Embracing Your Unique Journey: Specialized Therapy for First-Generation and Bicultural Folks
Navigating life as a first-generation or bicultural individual comes with its unique set of challenges:
You’re The First
You’re breaking new ground. Paving the path that no one else has before you, which also means, it can feel like you’re on your own to figure everything out. Sometimes, it can get lonely being the pioneer. Someone to help and understand would be nice.
Who Am I? Where do I fit in?
Balancing the expectations and values of two cultures can create a complex and sometimes conflicting sense of identity. You might feel pressure to adhere to the norms of your family's heritage while also trying to fit into mainstream society. Maintaining this balancing act can lead to confusion about where you truly belong. You may feel inadequate and isolated.
Familial Expectations
Your family has an idea of what’s best for you. They have goals that they want to see you achieve. These may differ from your own personal aspirations. The way they define success is not the way that you define success. It’s difficult for them to understand that you want to live your life differently.
Guilt
Your family made sacrifices and came to this country for a reason. However, their reasons might not be what you had in mind for your own life. You want to honor their sacrifice and please them. You want them to be proud of you, but you feel guilty because you’re not measuring up.
Generational Trauma
There are wounds going back for generations that haven’t been addressed, that haven’t had an opportunity to heal. You see how the pain has impacted your family - emotionally, physically, spiritually. You see the wounds playing out in their behaviors, in their belief systems. It affects you. You don’t want to perpetuate the cycle. You want to break free.
Your Path to Healing and Growth
Navigating the complexities of a bicultural identity and first-generation experience can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. My goal is to provide a supportive and understanding environment where you can explore your experiences, develop coping strategies, and find a path that honors all aspects of your identity. Together, we will work towards a place of balance and fulfillment, helping you embrace your unique journey with confidence and resilience.
How I can Support You:
A Safe Space Where Your Cultural Background Is Respected
I strive to deeply understand your cultural experiences and the nuances of your background. No microaggressions here. I avoid assumptions, despise stereotypes, and will ask questions from a place of genuine curiosity. I help you feel seen and understood, which is essential for effective therapy.
Navigating Family Dynamics
I can assist you in balancing family expectations with your personal aspirations, helping you set boundaries and advocate for your needs. Therapy can facilitate better communication with your family, addressing conflicts and working towards mutual understanding, while asserting your own wants and needs.
Addressing Feelings of Isolation
Humans need to feel connection. We don’t do well alone. It’s part of our biology. We need each other to survive, to make it. Together, we’ll explore ways to connect with supportive communities and build relationships that foster a sense of belonging and acceptance. We will also work towards enhancing your well-being by developing self-care practices and coping mechanisms to address feelings of loneliness and disconnection.
Identity Exploration and Integration
Often when we feel fragmented, it causes internal distress. Together, we will explore all the different facets of your identity and how they play out in various environments. We will understand the role of these different identities, how they’re serving you, and ultimately work towards integration. Embracing yourself in totality helps build self-acceptance, self-compassion, and self-worth.
Breaking Cycles
Our families of origin lacked power. This is often especially true in communities of color who have endured systemic barriers and oppression. We have empathy for our ancestors who did the best that they could. We understand that their behaviors were survival mechanisms, but we are choosing to do things differently. I help you take back your power and agency. I help you learn how to emotionally regulate, how to have healthier attachments, stop punishing behaviors, and learn to accept and trust your innate wisdom. The effects of the trauma stop with you. You want better.
Giving Yourself Permission
When we have been made to feel guilty, it’s hard to listen to ourselves and do what makes us happy. We start to normalize struggle and hardship. It doesn’t have to be that way. Success can come with ease. I’ll help you learn to listen to yourself. I’ll help you gain a better connection with your intuition. You will build up the resilience to believe that your wants and needs matter and are important, even if no one has thought so in the past. We will work together to empower you to live the life that you want.
My Experience With Identity
Growing up Puerto Rican in communities where Latinxs were scarce was confusing. Through college and my early professional years, my sense of “other” grew as I entered spaces where people of my background traditionally did not have access. I struggled to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be. I tried on and experimented with different identities, each one bringing me closer to my true self. Eventually, I recognized that I could be a Puerto Rican, social-justice-warrior therapist, with tomboy tendencies, who is a New York city-slicker moved out West embracing the outdoors, but still enjoys a hot shower and getting glammed up, rodeo-enthusiast, who listens to indie rock and reggaeton, and is married to a Jewish man.
