South Asian & Cultural Identity

Therapy for

in California and New York

The emotional distress feels unique.

Being part of a minority group feels conflicting. You may feel deep connection, pride, and integration with your cultural identity, while simultaneously noticing the discomfort, stigma, and lack of belonging in some spaces. It feels difficult to address because there’s no “solution” that will change your identity.

South Asian identities also bring unique challenges that come from familial and cultural expectations that are deeply embedded in your value system, even if they don’t quite align for you. 

Sound like you?

Navigating mixed identities

Distress or confusion over values conflicting with your family/culture norms

Trauma, generational trauma & emotional distress from discrimination, injustice and constant microaggressions

Isolation & a lack of belonging to any single group

Guilt & stress related to being an immigrant or child or immigrants

Therapy is an space space to reflect,

and better understand how your identity shows up in life, both in your distress but also in your values. Through therapy, you can gain tools to navigate the unique challenges that come with being a BIPOC, minority, and/or child of immigrants.

what we’ll work on

Addressing cultural identity

Therapy with me will help you dig deeper and gain insight into how your cultural identity has shaped your worldview and where it’s working and not working for you.

We will develop a plan that includes:
- identifying and dismantling self-limiting beliefs that have come from culturally-related distress
- identifying how feelings of isolation, hypervigilance, self-doubt manifest from experiences of marginalization and discrimination.
- teaching you somatic grounding techniques, to reduce rumination and manage anxiety that comes from cultural concerns
- develop tools to respond to microaggressions, discrimination, and stigma
- cultivate deep self-compassion for the parts of you that experience a lack of belonging
- develop realistic boundaries, that both work for you, while respecting your family and culture

Curious about the therapy frameworks we’ll use? Learn more here.

Imagine a life where…

  • You can fully embrace and accept all parts of yourself.

  • You feel clarity on your own personal values and how to live by them.

  • Releasing generational trauma feels possible.

  • You can release guilt coming from society and/or your parents.

  • Connection to others feels more accessible.

  • You have a toolbox to regulate the nervous system when dealing the emotional distress that comes from being in a minority group.

  • You connect to holistic and ancestral healing practices.

Feel fully seen.

FAQ

  • Intersectionality is a key aspect of our work together, which means all parts of your identity will be taken into account with addressing your distress and creating a plan that works for you. Because some therapy models were created from a Euro-Centric view, I adapt these frameworks to account for the unique challenges that folks in marginalized groups face.

  • The reality is that “boundaries” are not always possible and this is a very Western perspective. However, we can discuss how you can feel regulated, create emotional boundaries, and remain grounded during moments of family, cultural, and society distress. While you can’t change these circumstances, you can shift how your inner world responds, to develop more resilience and not get so overwhelmed by these challenges

  • Mindfulness and self-compassion are at the core of much of our therapy work, which has deep roots in Buddhist and Eastern traditions. We will access these through mind-body work that feels accessible to practice outside of session. Any spiritual interest or practices are welcome in the therapy space; our goal is to find what you will connect with.