Therapist Unfolding Therapist Unfolding

After a loooooong break from podcasting, we’re back with an amazing conversation with Ana and Yufei, both MFTs from the Bay Area. Listen in to hear about our experiences as immigrants and clinicians of color.

This episode was recorded in April 2021, so you might hear references from 2020. But it is still very much relevant. Conversations about culture and immigration are evergreen!

Disclaimer: Content on this podcast is not intended to substitute for professional advice. Please seek professional guidance if you need it.

To reach us: therapistunfolding@gmail.com


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"Know history, know self. No history, no self."

"You can't change what you can't recognize."



Stephanie Garma Balon joins us in another episode to share her journey towards decolonization. In this episode, Steph and I connected on the different ways we've seen colonial mentality (a form of internalized oppression) play out in the Filipino community and in our clinical practice. Steph also shares some steps she has taken/is taking towards "decolonial healing."



How are you decolonizing your practice? For any tips or thoughts you'd like to share, please reach out to therapistunfolding@gmail.com. It would also mean a lot if you could share this episode to another clinician of color who you think might benefit from the insights that Stephanie generously shared with us today. Maraming Salamat for your support.



Authors mentioned: Kevin L. Nadal, Leny Mendoza Strobel, E.J.R. David

To reach Steph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-balon-ma-amft-8b139a8

IG: @stephrock333

Arroz Caldo: https://panlasangpinoy.com/arroz-caldo/

Disclaimer: Content on this podcast is not intended to substitute for professional advice.

To reach us: therapistunfolding@gmail.com


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"There is a correlation between cultural identity formation and wellness. And so that's the heart of this center. It's creating a space that is culturally affirming, intergenerationally engaging, human gathering space, that can be a natural entry point for speaking to the bigger issues of mental health..."



Stephanie Garma Balón, MA, AMFT (she/her) is a second-gen, cisgender, Pinay-American, daughter of immigrant parents of Ilokano & Visayan decent & proud Mama—born/raised on occupied land of the Ramaytush Ohlone people, AKA: San Francisco/Daly City. She is also the co-chair of Filipino Mental Health Initiative (FMHI) in San Mateo County.



In this episode, Steph shares the unfolding of her therapist journey. We invite you to listen in as she walks us through the different life experiences that led her to the field of mental health — the journey she refers to as "following the breadcrumbs." Steph also shares about her heartwork: providing a culturally affirming and healing space for the Filipino/a/x community through the Social Enterprise Cultural Center, which is set to open by 2022.



If you have some time, could you so kindly visit the FMHI website to learn about the vision and mission for the Social Enterprise Cultural Center. Or, share this episode to someone who may be yearning to connect with the Filipino/a/x community. Maraming salamat for joining us.

To reach us: therapistunfolding@gmail.com

To reach Steph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-balon-ma-amft-8b139a8

IG: @stephrock333

Filipino Mental Health Initiative: fmhismc@gmail.com

Social Enterprise Cultural Center: https://fmhi-smc.org/social-enterprise-community-center/

Disclaimer: Content on this podcast is not intended to substitute for professional advice.




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June is Pride Month!



In this episode we are joined by a college friend, Jesse, who is an AMFT from Southern California. Jesse identifies as transgender and straight with a Latino cultural background. We talked about how mental health was perceived in his Honduran family which led to a conversation about how family and friends reacted to his decision to become a therapist. He also shared the work that he is doing for the LGBTQ+ population, and how he is leveraging his own gender transitioning experiences to better support his clients. Jesse also shared some inspiring words for aspiring therapists who identify as BIPOC and LGBTQ+. We hope you stick around and witness the unfolding of his story!



To reach Jesse: Jdelatorre17@apu.edu

To reach us: therapistunfolding@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Content on this podcast is not intended to substitute for professional advice.


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May is Mental Health Awareness Month! 



Although this podcast was created for therapists, highlighting non-clinicians in this episode, I thought, could give us a slightly different perspective. The main purpose of this episode is to normalize various perspectives on mental health and to let you all know that mental health is for everyone! I also want to put a disclaimer that whatever is shared on this episode are not the only ways to view mental health.



1 - "Through therapy, I've learned that my emotions are not something I should be ashamed of." "Over the years, therapy has helped me handle changes in my life." - Vanessa and Melissa, co-hosts of the "I'm Uncomfortable" podcast. (IG: @imunfcomfortable.podcast)

2 - "Mental health is health. Being able to take care of myself everyday... like eating vegetables or exercising." - Epidemiologist 

3 - "Good mental health is important because when are at peace with our inner selves, we're able to be the best people for ourselves and those around us." - Teacher

4 - "It all starts inside our brains...every single person deals with that inner voice that is telling them yes you can, or no you can't, that self-doubt, all of that is mental health." - Kaylyn, fitness and mindset coach (IG:@kaylynsilva.fit)

5 - "I realized that I was so focused on other people that I didn't really work on myself. And it wasn't until I started working on myself that I started to notice change." - Jediah, small business owner (IG: @jediahmolina)



To reach us: therapistunfolding@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Content on this podcast is not intended to substitute for professional advice.


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"I'm gonna try to do things differently, even though I'm frustrated too. I know I'm gonna say something similar to that [critical, hard love] so I'm just gonna bite my tongue, walk away, and come back at a later time when I'm ready to say something helpful. Recognizing the signs within myself so I don't blow up and say something that could be very hurtful to them."

In this Mother's Day special, Jennifer Jimenez Wong, LMFT unfolds her experiences as a therapist parent. Jennifer shared how she successfully managed (still managing) being a mother of three, a full-time clinical supervisor at a non-profit, a part-time private practice therapist, a wife, and a caretaker to her elderly parents. Jennifer opened up about some of the parenting challenges she faced during the pandemic, and the silver linings of shelter-in-place.

We also talked about how the Filipino food, Pinakbet, is similar to motherhood, her one minute-mindfulness practice, and utilizing mental health services as a mental health professional. Hope you enjoy this episode!

Books mentioned: Big Life Journal, How to talk so kids will listen & Listen so kids will talk (Faber & Mazlish)

Pinakbet recipe: https://www.kawalingpinoy.com/pinakbet/



To reach Jennifer: jennifer@jenniferjwong.com

To reach us: therapistunfolding@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Content on this podcast is not intended to substitute for professional advice.


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapist-unfolding/message