Relational Therapy for Adult Children of Immigrants in Pomona, CA
You may have reached the point where you realize the life that you have been living has been built around everyone else’s ideas of success. It can be difficult not to experience doubt when everyone has something to say about what you should be doing, even if it is “out of love”. Being a part of a family, getting to be a part of the celebrations, the rituals, the dinners, it makes us feel closer to our culture and the people that we love.
The things that we often may not share with others are the difficulties that come with conforming to the rigid constraints of the ideal daughter, the perfect job, and the right way to experience love and live life. If you have felt at odds with the values of your family versus what you want from your life, you are not alone.
What you might not be saying out loud is how desperately you want things to be different without feeling like you are disrespecting your loved ones or the culture that you’ve come from. It is difficult not to feel guilty or wrong for wanting circumstances to change, or wanting your parents and family to see you for who you really are, not who they would prefer for you to be. You may carry the belief that being your authentic self comes with consequences or repercussions that you couldn’t possibly handle. Being authentic can feel like an isolating process, in which the people who love you don’t understand you.
The truth is, it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to hide who you are or what you want your life to be. What is challenging is facing the fear, making the decisions, and committing to yourself when everything inside is telling you to keep your head down. There is a version of this life where you get to be free and unapologetically authentic. You don’t have to know what that looks like to work toward it, you just have to decide that what is happening right now is no longer sustainable. I am here to help you take those first steps together.
Georgina Kasih, LCSW
Meet your Therapist for Adult Children of Immigrants in Pomona, CA
As the eldest daughter of immigrant parents, raised in the U.S., Honduras, and Syria, I understand the complexities of living between cultures. For many people, honoring family, history, and cultural values can sometimes feel at odds with becoming more fully themselves. You may find yourself carrying the weight of expectations, trying not to leave anyone behind as you move forward, or wondering whether choosing your own path means turning your back on where you come from.
I want to reassure you that being yourself does not have to mean that you leave behind everything that has contributed to the person you are now, it just means that we don’t let those things become an obstacle to who we are becoming. You deserve to experience change and growth in a way that is supportive and compassionate. You deserve to feel like you can be loved for who you are by anyone that chooses to be in your life. Let’s navigate the complexities of this life together, safely, openly, authentically.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Relational Therapy is a type of therapy that combines cognitive, body-conscious, and culturally considerate strategies to explore wounds created by betrayal, miscommunication, and emotional misattunement. These can be experienced in familial, plutonic, and romantic relationships. Looking at connections through the lens of attachment and decolonized relational theory, the aim of Relational Therapy is to explore what actually fosters trust, compatibility, and emotional attunement in relationships.
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Relational Therapy is for individuals who carry guilt, shame, and insecurities regarding past or current relationships. You could be experiencing conflict in your family relationships due to differences in values, tensions regarding partnering outside of your culture or religion, or decisions regarding alternative lifestyles and career choices. In friendships, you may seek to understand estrangements, growing apart, or betrayals of confidence that put strain on emotional safety. In romantic relationships Relational Therapy can help you understand why you seek out certain connections, how your attachment style influences social interactions, and how you can trust yourself again without being influenced by those you care about.
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In the context of being an Adult Child of Immigrants, you can be carrying history far beyond your own experiences when thinking about your life and how to live it. Guilt comes into play when you start thinking about living your life differently than what was originally laid out by your parents, your culture, and your own outdated expectations. When considering the efforts your family has made to create a future for you, following a path based on your own desires can feel selfish and disrespectful to what they have built.
Wanting to live a life, have a partner, or follow a career path that is different from what your family expects doesn’t have to be something that you avoid, and it doesn’t say anything bad about you. It means that you as an individual have had time and space enough to consider your options, and that you can see yourself being fulfilled on the other side of pre-set expectations. If you’re wondering where to go from here, let’s explore that together. -
In therapy, we can explore the intricacies of multicultural upbringings, values, and experiences that have gotten you to where you are today. We will build safety around processing experiences, feeling confident in your physical reactions to stress, and improve your communication skills in order to build up the tools that will help you get to the life you want to live. We will explore the limiting beliefs that keep you stuck in patterns that no longer serve you in order to break down internal and external barriers. Ultimately, we are looking for a path toward living your life as authentically as possible, without feeling like you have to leave everything you know behind.
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Estrangement from your loved ones is never something you’ll be pushed into doing. There are ways you can navigate the difficulties of strained relationships without leaving your family or your culture behind. Improved communication, emotional attunement, and relief regarding your decision making can be strengthened through our work together in Relational Therapy.
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You can fill out the contact form located on my contact page here. You can also email, call, text, or book directly through my simple practice platform here.
Email: georgina.kasih@proton.me
Phone: 840-262-3618
