First- and Second-Generation Experiences therapy for complex belonging
I work with adults whose lives are shaped by migration, inheritance, and the pressure to bridge different worlds. We can talk about belonging, responsibility, and the feelings that come with carrying family history forward.
What people bring me
People often come in feeling responsible for family stability, translation, or success in a way that leaves little room for their own needs. They may feel split between gratitude and resentment, closeness and distance, duty and freedom. Sometimes they are the one others rely on, even while they feel unsure who will hold them. That can make identity, boundaries, and rest feel tangled together.
- I carry things my family never had words for.
- I feel responsible for everyone and everything.
- I want independence, but I feel guilty about it.
- I don’t know how to belong without disappearing.
We can hold both what you inherited and what you are trying to build.
How I work with it
I listen for the push and pull between loyalty and self-determination, and for the ways that can show up in daily life. We can look at pressure, guilt, caregiving, and the burden of being the one who understands both sides. The work may involve grief for what was lost, anger about what was required, or relief at naming what has been silent. I keep the conversation grounded in your actual relationships and responsibilities, not abstract ideas alone.
- Psychodynamic
- We can look at how family history shapes what feels owed, allowed, or dangerous to want. That helps make sense of patterns that may have started long before you had words for them.
- Relational
- I pay attention to how responsibility and care show up between people now. That can help us notice when you are carrying more than your share or hiding needs to keep peace.
- AEDP
- If there are feelings you have had to push aside to keep going, I may help you stay with them. That can include sadness, anger, tenderness, and the weight of being in-between.
- DBT
- When the emotions feel too big to sort through all at once, we can slow them down. That can make it easier to think clearly about what you want and what you can carry.
What the first sessions look like
The first sessions focus on what has been most heavy to carry and how that shows up now. We talk about family roles, unspoken expectations, and what you may not have felt free to say before.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation. I usually reply within 2 business days.
Questions people ask
How is this different from general therapy for immigrants?
Can we talk about feeling guilty for wanting my own life?
What if I’m always the translator or the responsible one?
Do I need to talk about my whole family history?
The practical details
- Fees
- My fee is $175 per session.
- Insurance
- I accept Aetna and Optum. If you use a different plan, I can talk through what your coverage may look like when you get in touch.
- Where
- 26 Court Street, Suite 409, Brooklyn, NY 11242
- Availability
- I am accepting new clients.
