Depth Psychotherapy for immigrants, adult children of immigrants and multicultural people

Raissa Alvero, MA, AMFT
(she/her/siya)

I specialize in integrative psychodynamic therapy for adult children of immigrants navigating life transitions, family of origin stress and intergenerational trauma.

Many people I work with struggle with trust and emotional intimacy or with anxiety, depression and unresolved trauma from a difficult or confusing childhood.

My aim is to help you expand and deepen your capacity to understand your feelings, trust your experience and connect with yourself and others. I believe therapy takes courage and humility to confront discomfort, allowing us to break free from patterns that keep us stuck and move toward greater freedom. As your therapist, I see myself as a guide, offering the right balance of support and challenge to foster meaningful change and growth.

In our sessions, we will slow down and take an exploratory and pragmatic deep dive. By integrating depth-oriented, liberation-focused, and trauma-responsive techniques, we will work together to uncover and detangle the deeper issues that shape your sense of self and belonging, and discover what is alive within you along the way.



 

Therapy is a unique and powerful process; a non-judgmental, exploratory space for you to unravel and move towards awareness, healing and growth.

Depth psychotherapy invites you to step into the unknown. It can be a dynamic process that requires a witness and guide. Progress is rarely linear. It can be challenging to know yourself and grow, but you don’t have to do it alone.

The only way out is through.

By being fully present to the process of therapy, you may experience greater

RELIEF • AWARENESS • CLARITY • CONNECTION • WHOLENESS • ACCEPTANCE

 
Therapy for BIPOC, Asians and multiracial people

Who I see in my practice

I welcome people of all intersections of identity to my practice. I find myself to be effective with anxious perfectionists who care deeply, second or third time therapy seekers who are looking to “dig deeper”, and those navigating emotional distance or estrangement from their family of origin.

I have experience and enjoy working with:

  • Couples and individuals considering/ preparing for marriage and parenthood

  • Lawyers, educators and advocates

  • Tech workers, medical professionals and engineers

  • Artists and creatives

  • Queer-identifying, LGBTQIA+ folks

  • Neurodivergent adults and teens


Approaches

 

Depth-Oriented

Bringing attention to what is outside of awareness and uncovering the deepest parts of who you are

Together we will carefully listen, gain insight and get a deeper understanding of what keeps you stuck. We will explore inner conflicts, relationship patterns and structures of behavior that may be blocking you and your relationships with others.

Through our work together, we will discover what is alive beneath your surface.

Liberatory + Systemic

Examining your struggles through the context of interlocking systems: family, society, ideology, culture, sociopolitical, economic, ecological

We have complex experiences and live in complex times. I value supporting folks in their move towards greater authenticity and liberation. Together we will address internal and structural obstacles, harness your unique strengths and locate your sense of agency.

In therapy we can get to know your stories, examine cultural influences and release intergenerational burdens.

Trauma-Responsive

Allowing embodied healing in the present moment and making meaning out of your experience

As a trauma-responsive therapist, I acknowledge how systemic and social oppression can cause one to feel chronically marginalized, demeaned and disempowered. Together we will develop inner and outer resources as we process feelings and unresolved experiences in the here-and-now.

With time, I can help you build trust in your inner knowing and in the wisdom of your body and imagination.

Areas of Focus

Asian American Experience

Burnout & Imposter Syndrome

Family conflict

Acculturation, im/migration & race-based stress

Intergenerational legacies, burdens & trauma

Relationship Difficulties

Premarital Counseling

Relational Trauma including experiences of abandonment, neglect, betrayal, codependency, emotional abuse, family violence and intimate partner violence

Difficulty finding a partner or making friends

Attachment issues


Mental Health Challenges

Anxiety

Depression

Low self-esteem

Self-harm and disordered eating

Managing attentional difficulties or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress & Complex PTSD

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Developmental Trauma

Cultural trauma, colonial mentality and the effects of oppression

Purpose, Meaning and Existential Issues

Life transitions

Grief and loss

Climate anxiety and ecological grief

Identity exploration

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

―James Baldwin