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Mi gente, this week I had the honor of speaking at the Women of Color Empowerment Group event at San Diego State University. 🩷 @sdsuhsi
I had the opportunity to engage in a plática with the amazing @drhortenciajimenez about intergenerational healing through intersections of mental health, body image, and diet culture. I unapologetically invited all my identities into this sacred space because for so long, these identities carried shame. I am a proud First Generation Latina who is the eldest daughter of undocumented immigrants, who calls South Central LA home. As we discussed the intersects of cultura with intergenerational trauma and diet culture, my inner niña felt seen as I was often teased and bullied by my tíos former being a child in a bigger body and questioned how I was going to look in my quinceañera dress if I didn’t lose weight.
We discussed the emotional, mental, social, and biological impact of intergenerational trauma on BIPOC communities. We called out oppressive systems that perpetuate Eurocentric ideology. We called in our ancestral wisdom and gifts that invite us to lean into intergenerational healing. We leaned into our comunidad as strength y honestamente, Que chingon me sentí being surrounded by resilient powerful women.
And shoutout to my hubby for cheering me on. He sees a lot of the work I do behind the scenes but this time he had front row seats. 💕
I dedicate this keynote to my papí, my viejito who cleans the offices of a CEO in a produce company and even though he has an honest hardworking job, su hija también es una CEO y un día lo vamos a retirar 🥹.
May we unapologetically take up space anywhere we go, lean into intergenerational healing, and honor our ancestral gifts. Cargamos cultura, resiliencia, y fortaleza en la frente. 🌵
Siempre pa’delante! Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy
#firstgen #firstgenerationstudents #firstgenlatina #keynote #keynotespeaker #doctora #sdsu #usc #uscgrad #ucla #uclagrad #lcsw #mentalhealth #socialwork #latino #latinxmentalhealth #latinx #latina #latine #highered #latinatherapist #therapist #terapia #terapeuta #palante #palantetherapy #reels #reelsinstagram #explore #southcentral
As a First Gen Latina professional, who lived most of her young adult years with her parents, I feared the licuadora going off or the sound of the paletero during my meetings. I recall feeling so anxious before my virtual meetings because I didn’t want to look “unprofessional.” I had to consistently tell my mom, “Ama, no vaya a moler nada en la próxima hora.” And then she would hit me the “ay sorry mija se me olvido.” 🫠 Anybody else relate? 😩
The cultural negotiations we have to do as First Gens often include navigating working from home in a multi-generational home. Sometimes it’s not as easy as just telling our parents or family members to ‘keep it down’ for the next hour. It may require more than this simple explanation. Often, our parents or family members who have never navigated educational or professional spaces have a hard time understanding why we need a quiet space for a given time or the nuances of meeting virtually. Perhaps a level of understanding might have increase as a result of COVID, but still not quite.
If you’re a student or ‘professional’ working from home en una esquinita de tu casa and residing with your parents or family, please compassionately remind yourself that you’re doing the best that you can with the resources you have. Maybe you decide to plan for alternative ways to show up virtually but maybe it’s out of your capacity or control. If this is the case, take a long deep breath, remind yourself that you are capable regardless of your current home/environmental circumstance. 💚
Abrazos fuertes,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy ✨
#firstgen #firstgeneration #childrenofimmigrants #firstgenlatina #latinatherapist #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #latinos #latinas #latinx #latine #consejos #therapist #therapistsofinstagram #terapia #saludmental #bicultural #lcsw #socialwork #palante #palantetherapy #explore #reels #reelsinstagram #reelsvideo #usc #uscgrad #ucla #uclagrad
Inspired by these wonderful Latinas @academiclatina and @becomingadoctora… because music is a rich part of our identities y cultura. 🌵🎶
I love this way of portraying our identities con orgullo y sazón. My identity as a therapist/doctora intersects with my cultura and I’m so proud to embrace my intersectionality in professional and academic spaces and show up authentically. Proud Mexicana con raíces Poblanas! 🇲🇽La cumbia sonidera was not just for cleaning pero pa’ todo lol. I mean, a party wasn’t a party unless the sonidero DJ would echo, “sssssaludos saludos saludos a la familia aaa…” 😂 (IYKYK). Now as an adult, I take my quiebraditas, cumbias, banda, corridos everywhere… 🫶🏽
My corazoncito gets so full when my students hear a song I’m playing and they ask, “Miss, you listen to that? That’s cool” and proceed with showing me their favorite songs that embrace their cultura. ❤️
Está terapeuta/doctora zapatea, da de vueltas, canta con el pecho, hace un pasito tun tun, and everything in between. 🫶🏽💃🏽
#firstgen #firstgentherapist #mexicana #daughterofimmigrants #therapist #terapeuta #latinatherapist #latina #cumbia #banda #corridos #quiebradita #cultura #applemusic #lcsw #msw #explore #palante #palantetherapy
Let’s talk about another form of generational trauma that doesn’t get much attention as it should especially within our comunidad… Los secretos en la familia (secrecy).
