Therapy For Cultural & Identity Concerns
We’re here to release criticism and unfair expectations, and restore confidence, peace, and pride! Never quite had self-love? We can create it.
Maybe you’ve been taught to hate yourself.
Maybe you’ve been looking for a sense of belonging.
Maybe you’ve found yourself in a new culture and don’t even know where to start:
Here is a good, safe place. Let’s begin.
You feel alone in this journey.
And it’s scary.
You’re resourceful.
But that’s not enough.
You’re navigating life as one or more of the following:
BIPOC
LGBTQIA+
An immigrant or first-generation American
This comes with a unique struggle. People who look and live like you are murdered, oppressed, discriminated against, mocked, devalued, and ignored. You’re navigating life in the face of real danger, including risks to your life, your rights, and your quality of life.
“At dawn, look to the east”…
You don’t have to do this alone.
Choose your adventure: What are we exploring?
1.
You don’t know who you are.
You know who everyone else wants you to be. And you’ve spent so much of your life trying to be that person. It’s never felt right, but you’ve never been given any other option. To be something other than what you were taught to be was simply unacceptable. Now as an adult, with newfound freedoms, you’re looking to rediscover yourself and/or what you believe in. You feel unsure about yourself and afraid of what others will think or say if you try something different.
2.
You don’t know where you’re going.
You’re trying to navigate something new. It’s a different world than where you came from, and you’re struggling to adjust. You may have moved to a new city, state, region, or country. You may have just left home for the first time. You may be starting a new career or phase of life, or “completely starting over”.
3.
You don’t know how to feel.
Some of life’s difficulties lie outside of the individual. There doesn’t seem to be anything that you can do about the situation. You can’t fix all of society’s problems in individual therapy, so maybe you just need this space to process the struggle. To grieve and feel supported. To explore resources and ways to feel empowered and to advocate for yourself and others.
Solidarity is here.
So what might therapy look like?
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You may be looking for a space where you can safely express feelings (e.g. sadness, anger, disappointment) while receiving support and feeling accepted as you are.
You may be looking to repair self-esteem or build self-acceptance. Maybe you want to fully embrace a “new you,” “the real you,” or “feel like your old self again.”
You may be navigating difficult relationships.
You may be seeking solidarity, belonging, or a sense of community.
You may be in a stage of life transition or want to make big lifestyle changes.
Whatever it is, we will work together to identify what’s most important to you and what steps you may take toward having a more fulfilling life.
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My approach in regard to this concern is very much client-centered. Here I mean that you’re the expert…it’s primarily based on what you believe you need most at this time. My role is to help you identify, explore, understand, and implement the changes necessary to get you what you need.
Depending on the client, I may also use expressive arts, Acceptance and Commitment (ACT), or Cognitive-Behavioral (CBT) techniques. I enjoy humor and sharing an occasional laugh is not uncommon in sessions.
Can we talk, for a minute?
Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to get started.