Acculturation & Bi-Cultural Issues

The Bicultural Balance

One of the biggest issues for adult children of immigrants who are now living in the United States is what I like to call the "bicultural balance." I use the term to describe the balancing act that adult children of immigrants must endure as they attempt to maintain their family's cultural origins, traditions, and familial expectations while simultaneously trying to adapt to their new community.

The bicultural balance can be particularly difficult - even stressful - for immigrants because it calls for quick adaptation to a new community that adheres to a different set of norms and behaviors. Not surprisingly, the transition is especially challenging for some individuals - it certainly was for me!

My Story
Born in Iran, I moved to the U.S. with my family in 1979. For 5 years prior to the move, I grew up among an Iranian community of people whose tight-knit cultural values placed great emphasis on family connections. As you can imagine, it came as a great shock to me when I entered the U.S., where the cultural drive is geared more toward independence from your family of origin. The conflict was difficult for a child of my age to understand. In fact, it was this very contrast in cultural norms and values that sparked my initial interest in the psychological field.

Today, after years of studying the psychology behind cultural backgrounds, familial traditions, and coping mechanisms, I have come to realize that our cultural backgrounds significantly impact the way that we understand and cope with our world. This realization was life-changing for me, and it could be for you too!

Your Sherman Oaks Therapist

For my clients who are struggling with acculturation and bi-cultural issues in America, I aim to help them identify the reasons behind their feelings of displacement, confusion, depression, and the like. I take an empathic approach in the assistance that I provide to my clients, aiming to help struggling individuals create the balance they need in order to understand and adopt effective ways of melding together both of their worlds.

For more information about the acculturation and bi-cultural therapy that I offer in Sherman Oaks, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.