Why Is Representation Important?
Time and time again research shows how crucial it is for people of color to see themselves represented in media, politics, and other social arenas. This representation does not only impact how others see underrepresented groups, but how individuals in that group see themselves. For young people of color, having peers who look similar and share interests can provide a sense of safety and belongingness. So, it comes as no surprise that having someone who looks like us and shares common cultural practices can make a huge difference when going to therapy. Unfortunately, there is still a large amount of stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness in most communities. This includes the Asian community who, like everyone else, struggle with life stressors and mental health.
Here at PsychoSocial, we believe in the importance of educating others about mental health and creating community. Recently, we connected with Crazy Therapeutic Asians, a team of two Asian mental health practitioners in Los Angeles, who have used their experiences and knowledge to create content addressing Asian mental health issues. These two mental health professionals are Kent Chiu, an American born Taiwanese therapist who identifies as non-binary and Connie Hsu, a Chinese American therapist. Check out their introduction video for Crazy Therapeutic Asians below.
Crazy Therapeutic Asians!
Connie and Kent met while they were both trainees working at the same site. They were both happy to find each other as they were the only Asian American therapists working there. They started talking and realized that despite their generational differences there were many experiences they shared in common, the struggles and experiences they had growing up, interacting with their parents, managing expectations, learning to integrate both the Eastern and western culture they were exposed to. Recognizing both the underutilization of mental health services and shared experiences of the Asian American Community, they decided to start Crazy Therapeutic Asians to help de-stigmatize the world of mental health and to bring awareness to their common struggles. Make sure you check out some of their most recent videos and follow them on social media!
Follow on Facebook@CrazyTherapeutic
YouTube Channel @CrazyTherapeutic
Email: CrazyTherapeutic@gmail.com
Instagram @CrazyTherapeutic
Resources
Luis is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who graduated from Long Beach State University with a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology (2015). He also has a Bachelors's degree in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis on Public Policy from San Francisco State University (2011). Luis has over 9 years of experience working with children and families both in education and mental health. Previously, Luis worked for a non-profit agency in San Francisco, CA providing mental health consultation in early head start programs and SFUSD pre-schools. Currently, Luis works at Kaiser in San Francisco providing mental health services.
His therapeutic interests include working with Trauma, the LGBTQ community, Children, Families, Couples, and POC. His personal interests include; Films, Reading, Writing, Art, Travelling, Disney, and Food. He is also a recipient of the California State Stipend award (2015). PsychoSocial is part of Luis' dedication to mental health and an example of his passion to educate others. Luis hopes that through PsychoSocial he will be able to help in the fight to end the stigma around mental illness.
#EndtheStigma
