Healing Arts Therapy PDX​

I know what it’s like to move through the world shaped by expectations that were never really mine. I grew up in a culture where “family first” meant self-abandonment, where obedience was praised over authenticity, and where boundaries were treated as betrayal. For a long time, I believed that being “good” meant keeping everyone else comfortable—even at the cost of myself. It wasn’t until later in my life I first heard the phrase people pleaser and realized it wasn’t a compliment. It was a survival strategy. One that helped me stay safe, stay connected, and stay accepted… but also one that slowly disconnected me from my own needs, voice, and identity. Over the years, through relationships that stretched me thin, friendships that fed on my kindness, and a family tragedy that broke me open, I found myself standing in front of the mirror asking the question no one had ever invited me to ask: What do I want? And why does choosing myself feel so dangerous? That moment began a long, tender process of waking up. Waking up to my own boundaries. Waking up to the parts of me I had learned to quiet. Waking up to the truth that I didn’t have to earn belonging. Waking up to the possibility of being fully, imperfectly human. My healing hasn’t been linear. It has been seasons of reclaiming—learning how to soften without collapsing, how to be kind without losing myself, and how to feel safe being fully me in the presence of others. Today, I walk beside people who know these patterns intimately: the people pleasers, cycle breakers, therapists, and those healing from religious trauma or spiritual conditioning. My work is about helping you reconnect with your own inner compass, rewrite the invisible rules you inherited, and come home to a life that feels grounded, honest, and fully yours. You don’t have to abandon who you are to be loved. You don’t have to shrink to be safe. You get to take up space—your own way, in your own time. If you're ready to wake up to yourself with gentleness, courage, and a little wildness, I’d be honored to walk with you.

Erica Goldsmith has been involved in Oregon’s helping professions for over 20 years. She began her career in early childhood education and family & human services after earning undergraduate degrees in both fields from the University of Oregon. Erica then pursued a graduate degree in Social Work from Pacific University, where she graduated in 2016 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. An experienced mental health therapist, Erica has several specializations, including clinical supervision for licensure-track clinicians. She takes joy in helping new therapists, students and interns discover their strengths and reach their academic and professional goals. Erica also has specializations in providing therapy for therapists and in pregnancy, postpartum, parenting and life transitions. Erica believes that the foundation of healing work begins with building a trusting relationship and utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities. Humanistic, Attachment, Person-Centered and Systems frameworks inform her practice. She enjoys incorporating traditional therapy tools as well as somatic, mind/body connection and energy psychology modalities. Erica integrates the use of tarot card imagery, Jungian archetypes and shadow work, and spiritual exploration as part of her practice. Erica’s ideal clients are motivated to be on a path of self-discovery and are ready to deepen insight, strengthen relationships and create meaningful changes in their lives. Erica’s goal is to assist clients in navigating the changing waters of life while helping them develop skills and perspectives to allow them to be at peace with themselves and fully present to the beauty that their existence offers the world. In her free time, Erica loves exploring the outdoors, tending to growing things, traveling, and enjoying live music with her partner, children and animals in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Many of my clients have spent years disconnecting from themselves in order to cope, survive, or meet the expectations of others. I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, eating disorders, body dysphoria, trauma, identity exploration, life transitions, and emotional overwhelm. I have a particular passion for supporting queer, transgender, nonbinary, gender-diverse, neurodivergent, and highly sensitive individuals as they build a more authentic relationship with themselves. As a dance/movement therapist, I integrate talk therapy with body awareness, mindfulness, movement, and creative expression. My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and affirming, helping clients develop self-understanding, build self-trust, and feel more grounded in their bodies, identities, and daily lives. Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially if you've spent years carrying things alone or feeling disconnected from yourself. You do not need to have everything figured out to begin. I strive to create a space where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered to explore who they are with curiosity, compassion, and authenticity.

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