Welcome to another insightful episode of You're So Well Spoken. In this episode, hosts Alex and Aziz dive into the complex world of cultural identity, therapy, and family dynamics with their special guest, Liliana Baylon, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in multicultural communities and immigrant families. If you're navigating cultural pressures, dealing with generational trauma, or just curious about how therapy can help immigrant families, this conversation will resonate with you.

This episode covers a rich discussion about the experiences of first-generation immigrants and the challenges they face in balancing cultural expectations from both their families and the societies they live in. Liliana shares her personal story as a first-generation immigrant and her transition from the corporate world to becoming a therapist, emphasizing the importance of cultural awareness in mental health.

Topics covered include:

• Cultural Expectations & Assimilation: What does it mean to assimilate versus acculturate? Liliana explains the nuances between these concepts and how they affect immigrant families.
• Parentification: A common issue in immigrant communities where children take on adult responsibilities too early, translating for parents or taking care of siblings.
• Therapy Stigmas in Immigrant Communities: How therapy is perceived in different cultures and why there's often resistance to seeking help.
• Family Dynamics & Gender Roles: Liliana discusses how traditional gender roles and expectations shape family interactions and how therapy can help in redefining these roles.
• Healing & Validation: Why therapy is crucial for first-generation immigrants and how acknowledging past traumas can lead to healing.