On Being an Asian American Woman
I’ve felt that way my entire life, I didn’t know others did too.
Or “My family/parents/upbringing/childhood was like that too”. These are some of the things you may hear if you participate in On Being an Asian American Woman, a therapy support group facilitated by Full Well Therapy. Being a woman is hard. Being an Asian American is hard. Being an Asian American woman can be especially challenging. In this space, you’ll be able to join with others to explore, support, build community, and find solidarity in being an Asian American woman in this country.
In this Group, We Will…
Build connection with ourselves
Grow in compassion and kindness towards ourselves and others
Explore the harmful impacts of racism in our lives, relationship dynamics, and society
Go towards the painful parts of our history
Build supportive environments and relationships with those who share in one or more of our identities
Give the gift of witnessing and presence for ourselves and others
Explore and heal intergenerational traumas
Seek internal peace and harmony
What is Group Therapy?
Group therapy is a place where you can share your stories, be understood in your experiences, and find solidarity and belonging. In group therapy, you don’t have to feel alone or isolated in your difficulties, because you’ll be surrounded by others who’ve gone through similar difficulties. Not only that, it’s also a place to build relationships and community through vulnerability and openness. You can also learn skills and build an understanding of yourself that you didn’t know was missing. It’s a place to grow, to heal, and to move forward, all while in a community of others who understand you.
How Do I Know if I’m a Good Fit for this Group?
One thing to keep in mind, group therapy cannot serve the same function as individual therapy. If you are at a point in your life where you feel you may most benefit from an individual therapy space, perhaps group therapy isn’t the best fit for you. Also, this group is currently being held online - if you would like to participate, you would need stable internet connection, a private space to log on to sessions, and a device capable of video calls. Ultimately, if you are an Asian American woman looking for a safe space to explore and discuss your own experiences of being an Asian American woman in this country, I would love to welcome you.
Can I work with you for both individual and group therapy?
As much as I would love to be able to provide that level of comprehensive support, I am ethically unable to have both an individual and group therapy relationship with any one person. If we already have a relationship in an individual or couples therapy setting, that unfortunately precludes you from participating in this group. However, if you would like to transition to Individual therapy after completing the group, that is definitely something that can be explored.
How much is the group?
The group is Pay What You Can - meaning you pay anywhere between $0-$70 per group session. There can be so many barriers to accessing mental health support: financial, time, unfavorable beliefs about mental health, to name just a few. With so many barriers to receiving appropriate mental health care, the group is being offered as a Pay What You Can - with the hope to eliminate some barriers to supportive mental health care.
If It’s ‘Pay What You Can’, Why Are You Doing This Group?
When I heard the news of the Atlanta shootings in March of 2021, as someone who identifies an Asian American woman, I struggled. I experienced pain, anger, outrage, numbness, defeat, sadness, hopefulness, comfort, solidarity - all in the span of a few days. And a part of my processing of the tragedy was thinking about how I can respond to the pain of the Asian American community. While some are community organizers, writers, artists and creators, I am not any of those things. I am, however, a therapist - good at holding space for others, creating a safe space, and acknowledging and witnessing pain with compassion and acceptance. And so this group was created.
Okay, I’m interested. What next?
The group is currently open, if you would like to participate. Please use this form to submit your interest in the group. Once you are next on the waitlist for an open group, you will be contacted for a phone consultation. After the phone consultation, you’ll join with other women for 10 weeks to share your experiences On Being an Asian American Woman.