In this conversation, I speak with Hatty about what brings our Asian and Asian Americans clients into therapy specifically as it relates to family. 

We talk about how early childhood experiences and family dynamics impact our clients in their present lives. We talk about parentified children, childhood trauma and neglect, the pressure and threats that adult children experience, intergenerational grief and what happens in therapy can be helpful to clients. 

We also address two questions that folks had sent in towards the end of the episode:

• How to get away from parents who guilt children into overwork for the sake of the family and the idea that I must make lots of money to make my ancestors proud?
• How to deal with family members who knows you are in therapy but are not supportive and ask “why one session hasn’t cured you”?

I hope our conversation normalizes some of your experiences you might have had and/or continue to have in your families. And, that while not easy, relief and healing is possible. 

Hatty J. Lee (she/her) is a marriage and family therapist and Brainspotting practitioner who has been practicing for over a decade. As the founder of a thriving group practice in Los Angeles, California, she has met with over a thousand people from diverse backgrounds in psychotherapy, counseling groups, and wellness workshops. She supports people to deepen connection with themselves and the most important people in their lives. She is the co-creator of @indwell.guide (a guidebook on navigating your mental health) and also writes about various mental health topics on her Instagram account @hattyjlee. Her work has been featured in multiple editorials, including Women's Health Magazine and Reader's Digest.

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