My name is Rachel, a Registered Psychotherapist!

As a first-generation Filipino immigrant, it felt like I had to find and pave the way for myself in terms of my identity, culture, boundaries, and my mental health. Perhaps you’ve faced the stigma and “taboo” of mental health, which was rarely acknowledged and often seen as weakness. Perhaps you also experienced what the value of “utang na loob” meant and how that continues to rule your life. Being the so-called “cycle breaker” can be a lonely and momentous feat.

But there’s hope for change, even if it felt challenging and dire. I deeply believe that growth and healing are always possible, sometimes in the most unexpected places and moments when we feel our most vulnerable.

If you resonated with me and a part of you felt a bit of hope or made you sit straighter, then you and I might just make shift happen.