Diversity and Acculturation

Fitting into a different culture is challenging.

Whether moving to the U.S. is temporary or permanent, it involves significant adjustment.

Figuring out how things work, where things are, and who can help is challenging. While you try to navigate your new environment, you feel isolated and confused.

One of your primary fears is that people won’t understand you because your English is “not good enough” or you are not an interesting person because you don’t know much about the American culture.

Those fears make you feel insecure about your accent, beliefs, and practices.

Acculturation presents many obstacles.

When you present yourself to people, their reactions often suggest they know little to nothing about your country of origin and culture. As a result of how you were raised, providing clarification in response to those reactions and asserting yourself is challenging.

You are unsure how to engage with others and conduct yourself in the local culture, causing you to feel out of place.

You were professionally and socially successful in your home country. Now, you wonder if you can create the same kind of life in your new environment.

Honoring your family and cultural traditions to the best of your ability is essential, but you are not sure how those traditions will fit into the new life that you are trying to create for yourself. You strive to seek harmony but feel chaos inside.

Belonging is a basic human need.

The need to belong motivates us to connect and be part of our communities and environment. Being accepted and feeling appreciated by those around you is extremely important to you.

As someone from a different culture, I know how you feel. I also know that therapy can assist you in addressing the adjustment concerns that you experience while exploring how you want to present yourself in the new culture.

We’ll honor your unique experiences while building on your strength and resiliency.

Free yourself from the doubts holding you back from the life you want to create in this country. I will be honored to assist you with this journey.

Let’s connect!