Immigration/Acculturation

I am a bilingual therapist fluently in English and Mandarin. I am familiar with culturally competent therapy and service. Born and raised in Taiwan, I have worked and clinically trained in the U.S in various Asian mental health setting including hospital outpatient department, community mental health clinic, school-based mental health services, and private practice. As an Asian American psychotherapist, I naturally connect with immigration and acculturation issues that clients experience.

I have worked for many years life changes especially with the immigrant community and 2nd generation youths who may have recently arrived or came to this country.

Together we will explore issues of home, belonging, and identity, as well as cultural expectations, individuality, and choice.

I come from a unique background of spending my early childhood in South Korea and navigating the issues of adapting to a new culture after immigrating to the United States. I'm also passionate about raising awareness about the importance of therapy and destigmatizing mental illness in Asian American communities.

I have a professional background in assisting immigrants as they navigate the complexities of their cultural identities while undergoing the process of integration into a foreign culture.

I specialize in providing immigration evaluations for clients seeking a Hardship Waiver (601 & 601-A) on grounds of inadmissibility. Evaluations focus on hardship factors to qualifying family members who are US citizens or lawful permanent residents. Evaluations can potentially help relatives that are at risk for deportation.

As an immigrant myself, I understand firsthand the challenges and triumphs that come with the process of adapting to a new culture and country. My personal journey has deepened my empathy for the emotional complexities of immigration and acculturation. I'll provide a safe, inclusive space for you to explore your unique journey and its emotional nuances.

Many of my clients are first- or second-generation immigrants, some of whom experience stress related to cultural differences between their current and former homes. I respect clients’ decisions to find ways to honor aspects of both cultures. I am against the idea of treating white, American values as “normal” and anything else as a problem. I am also a descendant of immigrants and have the lived experience of being separated from ethnic traditions by past generations who chose to assimilate.

I am a Salvadorian Mexican American, and I understand the struggles of feeling like you don’t fit in in either culture. The struggles of having monolingual parents, the stress of having to be their interpreter and scribe, parent to your younger siblings and filter what information comes across into your household. Luckily, I was also witness to how hard work pays off and the power of setting goals and doing everything in your power to achieve them.

As an immigrant, I understand first hand the challenges one faces around acculturation and assimilation. Going through the immigration process can be scary and the pressure from the society along with family pressure can result in stress while feeling like you don't quite fit in. As your therapist, we will delve deeper around the challenges you face and assist you in feeling confident with yourself and finding healthy ways to cope with potential anxiety that can arise.

Immigration/acculturation brings many demands at once: language barriers, a different culture, and new hopes, expectations, and stressors. These changes can cause issues as individuals and families grow and change, especially between generations. Therapy can help you explore your identity and move forward while holding onto what you treasure most. I speak Spanish at a non-native advanced level and have worked extensively with immigrants and the children of immigrants from Latin America.

Many of my clients are first or second generation citizens, or working here with a green card. Immigration/Acculturation is not usually the reason someone seeks therapy with me, but it underlies almost every conversation.

In addition to providing therapy, I also conduct Immigration Psychological Evaluations to assist individuals and families in their immigration process. If your attorney suggested that you obtain a report from an immigration evaluation therapist, you’ve come to the right professional. I have worked with individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and I’m experienced in conducting psychological assessments.

I bring a deeper understanding of immigration and acculturation issues through my own experience. I have a lived experience of being from an immigrant family, and navigating the intricate balance between personal, familial, cultural, religious, and national values. I work to create a safe and understanding space for clients to explore their own identities and how they would like most to authentically live them in their current lives.

As an immigrant, I can relate to your experience. I have worked with immigrants and their families through all of my training. I look forward to hearing your immigration and acculturation story. I continue to stay on top of immigrant and racial issues in our country so that I can help individuals from various races and religions as they navigate through their racial identity, immigration story, and the challenges that they face.

Specialties include: An Immigration Evaluation adds tremendous value to an immigration case. They are critical in detailing a client's mental health, trauma history, and compelling reasons for leaving their country of origin. Through my work with immigrants and their families, I conduct evaluations to assist with the immigration process. I've conducted evaluations for a wide range of immigration cases, including asylum and extreme hardship waivers.

I have the experience not only of having, myself, lived and worked in other countries in my adult life, but of having worked with refugees, immigrants, dislocated peoples, expats living abroad, and persons who have returned to their country of origin, as well as, those unable to return to the country of origin. I have an existential and person-centered non-pathologizing lens through which each person's lived experience is honored and is at the core of the therapeutic relationship.