Where should I begin?

I work with young and middle age adults who are struggling with anxiety, worry, fear, relationships, multicultural issues, migration, life transitions, cultural identity struggles, collectivist culture. If you are unsure where to start, considering these topics may help you understand your needs better:

WORRY-FEAR-ANXIETY

There are times when we find ourselves constantly worried about the future, unable to sleep or eat, constantly afraid and nervous, we may overthink even the smallest decisions, we struggle to express our feelings, and can’t make sense of what happening to us. During those times, it becomes important to understand and make sense of our experience, so we can cope and move forward. If you feel consumed by fear of the unknown, uncertainty about what the future holds, or you feel paralyzed by fear, having a neutral person to help us organize and understand our experience is an essential tool to help us feel better.

RELATIONSHIPS-COMMUNICATION-CONNECTION

At some point in our relationships with our spouses, friends, family, or children, we encounter disagreement, resentment, anger, frustration. Sometimes, we face a pattern of connection and disconnection, and we wonder why we keep returning to the same cycle over and over again. There are times when we wonder how someone could continue to behave in a way that is upsetting to us although they know how hurtful their actions are. During these times, it is important for us to unlock a pattern of reconnection and repair so we can move forward. First, we have to have awareness of our patterns and ways to interrupt them so we can create a new narrative that represents an “I”, “you”, and “us”. If you wonder how, you can do this, therapy can be the first step of repair that you need.

COLLECTIVIST CULTURE vs. INDIVIDUALIST CULTURE

There are many cultures, including Latinxs, that identify as a “collectivist culture” because it stresses the importance of the family or the community over the needs/rights of each individual person. In collectivist cultures, unity and selflessness are valued traits of a person. When we live within an individualist culture- which emphasizes the right of the person over the family/community, the contrast becomes more apparent.

The goals of a collectivist culture may be related to the group or family we identify as. Some examples of these are: relocating for the wellbeing of family members, seeking employment/career that meets the needs of the family, arranging our job/schedules to be able to care for an elderly grandmother or looking after our nephews/nieces. In a collectivist culture, relationships are based on where we are from, where we live, or which family we belong to. Often times, we do not personally choose our friendships or support network. Because of these values, we tend to have stronger and more reliable relationships that tend to be lifelong. But we focus on maintaining the peace within these relationships, because they are unlikely to change, and this causes us to suffer in many ways: anxiety, worry, low trust within circle of friends, difficulty expressing how we feel, what we think, or any sort of disagreement.

Understanding these differences can help us feel fulfilled and happier in our family and personal relationships. If you are in a relationship with a person from another community/race or country, exploring these concepts may help you have a more authentic self while honoring and celebrating these differences.

BICULTURAL-BILINGUAL- PARENTING

When we create a family, and have children who we want to raise with exposure to two or more cultures, the challenges of parenting seem to multiply. It becomes difficult to pick which language we should speak to our children in, what things to teach them, or what values and beliefs to infuse them with. We may battle with our partner about what values/beliefs/mindset we want them to be raised in. At times, we may wonder: Should we speak to them only in English? Will they be confused, if we speak two languages? What if they never learn a second language? How can we show them what two cultures are about if we live in one, predominant, culture? Will they eat our traditional dishes? These are some of the questions we may seek answers for when we first arrive to parenthood in another country/community. I have experienced this myself, and can tell you that there is a way through for our children to be immerse in both cultures, even if they live in one predominant one.

SUBSTANCE USE/ABUSE

Have you ever thought to yourself “I need a drink”? If so, it is possible that you have fallen into a pattern of drinking to cope with feelings of overwhelming anxiety, anger, frustration or disappointment. If you feel like you would like to reconsider your drinking habits, or what it is that leads you to drinking or using any other substances, therapy can help you explore the “whys” of this pattern. Learning what lays beneath the surface of our desires and drives is what fuels our behavior. If we dedicate ourselves to exploring the unknown territory of our emotional life, we are inevitably going to change our behavior.

These topics are a few of the specialties that I offer in my practice. It is important to consider these questions in a personalized format and find truth and meaningful answers for you. If you are ready to overcome some of these obstacles, you can book a free consultation below.