Cultural Exploration and First Generation Peeps

Born in the USA but still feel fresh off the boat? That’s how first-generation Americans from immigrant families often feel and face unique challenges when at the intersection of those cultures.

The pressures of assimilation, language barriers, and the weight of familial expectations are felt. How do you hold tight to old traditions while wanting to make new ones? You love belonging to your community but also know the world is bigger and you belong to that too. Or maybe you don’t fit into your family of origin because you believe, think, and act differently than they do.

Often being caught between two worlds can lead to feelings of guilt or loyalty conflicts. Let’s not even unpack the responsibility one bears for the generations before (actually we should). Not to mention systemic barriers (we’ll unpack that too). All of this can really stress you out! Having someone with a culturally sensitive approach that recognizes these unique experiences can help you navigate through these important worlds and help you feel integrated in your identity.