Children of Immigrants

Did you grow up in an immigrant household? Whether you immigrated yourself or you are the children of immigrants, we inherit many values, beliefs, and habits that shape the rest of our lives. Therapy can help you unpack the things you carry so that you can decide what you want to keep and what you want to let go of.

Many of my clients navigate challenges such as:

• Feeling bound by family expectations and the obligation to make up for your parents’ sacrifices

• Guilt and shame around caring for yourself

• Balancing collectivist and individualistic cultures

• Scarcity mindset and fear-driven decisions

• Perfectionism and the pressure to achieve

• Stigma around seeking help

• Navigating bicultural tension

• Complex and intergenerational trauma

• Internalized “shoulds” that keep you trapped

• High conflict, transactional, and/or emotionally distant relationships with your family

Therapy around the immigrant experience doesn’t mean rejecting your family or culture. We’re not looking for somebody to blame, but we want to help you understand yourself and figure out how to move forward. Straddling two worlds can be a strength, not a burden. Together, we’ll embrace the both/and perspective: We can appreciate our heritage while also living a life that feels authentic and meaningful to you.