Do You Seek A Bilingual And Culturally Sensitive Therapist?
Are you an Asian-American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) who is looking for an approach to therapy that can truly address the challenges you face? Do you want to confide in someone who can bridge the language and culture gap that exists between many clients and therapists?
Perhaps you are a member of the AAPI LGBTQIA population and having trouble reconciling who you are with what you feel is expected of you. Or maybe you are a first-generation parent who is experiencing conflict in your family because of the cultural differences between you and your child.
Despite being regarded as a “model minority,” Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders face a host of difficult life challenges. From anxiety and depression to trauma and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) to relationship and family problems, the AAPI community is not immune to the pressures of the world.
For instance, you may be struggling with a deep sense of isolation and fear that challenges your self-confidence or self-worth. Or you may be an international student who is having difficulty adjusting to life in America. If you are a young professional, you likely feel stressed out or even unsure of who you are as you try to balance your personal desires with traditional cultural expectations. Or perhaps you have even suffered an act of anti-Asian violence that has fractured your sense of safety and security.
Learning how to navigate two different cultural landscapes on your own can be a daunting task. However, at Mind Connections NYC, our bilingual therapists specialize in helping Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders create autonomous, successful, and fulfilling lives. With our help, you can feel more competent, accepted, and sure of who you are and what you need to be happy.
No One Is Flawless—Needing Support And Guidance Is Just A Part Of Life
No matter who you are, everyone experiences hardship and can benefit from a little outside help. Unfortunately, for the AAPI community, there is often a deeply entrenched element of fear and shame surrounding therapy and self-care.
In fact, in many Asian cultures, there is such a strong emphasis placed on self-sacrifice and being “well-behaved” or “in harmony” that it creates a stigma around counseling. Even if something just feels off—unexplained issues that can’t be named—it can still be difficult to ask for help.
But the truth is that, at one point or another, we will all experience adversity or emotional turmoil that threatens our sense of peace. Work stress, grief and loss, difficult life transitions, and trauma can turn anyone’s life upside down. And, right now, due to COVID, there is a huge spike in ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
Moreover, the AAPI community is facing a steep rise in discrimination, racism, and anti-Asian violence. These are all powerful social forces that can drive a multitude of physical and psychological issues. And how that adversity is managed depends largely on past experiences, genetic makeup, and personal background.
So if you are in pain or just confused, it’s not your fault—and there is no shame in reaching out for help. At Mind Connections NYC, we believe that, with the guidance of our Chinese/Mandarin-speaking and culturally sensitive therapists, you can free yourself from fear and shame and live life on your own terms.
Therapy for Asian Americans Offers Compassionate And Culturally Empathetic Support
We understand that, for Asian Americans, counseling can generate a lot of unwarranted shame and guilt. So we want you to know that you can say whatever you need to or want to without fear of being judged, criticized, or interrupted. You don’t need to worry about hurting anyone’s feelings, damaging a relationship, or being penalized.
At the same time, you can expect to uncover the underlying causes of any mood issues, worries, or fears. And you can learn how to think objectively, respond to adversity differently, and develop coping skills for managing symptoms of conditions like anxiety and depression.
During our initial session, we’ll offer you a thorough evaluation to get to know you a little better. We’ll explore any pressing concerns you have, how long they have been an issue, and how you have been coping. In doing so, we’ll gain a better understanding of you as a person, what triggered the problem, and what you hope to achieve through AAPI therapy. Using that information, we’ll then discuss with you how we can work together to reach your goals.
Throughout subsequent sessions, we’ll focus on identifying the root cause of your struggles while working on understanding and tackling surface symptoms. Sessions typically resemble process and problem-solving workshops where you get to explore a particular situation, describe your feelings about it, and learn how to look at it in a different way. This, in turn, enables you to resolve current problems with more effective coping strategies.
Periodically, we’ll check on progress and address any areas where you got frustrated, stuck, or off-track. Throughout the process, your therapist will make sure that you stay grounded and in control so that if you bump into any intense emotions, you won’t become overwhelmed. Over time, you can feel relief from stress, anxiety, or depression symptoms while learning new skills for overcoming challenges on your own.
Our Asian-American therapists implement numerous therapeutic interventions to fit each client’s specific and unique needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment method for retooling negative thought processes and overcoming issues, such as anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, ADHD, eating disorders, and relationship conflicts. An offshoot of CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), is particularly helpful for treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
We use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for addressing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and a range of anxiety-related issues through acceptance rather than control. And Mindfulness-Based Therapy incorporates mindfulness practices, such as meditation and breathing exercises, to disrupt negative thought patterns that cause anxiety or depression to spiral out of control.
If you are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or any other of life’s challenges, therapy for Asian Americans can offer you empathetic support and guidance. Although we are honored to work with clients from many different backgrounds, our counseling services are tailored to the unique needs of individuals and couples from China and other Asian countries. We understand the challenges faced by the AAPI community because our Mandarin-speaking and bilingual Asian-American therapists share similar experiences and histories.
Perhaps you are considering therapy for Asian Americans but still have some concerns…
If I need therapy, does it mean I am crazy?
Absolutely not. We all get stressed or run into obstacles we can’t overcome on our own. The truth is that many Asian-American individuals, couples, and families invest in therapy. Whether it concerns stress management, relationship counseling, cultural identity issues, low self-esteem, or career coaching, everyone can use some help occasionally. Furthermore, wanting to learn how to manage difficulties and grow as a person shows that you are self-aware enough to know when you need help. And that’s not crazy—it’s wise.
Will my future employer know that I attended counseling for Asian Americans—and will insurance cover the cost?
HIPAA law has clear and strict regulations governing the protection of your privacy. It is strictly prohibited for us to release any information about your health and therapy sessions to employers, co-workers, friends, or even family, so our conversations are completely confidential. As for insurance, like many practices, we are out of network for teens and adults. However, we can file claims on behalf of college students and international students who can’t afford our services.
How do I know you will understand what I am going through?
We have extensive experience working with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as well as Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Chinese populations. We have a profound understanding of Asian cultural values and we can speak your language. Though most of our therapists are primarily English and Mandarin/Chinese-speaking, we also have staff who are fluent in Cantonese and Korean. As a result, we’ve had tremendous success helping others heal, grow, and find happiness and peace in their lives.
Let Us Be Your Bridge To Greater Well-Being
If you are ready to connect with a therapist who can speak your language, understand your concerns, and show you the way to a better tomorrow, Mind Connections NYC would love to help. If you live in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan, or anywhere in the state of New York, please use our contact page or call (347) 542-8226 for your free 15-minute consultation. We’ll provide you with confidentiality forms, answer any questions you have, pair you with a counselor, and send you a Zoom link for your first session.
心理咨询师 / 心理治疗师 Therapist / Psychotherapist / Mental Health Counselor
中文心理咨询 Chinese Mental Health Counseling / Psychotherapy In Chinese / Therapy In Chinese
中文心理咨询师 Chinese Speaking Psychotherapist / Chinese Speaking Therapist
纽约中文心理医生 Chinese Speaking Psychologist In New York
纽约心理咨询师 NYC Psychotherapist / NYC Therapist
纽约华人心理医师 Chinese / Mandarin Therapist In NYC
抑郁症咨询 Therapy For Depression / Depression Therapist婚姻关系咨询 Marriage Counseling / Couples Therapy
southasiantherapists.org: directory of South Asian therapists, including therapists of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Afghanistani and Nepali heritage.
