Navigating the Asian American Immigrant Experience Through Therapy
Feeling torn between two worlds?
As an Asian American immigrant, your mental health struggles are unique and deeply personal.
Many of my clients feel conflicted between two sets of expectations—their parents’ traditional Eastern views emphasizing duty and unspoken expectations and their own Western worldview focusing on self, independence, and openness.
This constant push and pull can be exhausting and confusing.
You may face deep-seated anger from patriarchal cultural norms, guilt from elevating your socioeconomic status, imposter syndrome, cultural alienation, workaholism, and codependency.
This can lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout, making it crucial to address these issues in a supportive and understanding environment.
The Impact of Immigrant Experiences
Many Asian American immigrants feel pressured to take care of their parents in their old age, driven by guilt rather than open discussion and planning.
Some feel that their parents "own" them, expecting something in return for their sacrifices as new immigrants to America. This can lead to feelings of unmet expectations and resentment.
Other people often experience -
Undiagnosed and untreated mental illness in a parent, especially anxiety, can dominate and control the family system.
Cultural values that frown upon divorce and separation can create hostile marital environments, priming children for unhealthy models of love and relationships.
Perfectionism and unrealistic expectations add to the stress, as does the expectation of external validation for high performance, which may not be as forthcoming in the workplace as it was in college.
You don’t need to suffer in isolation or silence
If there’s one thing I want to say to Asian Americans whose mental health is affected by their experiences, it's this: It's not you.
Shame is very much part of poor mental health—it distorts your perspective into thinking you are the only one with this problem because there is something wrong with you.
There are so many others like you who are suffering in isolation and in silence.
While the experiences mentioned are specific to Asian American immigrants, they will resonate with anyone who grew up in a dysfunctional home environment.
The symptoms of complex trauma—anxiety, depression, and addictive behaviors—are universal.
If you’re ready to navigate these challenges and find a path to healing, I’m here to help.
Contact me today to schedule a consultation or learn more about my individual therapy sessions.
How To Get Started
FIRST
Let’s talk
Reach out to schedule a brief consultation. This will help us establish if we’re a good fit and how I can best support you.
THEN
Let’s make a plan
During our first few sessions, we’ll develop a therapy plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.
AT LAST!
change your life
As time passes, you’ll see how the tools you learn positively change your emotional well-being and enjoyment of life.
Hi, I’m Theresa Kimm
Korean-American LCSW and Licensed Therapist
Fortunately and unfortunately, I can personally relate to many of the underlying conflicts and toxic patterns from my own family of origin. I am sure many can relate, but most of us fall or identify with being a “good” Asian American (model minority) or its alternate “bad”, “rebellious”, or the “black sheep”. I tried to defy this binary, which puts me in the “not good” Korean American bucket.
It is my hope that the personal and cultural struggles we experience will no longer be viewed as a “minority issue” but as part of the multifaceted American experience.
My approach to therapy aims to make you feel seen and heard. I validate your experiences and help you connect to and understand your complicated feelings around them. I share anecdotes and related stories to support and normalize your experiences.
Therapy with me is about using evidence-based methodologies like psychodynamic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), radical acceptance, and mindfulness.
We’ll explore your behaviors from both inside out and outside in, helping you understand and change patterns that aren’t serving you well.