Ever feel like you don’t quite belong?

Do you feel unsure when you’re asked to describe yourself? Your personal identity is the unique set of traits that shape how you see yourself.

Cultural identity is your sense of belonging to a specific group that shares common traditions, values, and practices.

Your cultural identity has several overlapping parts, such as:

• Gender and sexuality – How your gender identity and sexual orientation are shaped and experienced.

• Race – How you are perceived based on physical features like skin color, hair, and facial features. Those perceptions influence your experiences in society.

• Ethnicity – Shared ancestry, history, and traditions (for example, Mexican American, Nigerian, Chinese, Puerto Rican).

• Nationality – The country you are from or feel most connected to.

• Immigration and generational status – Whether you or your family immigrated, how long you’ve been in a country, and whether you’re first-gen, second-gen, etc.

• Language(s) – The languages you speak or grew up around, including how comfortable you feel using them in different spaces.

• Religion or spirituality – Beliefs, faith traditions, spiritual practices, or lack of religion.

• Family values and roles – Expectations around respect, gender roles, independence, caregiving, and how decisions are made in the family.

• Customs and traditions – Holidays, rituals, celebrations, food, music, and everyday practices that feel “normal” or meaningful to you.

• Community and social class – The neighborhoods, schools, and communities you grew up in, along with the money, work opportunities, and education that were available to you.

• History and intergenerational trauma – The experiences your family or group has lived through (e.g., migration, discrimination, violence, or resilience) that get passed down in stories, beliefs, and behavior.

When these factors come together, they place many expectations and responsibilities on a person.

Women of color often feel pressured to conform to a dominant culture, which can create confusion about their true cultural identity. Balancing the desire for acceptance with the need to preserve cultural roots can be difficult.

By exploring the complex details of who we are, we start to reveal the vibrant picture that shapes our identities.

I get it—it’s hard to share your story when you’re worried about being misunderstood.

You may also wonder whether exploring your cultural identity is worth the trouble or if you could figure things out on your own. In therapy, we explore the deeper reasons behind your current situation. We seek to understand the values you hold and the expectations that have influenced you.

It’s normal to feel confused or uncertain about your role in the culture, especially for children of immigrants (no matter how far removed) who navigate multiple cultures.

You might still have doubts about whether seeing someone will actually help you. Will opening up to a stranger really make a difference? Well, what if this hypothetical stranger (the stranger is me, Amanda!) were once in your shoes?

You deserve a therapist who understands you’re more than what’s written on a demographic form and who can help you discover the magic in your cultural identity.

You deserve the time and space to discover who you are.