Cross-Cultural Counselling

An experienced therapist specializing in issues related to cultural adjustment and immigration can support you if ...

• You are an immigrant, refugee or international student who is seeking for support in adjusting to the Canadian culture.
• You want to better deal with your feelings of frustrations, isolation, being overwhelmed, homesickness, helplessness, depression, confusion and being disoriented as a newcomer in Canada.
• You hope to manage your anxiety and feelings of awkwardness and disempowerment in social situations.
• You wish to resolve personal and interpersonal conflicts that you have with your own cultural identity.
• You wish to address your grief in losing a sense of family, meaningful friendships, social/personal status, familiar surroundings, important traditions and customs specific to your culture, and even some part of your own identity.

"Culture shock ... you are going to have to change ... habits and expectations that you consider to be "normal"." -- Author Unknown

Moving to a new country and adjusting to a new culture may be one of the biggest and most challenging life transitions for immigrants, refugees and international students. The traditions, customs, ways of being, language, expectations and rituals that once you were so familiar with and proud of may be rejected, unvalued and even judged as "abnormal" or "weird" by people in the host country. You may often feel very anxious, disconnected, awkward, bewildered, embarrassed, disempowered and outcasted in social situations. You may experience prejudice, discrimination and even racism. Moving away from your country may result in significant losses, such as your family, friends, social circle, career, social status, personal recognition and self-confidence. Others' judgment and reactions may lead you to question your own beliefs, attitudes, and even self-identity. You may feel conflicted about what to keep and what to let go of your cultural traditions and beliefs in order to adapt to the new culture.

"An accent marks the lag between two cultures, two languages, the space where you let go of one identity, invent another, and end up being more than one person though never quite two." - Author unknown

Quyn provides counselling in either English or Vietnamese. As a therapist, Quyn can help you make sense of what you are going through by inviting you to freely talk about all of your unpleasant feelings and experiences associated with adjusting to a new culture. Quyn can also guide you in exploring ways in which you can restore your sense of self-confidence as well as find resources and new support systems that will help you cope with your day-to-day obstacles. Most importantly, Quyn can assist you in figuring out how you can adapt to the new culture without compromising the cultural traditions, beliefs and rituals that are very meaningful and important to you and your self-identity.