Living in a new culture can be difficult and adapting to it can take time. To help understand some challenges someone may face when adapting to a different culture and for tips of adapting to a different culture, I have interviewed therapist Rodrigo Barahona, Psya D, LMHC, LADC-1.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am a psychotherapist and certified psychoanalyst, licensed mental health counselor and licensed alcohol and substance abuse counselor and supervisor, in private practice in Brookline, Massachusetts. I am also the director and supervisor of the Latino Partial Hospital at the Arbour Hospital in Boston, specialized in intensive short-term group psychotherapy for Latinos suffering from acute psychiatric disturbances.”
What are some challenges someone may face when adapting to a different culture?
“Challenges that people may face when adapting to a different culture vary, depending on how similar the host culture is to the original culture and reasons for immigrating to a new culture. When one leaves their native culture under forced conditions or involuntarily, idealization of the native culture and anger at the host culture can make language acquisition, for example, and over all adaptation to the positive values of the host culture very difficult. Even when the move to a new culture is desired and voluntary, language barriers can make finding services like health, education, food, housing, and security very challenging.
What are some tips for adapting to a different culture?
When adapting to a new culture, continue to maintain contact with the native culture to avoid anxiety over the loss of your native identity. Be careful not to isolate and retreat to exclusive contact with people from your culture, and new language acquisition should be a priority. Try and keep with well-established schedules, like eating and sleeping routines, and to incorporate oneself into the local society as soon as possible, either in school or employment. Make yourself familiar with the history of the host culture. Be wary of idealization of the native culture, and keep in mind reasons for moving to the new culture in the first place.”
What type of professional help is available for someone that is having a difficult time adapting to a different culture?
“People that have a difficult time adapting to a new culture might feel excessively lonely, bored, anxious, irritable, helpless, and depressed. Many cities have community health centers that cater to populations from a variety of cultures, including psychotherapists who have experience, personal and professional, with dealing with these issues. Finding someone to talk to about your thoughts and feelings will go a long way towards helping you understand how to better cope with your new pressures. This is especially so when that person is a trained professional, and who is also sensitive to what you might be going through.
Thank you Dr. Barahona for doing the interview on tips for adapting to a new culture. For more information on Dr. Barahona or his work you can check out his website on www.bostonpsychotherapyservices.com.
