Therapy for Second-Generation Latinas/os
Supporting adults navigating identity, family expectations, trauma, and life between cultures.
West Los Angeles • Online throughout California
Living between cultures
The second-generation experience is often overlooked, yet it can be filled with confusion, isolation, rejection, and healing.
Many Latinas/os find themselves trying to balance two worlds: the world their parents know, the one they grew up with, one that seems to exist only in your home and “home country”, then there’s the world you exist in when you step out of your home. The balance includes the traditions, sacrifices, and expectations of their families alongside the realities of life in the United States.
You might find yourself asking some of the following questions:
How do I honor my family while still choosing my own path?
Am I “White-washed” because I don’t speak fluent Spanish?
Why do I struggle with feelings of guilt when I set boundaries?
Why do I sometimes feel that my achievements come with an invisible heaviness?
Why do I feel responsible for everyone else's well-being?
These questions and experiences can bring up anxiety, loneliness, confusion, and a weakened sense of self, all of which are extremely difficult to discuss with people who don’t share this lived experience. Therapy with me is a space where you can explore these complexities slowly, safely, and without judgment.
Cultural Identity and Mental Health
For many second-generation Latinos, mental health struggles are often shaped by cultural dynamics such as:
Gender roles (machismo/marianismo)
Religion
Familismo
Pressure to succeed due to the sacrifices of your parents and grandparents
Generational trauma
Stigma associated with mental health
Navigating traditional values alongside personal identity
In therapy, we’ll address these issues with honesty, curiosity, and respect- highlighting the difficulties and the strengths associated with our roots.
How Therapy Can Help
Through therapy, many of my clients start to:
Feel more confident in boundary-setting
Develop a deeper love and appreciation for Latino culture
Reconnect with their own goals and needs
Feel less pressure and guilt
Break generational curses
Healing doesn’t require leaving culture behind. Healing looks like embracing the privilege that comes with having access to the knowledge and resources to engage in breaking the chains of generational trauma. In doing so, you will learn to embrace both your needs and your roots.
My Approach
As a second-generation Latina, I personally understand the complexity of this journey. I’ve lived through the push and pull of family dynamics, tradition, culture, and am forever grateful for my Mexican roots.
My therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based, trauma informed therapies such as EMDR, TRM, and CPT, blended with a relational, supportive approach that embraces and includes culture throughout treatment. This approach allows me to walk alongside you on your journey with compassion and clarity.