Asian Mental Health

Asian American Therapist San Francisco

Hello there, I extend a warm welcoming hug to you, my fellow friend.

You are looking for an Asian therapist who understands the Asian culture and the unique cultural family dynamics.

I am here to support you. Let me hear your stories and see where we can break the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

The pressure to live up to your parents’ rigid cultural expectations. It is so ingrained in your head and experience that you believe this is the way it should be. You are feeling responsible for your parents, to take care of them as they are getting older. You are expected to be their ‘good child’ who respects their parents and listens to them without questions. You’re seen as “disrespectful“ for speaking up and trying to communicate with them.

The expectations of others not to speak up.

The feeling of not being included or the lack of a sense of belonging.

My name is Ah Hyun “Ashley” Lee.

I moved to the States from South Korea when I was about 14 years old. I came with my mom and my younger brother while my dad stayed in Korea with my grandmother. I lived in a northern suburb of Chicago and went to a local public high school in a predominantly White and wealthy neighborhood. It was a well-known high school for its academic excellence and wealth while lacking diversity and understanding of the minority students.

I have a unique experience of coming to the United States on a temporary Visa and going through the journey of obtaining a permanent residency.

While my experience will not completely align with yours, I hold the space with an understanding of Asian culture and values, a growing cultural gap within the family, and the dialogue and narratives that are often repeated and said within the family.