Secrecy is rooted in generational trauma. Our ancestors were punished for speaking truthfully. Holding secrets was based on a survival tactic stemming from colonization and disenfranchisement of communities of color.
En nuestra comunidad Latine, some of the cultural messages we have received about secrets has been, “pero que va decir la gente,” “la ropa sucia se lava en casa,” “si dices algo, vas haber llegando a la casa.”
Very early on, we received messages that we couldn’t safely speak our truth.
Secrecy and shame are woven together. We feel ashamed when we hold a secret due to fear of judgment. When I disclosed my childhood sexual abuse history in adulthood to my family, although I felt liberated for finally speaking my truth, I also felt shame and guilt for many reasons especially for the estrangement that it caused my mom with her family. Later, I learned that because I was the first one in the extended family to break silence, other family members were motivated to share their truths.
Although, I am continuously working through these emotions through my own healing, it’s still very difficult to navigate. Breaking unhealthy generational patterns is challenging and ugly. But the liberation and rebirth of stepping into generational healing supersedes the ugliness. Brave and courageous conversations are needed❤️
Sending immense compassion and light to those impacted by secrets in their family, whether holding a secret or receiving a secret. Tu comunidad está aquí. You’re not alone. We got you! ✨
Ps: I encourage you all to listen to @latinxtherapy podcast interview with @nataliegutierrezlmft discussing secrecy in our community. It was powerful and affirming of how our gente have been impacted by secrecy. ✨
**Has your family been impacted by a secret? How are you navigating this form of generational trauma?
*Disclosure: Social media posts are not intended to replace professional help. See social media disclosure in highlights.
#trauma #secret #secreto #healing #generationaltrauma
Stepping into April with a friendly reminder to my fellow First Gen/children of immigrants… ✨
💚 who are constantly navigating many ‘first’ in their professional careers…
💚who work relentlessly to achieve their dreams and their parents…
💚who often sacrifice their mental health and emotionally blackmail themselves to push their limits because ‘it will be worth it’ …
💚who feel the financial burden to support their parents because they are their parents’ retirement plans…
💚who show up authentically in professional and academic spaces despite navigating the ‘imposter phenomenon’…
💚who are breaking unhealthy generational cycles because they noticed a pattern and decided it ends with them…
🌵may you see your worth beyond academic/ professional parameters,
🌵may you follow your dreams even if they’re different from what your parents want or hope for you,
🌵may you engage in growth: growing out and growing in
🌵may you continue to engage in healing
🌵may you grant yourself permission to step into unknowns with compassion
🌵may you lean into the intergenerational resilience your ancestors gifted you with
Con compasión, orgullo, y fortaleza,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy 🤍
⛔️ See disclaimer in highlights regarding social media posts.
#firstgen #firstgeneration #childrenofimmigrants #healing #healingjourney #mexico #mexicocity #cuidaddemexico #teotihucan #mentalhealth #latina #latinos #latinx #latine #firstgenlatina #latinatherapist #therapy #therapist #therapistofinstagram #lcsw #msw #saludmental #terapia #reelsinstagram #reels #réel #explore #palante #palantetherapy
