The environment we grow up and live in shapes our view of ourselves, of others, of relationships and of how the world works. Our world view is developed from what we learn from family, our group, culture or country. Much of what we learn we may take for granted and assume is the norm.

Moving to another environment, such as another country or culture, or even moving away from home and the family we grew up in, challenges much of what we take for granted. A lot of the change can be expected and welcomed - we expect different landscape, different food, different interactions. We may welcome the changes and have looked forward to having new opportunities. The changes may be challenging, exciting, but also stressful. The changes may lead us to question who we are, what we value and where we belong. In some cases this acculturation stress can also lead to depression or anxiety.

Each person adjusts to a new culture in their own personal way, deciding how much to keep and cherish or disown from the former culture, and how much to adopt or reject of the new culture. The person might assume or insist that those close to him or her adjust in the same way and make the same choices. These different individual strategies can lead to conflicts: conflict within families, between partners, between parents and children, or grandparents and adult children, and also between friends and co-workers.

Children who grow up in two or more cultures are faced with the challenges and opportunities of navigating the different cultures. At home they may readily conform to the expectations of their parents and at school they may follow those of the larger culture. When parents are not aware of how different the larger culture is from the one the parents grew up in, or minimize the challenge of being in two cultures, much stress and misunderstanding can occur.

In psychotherapy I can help you explore your struggles with who you are, how you view yourself, how others view you, and how you navigate the challenges of being in more two cultures or more. Together we can clarify your values, and help you define what is important for you.