Helping Bicultural Individuals Heal Transgenerational Trauma
Therapy for Anxiety, Self-doubt and Guilt
In Irvine and Throughout California
Feeling Torn Between Two Cultures is Incredibly Challenging.
Do you feel torn between what you want and what the culture you come from tells you to do and be? Do you experience anxiety, self-doubt, and guilt ?
Perhaps you have a deep sense of responsibility to make your parents happy, and when you fall short, feel stuck in a loop of beating yourself up and feeling hopeless.
When you get into the cycle of beating yourself up , you start procrastinating at work or with tasks at home . This leads to you feeling even worst about yourself and almost more unsure on what you should be focusing on.
You feel like a jerk when you do what you want, but you feel resentful when you try to make your family happy.
Have you found asking yourself 'What’s wrong with me? and start spiraling?
You feel stuck. How can you say anything when you know your parents just want what’s best for you? They’ve sacrificed so much, and you’re grateful—or at least you’re supposed to be. But deep down, their words leave you questioning yourself. You choose not to respond, but the silence feels heavy. The guilt builds as you hear their voices in your mind, saying things like, “Why are you so ungrateful?”
Something feels off in your daily life, and it’s weighing on you physically. You might feel constantly emotionally and physically exhausted. Just when you finally have a moment to relax or enjoy yourself, a text message arrives. It seems caring at first, but there are undertones of disapproval or subtle reminders: “I know you enjoy what you are doing, but how is it helping you to build a future? You need a real career that offers stability, not just some hobby”. "Hi, just wanted to check in. Have you thought about visiting more often? It feels like we hardly see you these days, and family should always come first, don’t you think?"
Therapy for Transgenerational Trauma and Complex Trauma Can Help.
Hi, I’m Cristina Deneve.
If you are experiencing feeling torn between two worlds I can help you. I’m am a therapist specializing in Transgenerational Trauma and Complex Trauma. My superpower is helping you to ease the anxiety of feeling torn between two worlds, break free from heavy expectations, and reconnect with who you truly are.
My own journey of self-reconnection led me to transition from engineering to therapy. As a fellow bicultural individual, immigrant, parent of 3 American children, and someone in a biracial marriage, I understand the challenges of navigating cultural expectations.
I’m also a certified EMDR therapist. EMDR is an evidence based approach that speeds up the healing. I am passionate about helping individuals heal from trauma because I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a life free from the weight of their past, expectations and step into a future full of possibility and resilience.
I help First and Second Generation Americans heal so that they can:
Live Authentically Without Guilt or Shame
Learn to say ‘no’ and stand up for themselves without feeling like they’re letting anyone down.
Love their family and honor their culture while living a life true to themselves.
Find Peace Between Two Worlds
Find a way to reconnect with their culture while building a life that feels true to themselves.
Create a sense of belonging without losing themselves.
Learn Healthier Family Dynamics that Will Allow them to Break the Cycle for Future Generations
Stop carrying the same patterns of silence, guilt, or shame into their own family.
Learn how to communicate and break those cycles so their kids and they can have a healthier relationship.
First and Second Generation Americans who have worked with me have said things like:
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""You have changed my life for the better. Now I believe in myself, I can stand up for myself, I feel that I have control over my life, and I feel at peace".
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"You have helped me tremendously. People have noticed a change in me—they say I seem happier now. I no longer explode like I used to because I’ve learned how to communicate and set boundaries. Now, I can protect myself and feel good about who I am."
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"I don't know how to thank you for helping me turn my life around completely. I hardly recognize this person who is assertive, confident, knows who they are, what they want, what they need, and how to get it."
Healing from Transgenerational Trauma Is Possible
You aren’t alone. It’s not your fault, and healing is possible. You deserve to live a life where cultural expectations and family dynamics don’t cause constant guilt, anxiety, or self-doubt.
It may feel like being torn between your family’s expectations and your own desires is just a way of life. It doesn’t have to be. You can feel confident in who you are. You can set boundaries without guilt. You can live a life that honors your family and culture while staying true to yourself.
If you are ready to invest in yourself, please reach out today. I am here to walk with you on your journey to healing and self-discovery. I can’t wait to accompany you.
FAQs
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Sometimes, the pain or struggles our parents, grandparents, or even earlier family members went through can get passed down to us. This happens not because they want to hurt us, but because their experiences—like living through war, poverty, discrimination, or other hard times—can affect how they see the world, handle emotions, or raise their children.
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I offer a free consultation call to see if we are a good fit. After this call, my fee is 175 for a 50 minute individual session.
Regarding Insurance: I am in Network with Aetna and United Health Care in California This means that if I don’t take your particular insurance you can often obtain reimbursement with insurance companies if your particular plan has out-of-network benefits.
Most insurance plans with out-of-network benefits will reimburse you 60-90% of my fee when you submit a receipt called a superbill that I provide to you.
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Online counseling is convenient, and allows you to access counseling from the comfort of your own home from Empower U secure video platform.
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The duration of therapy for transgenerational trauma can vary widely depending on several factors, including the client’s goals, the complexity of the trauma, the therapeutic approach used, and the client’s readiness and ability to process their experiences.
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Yes, people can heal from transgenerational trauma, though the process often requires time, commitment, and support. Healing doesn’t necessarily mean erasing the trauma or its effects but involves creating healthier patterns, breaking cycles of harm, and finding a sense of empowerment and self-connection.
“Therapy for Bicultural Individuals isn’t the only service I offer at my California online therapy practice . Other mental health services at Empower U include Therapy for Immigrants, Terapia en Espanol, EMDR Therapy and Parenting Support for Immigrants. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome the anxiety, self-doubt and guilt”.
Get started with therapy for Transgenerational Trauma today.
You don’t have to live with anxiety, constant guilt and self doubt. Therapy can help you find peace, set boundaries, feel confident in who you are, and live authentically. My online therapy practice Empower U specializes in adult children of immigrants who suffer from Transgenerational Trauma and Complex Trauma. To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps
Step 1
Contact Cristina Deneve
Step 3
Start reconnecting with your true self and rediscover or propel your dreams, overcoming the fear of being invalidated or criticized. Find peace as you navigate family dynamics and cultural expectations.
Step 2
Meet with Cristina for an intake session