Adult Children of Immigrants
Being an adult child of immigrants comes with a unique set of experiences—navigating two (or more) cultures, balancing family expectations, and carrying the emotional weight of your parents’ sacrifices. At MLC, we recognize that these experiences are often overlooked in traditional therapy, which fails to account for the complexity of identity, belonging, and intergenerational dynamics.
We create space to explore:
- Cultural Identity & Belonging – Many adult children of immigrants feel caught between cultures—never quite “enough” of one or the other. Therapy can help process these feelings without pressure to conform to a single identity.
- Intergenerational Expectations & Family Guilt – Many immigrant parents equate success with sacrifice and survival, leaving their children feeling pressured to achieve, provide, or live out their parents’ unfulfilled dreams. We explore ways to set boundaries without guilt or shame.
- Emotional Repression & Survival Mentality – Many adult children of immigrants were raised in survival-based households, where emotions took a backseat to practical needs. Therapy helps make space for self-compassion, self-care, and emotional expression.
- Navigating Family Conflict & Boundaries – Whether it’s dealing with generational gaps, differing values, or family enmeshment, we explore ways to honor your own needs while staying connected in ways that feel right for you.
- The Pressure to “Make It” & Financial Expectations – Many adult children of immigrants feel a deep obligation to financially support their families, succeed at all costs, and “repay” their parents for their sacrifices. We work on unpacking these expectations while allowing space for your own goals and well-being.
- Healing Internalized Messages About Worth & Success – Growing up in an immigrant household often comes with rigid definitions of success, love, and self-worth. Therapy can help unlearn narratives that no longer serve you.
You don’t have to choose between your family and yourself. Healing is about integrating your cultural roots while defining your own values, path, and identity—on your own terms.
