities, experiences, or past with therapy. We’ll talk about your goals, whether they’re crystal clear or still forming. If you’re not sure where to start, that’s okay too.
During therapy, my role is to be an active listener, providing gentle guidance. Therapists don’t dictate solutions – we collaborate with you to help you work on your goals. Therapy is a customized experience based on your needs and evolving personal journey. We might spend time reflecting on something that happened in your week, unpacking past experiences, or building tools to navigate the present. Sometimes it’s deep emotional work, other times it’s just showing up and letting the messy parts be witnessed.
We can decide how often you’d like to meet. Ongoing therapy sessions offer a space for you to explore patterns, challenges, healing, and self-discovery. You won’t just be given a diagnosis and sent on your way. This is a collaborative space. You get to ask questions, change direction, and co-create a process that feels safe and meaningful. Therapy isn’t about fixing you, it’s about supporting you in understanding and accepting yourself more fully. Transparency is key for helping you to narrow in on patterns and heal or discover more about yourself. But equally as important is comfort: You should feel comfortable talking to your therapist. We are there to collaborate with you, without judgment.
The Benefits of Individual Counseling: Growth & Healing
Therapy can be a soft place to land, a mirror, and a launchpad all at once. Whether you’re navigating big life transitions, unlearning internalized shame, or trying to better understand your emotional world, individual counseling can offer a deeper connection to yourself and your values.
Some benefits of individual counseling include the following:
Mental clarity: Understanding your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with more compassion and less judgment.
Emotional healing: Processing grief, trauma, identity struggles, and past experiences that still echo in the present.
Personal empowerment: Learning boundaries, communication skills, and tools for self-advocacy and resilience.
Navigating relationships: Whether you’re partnered or solo, therapy can improve how you relate with friends, family, lovers, or yourself.
Tools for lifelong well-being: Therapy isn't just for the hard moments, it can help you build tools that support your mental and emotional health for the long haul.
Ongoing therapy can help you become aware of patterns and emotions you’ve overlooked, and provide clarity on why you may think or act a certain way. It can help you to navigate difficult experiences that still impact how you live your life years later and reach an understanding. You can challenge your own narrative to empower yourself in relationships with significant others, friends, family, or even colleagues. Therapy is not only helpful in the short term, therapy can also provide tools you can use for years to come.
Over time, you may begin to notice patterns more clearly, respond to life with more ease, and feel more rooted in who you are. This work isn’t about becoming a “better” version of yourself, it’s about coming home to the parts of you that have always been worthy of care.
How to Get Started With Individual Counseling in Oregon & Washington
Starting therapy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. You just need a sense that you’re ready for something to shift. Whether you’re looking for support, clarity, or space to just be, reaching out is a powerful first step. Finding a therapist near you is easy with the internet. To start your therapy journey, you can simply search “inclusive therapy Washington” or “telehealth therapy Oregon,” if you prefer virtual therapy sessions.
At Chiron Counseling, I offer virtual therapy for clients across Oregon and Washington, making it easy to access support from wherever you feel safest. If you’re curious, you can start by scheduling a free 20-minute consultation. It’s a low-pressure space where we can get to know each other, talk about what’s bringing you in, and see if we’re a good fit.
Not sure what to ask? That’s okay. Come as you are. Ask about my approach, share what’s on your mind, or just listen. And if I’m not the right therapist for you, I’ll always support you in finding someone who is. You deserve a space where your full self is welcome, where healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready to take that step, I’m here when you are.
I encourage you to contact Chiron Counseling to book a free consultation. Healing is possible, and support is available.
