Being A First Gen, with Carla Avalos

Being a first-generation American-born human can come with some challenges. One might feel like they are stuck or pulled both to honor the culture that their parents were raised in and make space for the possibly vastly different culture in which they currently reside.

What are some of the challenges, quirks, or resiliencies inherent in being a first-generation American? How do we unpack our parent’s cultural expectations amidst acculturation and consolidate them with our own?  How do we identify what we want to hold on to and release as part of generational cycles? And how do we create our own narrative amidst it all?

This week, I’m chatting with Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional, Carla Avalos. Carla was born and raised in Los Angeles and is a daughter of a Salvadoran immigrant mother. She works full-time as a Clinical Supervisor for L.A. County Dept. Of Mental Health and also has a part-time private practice. Ms. Avalos is passionate about providing education and resources to the BIPOC and Latinx communities regarding various mental health topics such as perinatal mental health awareness, relationships, self-care, boundaries, and challenges of being a first gen.

Learn more about Carla on Instagram @NuevosCaminosTherapy or on her website https://www.nuevoscaminostherapyla.com/