Why I Became a Therapist

It’s a question that many people think about, but not many ask when meeting a therapist. I believe that people who are not therapists have a subconscious belief that when an individual enters this field, it is generally related to their own journey with mental health. For me, it has been significantly tied to my cultural background.

My Culture

I am a first-generation American (first-gen) and share a common experience with many other people who identify as first-gen. My parents migrated to the United States from Albanian, bringing very little with them. Like many first-gens, I helped my parents and extended family learn on the go. Having the privilege to be born and raised in the USA has been a gift, in which I have had the opportunity to witness all the beauty, and lapses, of each culture (American and Albanian).

Observing Cultural Differences

Growing up practicing many Albanian traditions, and being surrounded by mostly Albanian family members, I adopted the values of cherishing the family unit very strongly. However, while growing up in America, I also adopted values of strong independence. You can see how these two values might clash. As I continue to understand the many differences between the cultures, I notice that the culture in the USA emphasizes independence in a way that highlights self-care. Ultimately, self-care leads to mental healthcare.

Like many Eastern European countries, mental health is still a growing concept that many do not understand. The Albanian culture is a clear example, in which the language itself lacks more than half the terminology that helps describe/express mental health compared to the English language.

Honoring the History

As I matured, I had the privilege of learning more about the history of the Albanian culture from my parents and family traditions, while also earning a wonderful education through the public education system in NY. During my studies, I was exposed to in-depth psychology classes, which helped break down how we understand human behavior, and the vast growing changes some cultures adapt, and the slow progress some cultures track. While trying to introduce my family to the concept of psychology and mental health, it was no surprise that many were reluctant to listen and comprehend. However, I noticed that over time, through continued exploration and processing, my family began to grow more accepting of its significance, and in small ways began to practice better mental health care.

In many ways, this progress over time became an eye-opening experience for me, as I began to see individuals from my generation beginning to prioritize the mental health and well-being of the next generation. However, there was a significant takeaway from observing this change over time. In trying to push, and somewhat force, my family to learn about mental health care, I received a lot of pushback and overall dismissive behavior. This led me to see that my family first conceptualized my fascination with psychology as an insult to the Albanian culture, believing that the culture was not “ good enough.” With this thinking pattern, I realized that comprehending mental health was a marathon and not a sprint. Over time, I learned to introduce the concept of mental health while honoring the Albanian culture. I proceeded to highlight the different ways that the cultural values could progress positive mental healthcare, and how common and normal it was that many cultures have a lot to learn in improving mental health care. This led to more open and less defensive discussions about mental health.

Where to go From Here

Not only did my experiences shape my interests in the mental health field, but also enhanced my skills of multicultural competency. Having been able to practice, learn, and experience multiple cultures growing up, helped foster in me a greater understanding and sensitivity for all cultures, and their ability to adapt to new environments. In addition, as many regard the USA as being a “great big melting pot,” my history also provides me with the tools to have a strong understanding of other individuals who are also first-gens or come from diverse backgrounds, such as individuals from various cultures, religions, genders, sexualities, races, and more.

Having the privilege to learn about mental health, in addition to observing a culture that can greatly benefit from continued growth in conceptualizing it, I was further fueled to pursue a career in mental health counseling. I now have the ability to help and guide many individuals to better understand themselves and have a better quality of life.