Multicultural Orientation
We are all shaped by the cultural identities we hold - including our age, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, body type and disability status, among others. These aspects of ourselves shape how we perceive the world around us and how we are perceived in turn. They influence our values and goals for our own mental health. At times, those perceptions can also be stressful, thereby having an impact on our mental health.
Exquisite and nuanced attention to cultural factors is essential in psychotherapy, and a commitment that is very important to me. I co-led an inter-disciplinary multicultural peer-consultation team at Duke University Medical Center, involving ongoing supervision and consultation to strengthen multicultural competence in clinical practice. I am particularly passionate about facilitating mental health awareness and psychoeducation for immigrant populations in the U.S. As such, I conducted psychoeducation workshops for international students at UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University to help them overcome the stigma of mental health care. I have also collaborated with other researchers and scholars to produce scientific knowledge about how to strengthen education in this area within the field of psychology.
As an immigrant myself, I am deeply aware of the impact of cultural context on my role as a clinician. I may not share the lived experiences of my clients or know everything about their cultural identity. However, I will ask questions and I will listen - I strive to approach clients with humility, by being open to their worldview.