Parenting Support for Immigrants
In Irvine and throughout California
Guiding Immigrant Parents: Bridging the Gap with Your American Children
Parenting is never easy, but when you are an immigrant raising children in a culture different from your own, it can feel overwhelming. You want the best for your children, you have sacrificed so much for them—you want them to succeed, to be respectful, and to honor the values you hold dear. But sometimes, it feels like they’re growing up to be someone you don’t recognize.
You might find yourself thinking:
“Why don’t they listen to me?”
“Why don’t they respect me like I respected my parents?”
“I do everything for them—why don’t they appreciate me?”
“Why aren’t they grateful?”
“What will people say if they saw my child acting like this?”
These thoughts often come from a place of love, but they can lead to frustration, anger, sadness, and feelings of powerlessness. If you’ve ever told your children, “You’ll do what I say because I’m your parent” or “You respect me because I’m your mother/father.” you may feel like this is the only way to parent—because it’s how you were raised. But when children grow up in a different culture, these parenting styles can create distance, conflict, and disrespect on both sides.
Why is the Gap Between You and Your Children so Wide?
Identity struggles: Your children might feel caught between two worlds—wanting to honor their family’s culture but also wanting to fit in with their peers and American society.
Emotional expression: You may have been taught to suppress emotions (“Be strong,” “Don’t cry”), while your children are learning that it’s okay to talk about their feelings, which might feel foreign, weak or uncomfortable for you.
Cultural difference creates a natural gap that can look like:
Different expectations: You might expect your children to obey without question, show respect automatically, and prioritize family values. They might expect to be heard, to make their own decisions, and to express their thoughts—even when they disagree with you.
Different communication styles: In your culture, children may not speak up or question their parents. Here, children are taught to “find their voice,” which can feel like disrespect to you.
I Can Help You to Bridge the Gap by Helping you Reconnect with your Children
1. Understanding Your Unique Family Dynamic
I’ll help you explore your cultural values and traditions as a parent while understanding the American experiences shaping your children’s perspectives. Together, we’ll navigate how to honor both cultures.
2. Fostering Open Communication
I’ll teach you and your children how to communicate effectively, so you can listen to each other without judgment and express your struggles in balancing two cultures.
3. Bridging Cultural Values
I can help you identify shared family values and show you how to express them in ways that respect both your cultural heritage and your children’s American influences.
4. Learning About American Norms
I’ll provide context for American cultural norms and help you navigate how they align—or conflict—with your expectations, so you can find a balanced approach.
5. Teach you how to manage your triggers so they don’t get in the way.
I will provide you with regulation skills, and we will address trauma if necessary to eliminate triggers.
I help clients find:
Deep Emotional Connection: Feeling truly connected to their children without barriers of frustration, anger, or misunderstanding.
Mutual Understanding: Both you and your children respecting and valuing each other’s cultural perspectives.
Improved Communication: Open, honest conversations where everyone feels heard and understood.
Parenting with Confidence: Approaching challenges calmly and without being overwhelmed by
FAQs
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Parenting support for immigrant families is a specialized service designed to help parents who have moved to the U.S. navigate the unique challenges of raising children in a multicultural environment. As immigrant parents, you may face difficulties balancing your cultural heritage with the demands of mainstream American society. This support helps you address these challenges by offering guidance.
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I help you explore your family dynamics and provide practical strategies for changing and improving the situation. Together, we’ll identify how cultural differences may be impacting your relationship with your child and find ways to integrate your values while fostering a healthy, supportive environment. I offer psychoeducation about the impact of cultural differences, what a healthy parent-child relationship looks like, and how to incorporate your cultural values in a way that benefits both you and your child.
Additionally, I provide guidance on child development, helping you understand the different stages your child is going through, and how these stages influence their behavior and needs. We also explore your emotional triggers and work together to address the root causes, which are often related to trauma or past experiences, to help improve the relationship with your child.
Together, we focus on strengthening communication skills, setting healthy boundaries, and understanding how to manage the stress and frustration that may arise from these dynamics. With this support, you’ll gain the tools to navigate parenting challenges, while maintaining a deep connection with your child and honoring your cultural heritage.
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While therapy isn’t a quick fix, it can be very helpful in improving the respect and understanding between you and your child. One of the key goals of therapy is to strengthen communication and mutual understanding. Through our work together, we will explore ways to foster a deeper connection with your child, addressing any cultural or generational differences that may be creating misunderstandings or tension.
By learning how to communicate more effectively, set healthy boundaries, and model respectful behavior, you’ll be able to create an environment where respect can naturally grow.
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My goal is not to tell you exactly how to raise your child, but to support you in finding the best approach that works for your family’s unique needs and values. I believe you are the expert on your child and your family. What I provide is guidance, tools, and strategies based on your specific challenges and cultural context.
Through our work together, we’ll explore your family dynamics, identify any challenges you may be facing, and help you develop effective ways to improve communication, set healthy boundaries, and navigate cultural differences.
Ultimately, I want to empower you to make informed decisions and feel confident in your parenting choices, while fostering a nurturing and respectful relationship with your child.
“Cross-Cultural Parenting isn’t the only service I offer at my California online therapy practice . Other mental health services at Empower U include Therapy for Bicultural Individuals, Therapy for Immigrants, Terapia en Espanol, and EMDR Therapy . Contact me to learn more about how I can help you bridge the gap with your American children"
Questions before getting started? Get in touch.
You don’t have to live with the anger, frustration, resentment and sadness that come from raising children in a different culture than your own. Therapy can heal the frustration, build stronger communication, and develop new ways of connecting with your children. Together, we can work towards a balanced, fulfilling relationship where both you and your children feel understood and valued. My California therapy practice specializes in bridging the cultural gap between you and your children. To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps
Step 1
Contact Cristina
Step 2
Meet with Cristina for an intake session
Step 3
Start overcoming your frustration, anger, and sadness by finding peace within yourself and feeling more connected to and respected by your children.