Therapy for Asians and Asian Americans
Welcome to therapy that helps you feel seen and understood.
*Serving all of California via Video Therapy
Growing up Asian American often meant juggling conflicting expectations and beliefs all around you. As a result, you didn't always feel a sense of belonging.
Whether you are 1.5 generation, 2nd generation, or beyond, being Asian American comes with its unique nuances. Your family may have a rich immigration or diaspora history that may include yourself or your history as recent as 1 or 2 generations ago. You might be used to playing the role of translator for your parents or grandparents from a young age. You're tuned into the cultural norms of both your Asian heritage and Western American ideals—but they didn't always agree with each other. It led to conflict between you and your parents, low self-worth, and a conflict of identity within. Worries about disappointing your family or adding stress to their already stressful lives made you anxious and kept you high-achieving and perfect. With mental health often having such a negative stigma amongst traditional Asian communities, you didn't always have anyone to talk to about your thoughts and feelings.
The Asian American experience is nuanced and unique. And that's what makes mental health for our community so important
Some of the challenges that my Asian American clients have faced include:
Dysfunctional family dynamics
Intergenerational trauma
Emotional neglect or lack of attunement from caregivers
Abandonment or separation in childhood
Perfectionism and difficulties with self-criticism/”inner critic”
Being the adult child of emotionally immature parents
Parentification (i.e., having to provide emotional or other kinds of support to a parent as a child that were not age-appropriate)
Mental health stigma
Racial trauma and discrimination
Cultural and language barriers
Biracial & mixed-race identity
Transracial adoption experiences (ex. adopted into a non-Asian family)
Navigating career or school pressures as an Asian American
Navigating relationship issues from an Asian American perspective, including interracial relationships and dating
Therapy That Gets You
As a Chinese-American therapist, I know the challenges of finding a therapist who understands your background and context.
I believe that therapy should take into account all of your identities and cultural nuances. You don't have to endure misunderstandings or microaggressions when you're already dealing with a lot. If you're ready to get started, send me a message below to book your free consultation. I'm excited to get to know you.
Find Your Confidence and Flow in Therapy
Create more satisfying and fulfilling relationships
Therapy can help you develop more effective communication skills and learn how to set appropriate boundaries that take into account your cultural background. Feel empowered to navigate relationship challenges with confidence, leading to greater satisfaction and connection.
Navigate family boundaries
Discover how to honor personal needs while respecting one’s cultural values and family expectations. This may include clarifying one’s values, learning effective communication strategies, or addressing people-pleasing tendencies, allowing individuals to foster greater harmony and balance in family relationships.
Strengthen your self-confidence
In a judgment-free space, therapy allows Asian Americans to challenge limiting beliefs, cultural pressures, and internalized stereotypes that may be getting in the way of your self-worth. Grow your confidence through self-compassion while quieting “inner critic” voices.
Heal from racial bias and discrimination
Therapy provides a safe, nonjudgmental space to process emotions, challenge internalized stereotypes, and develop coping strategies to navigate experiences of bias and discrimination. Approaches like EMDR can also help to resolve past memories of such experiences, which offers freedom from trauma and anxiety.
Break generational cycles
Many Asian Americans may not realize that their current struggles reflect challenges or traumas that have been passed down from prior generations. Therapy can identify unhelpful family dynamics while also offering new solutions for breaking those patterns and leading more satisfying lives.
Develop Your Unique Identity
Developing your identity is about self-discovery and self-acceptance. Therapy empowers you to explore and embrace your authentic identity, with more space from external expectations or pressure from others. Together, we can help you connect with what truly matters to you, allowing you to feel more grounded and confident in who you are.
Find freedom and confidence that takes into account your cultural uniqueness.
Ready to take the first step towards healing?
Reach out to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.