Children of immigrants must navigate multiple cultures. The culture they know predominantly from their parents and the culture in which they live. Finding a sense of belonging and identity can be especially challenging for Asian Americans, who tend to be the group that is the least likely to talk about their feelings and seek out mental health services. 

To explore a path for healing cultural identity hurdles, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two licensed therapists, authors, and co-founders of the Yellow Chair Collective, Soo Jin Lee, and Linda Yoon.

Soo Jin and Linda explain the mission of the Yellow Chair Collective and the premise of Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian-American Identity, their book based on members’ stories and cultural experiences.

Soo Jin Lee & Linda Yoon — Healing & Belonging:

• The book, Where I Belong, is a product of the Yellow Chair Collective support network. {3:21}
• Asian Americans are the least likely to seek out mental health services. {8:09}
• Many Asian Americans have experience with intergenerational trauma yet living in constant survival mode keeps them from voicing it. {11:49}
• Yellow Chair Collective is a cultural support network for those who struggle with intersectional identity issues. {16:01}
• Immigrants can find it difficult to navigate living in two different cultures. {22:54}
• The mission and goal of the Yellow Chair Collective. {27:32}

About Lisa’s guests:

Soo Jin Lee, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, executive director of Yellow Chair Collective, and cofounder of Entwine Community.

Linda Yoon, LCSW, is a licensed therapist and social worker who has dedicated her career to helping people along their healing journey to find a sense of belonging.

“We all want to belong. Regardless of where we come from or what our experience is, the human drive to be connected is ubiquitous." - Lisa Cypers Kamen 

For more inspiration visit www.harvestinghappiness.com!