Create meaningful change

Cultural and Racial Identity

Our culture can play an important role in shaping the way we see ourselves, others, and the world. It can also influence our values and expectations about how we should live our lives. As these messages are often deeply ingrained in our upbringing and may feel normal to us, it may not be until adulthood that we begin to reflect on how our family and cultural environments have shaped our sense of self and patterns of behaviour.

Exploring cultural and racial identity can be especially meaningful for people who have grown up between cultures, children of immigrant parents, or those who have immigrated themselves either at a young age or as an adult. Common experiences may include:

• Struggling with tensions between family and cultural expectations and your own values and life choices

• Growing up in a home where physical needs were met but emotions were rarely shared or spoken about, leading to difficulties recognising and expressing emotions

• Feeling misunderstood or emotionally disconnected from parents due to cultural and generational differences, or language barriers

• Strong expectations around respect for elders and family duty

• Taking on caregiving or adult responsibilities from a young age, such as caring for younger siblings and translating for parents, or acting as a mediator within the family

• Consistently putting others’ needs first and feeling guilty when making choices for yourself

• A strong emphasis on academic or professional achievement, leading for self-worth to become closely tied to accomplishments

• High expectations and criticism from parents becoming internalised as a harsh inner critic

• Challenges adjusting to Australian culture, including finding a sense of belonging and navigating identity

Therapy provides a supportive and reflective space to explore your personal story and identity in the context of your family, culture, and lived experiences. A core part of therapy involves learning to give ourselves, as adults, some of the things that we needed but did not experience in childhood. Therapy can help you to intentionally choose which values you wish to carry forward, while letting go of beliefs and learned patterns that no longer serve you.

Sophia is a Vietnamese-Australian psychologist who immigrated to Australia at a young age. She now lives and works across Japan and Australia. She understands that living between cultures can be an enriching experience while also bringing its unique challenges. She is passionate about supporting people from culturally diverse backgrounds, including Asian-Australian communities, to navigate these challenges and build lives that feel authentic and aligned with who they are.