Racial & Cultural Minorities
People who are racial, ethnic, and religious minorities experience mental health issues more commonly a part of this is explained by the stress/trauma caused by oppressive systems. The long-term impacts of these experiences have been well researched and show negative impacts on physical health, mental health, and life outcomes.
Therapy can help compensate for and build resilience against these negative outcomes.
Identities that I have worked with before and feel educated around:
Asian, specifically south and southeast Asian
Latine and Hispanic
Jewish identities: ethnic, cultural, and religious
Disclaimer: I am only proficient in speaking English.
Immigrant Experiences
My grandmother and father emigrated from Vietnam to the US, I was born in Oklahoma making me a second-generation immigrant. My experience around my family’s immigration has looked like:
Witnessing my grandmother’s active effort to stay connected to community and traditions
My father receiving pressure to assimilate by letting go of his native language and culture
My own attempt to reconnect with and learn about this part of my identity while being bi-racial in largely non-Asian communities
People who have emigrated and their children often experience:
Feelings of isolation and loss of social supports
Grief and trauma relating to emigrating and the circumstances that surround it
Discrimination and social exclusion based on immigrant status
Crushing pressure to assimilate or succeed
Difficulties with new social norms and gender roles