May 28 2024 59 mins
Ambika sits down with Sahaj Kaur Kohli, MAEd, LGPC, founder of @browngirltherapy and author of “But What Will People Say” to discuss (as her book’s subtitle so perfectly articulates), navigating mental health, identity, love, and family between cultures. This episode centers South Asian experiences, but topics apply to intersectional multicultural and immigrant experiences.
Show Notes
00:24 The Impact of Brown Girl Therapy
01:28 Journey to Writing a Groundbreaking Book
01:49 Navigating Cultural Identity and Mental Health
04:31 The Birth of Brown Girl Therapy and Its Evolution
05:43 Exploring the Book’s Themes and Personal Resonance
09:03 Understanding the Psychological Impact of Being a Second-Generation Immigrant
13:25 The Role of Impression Management in Cultural Identity
16:16 External Validation and Its Influence
24:00 Exceptionalism and the Pressure to Overcompensate
26:20 Navigating Relationships with Other Indian Women
26:53 Exploring the Impact of Internalized White Supremacy
28:38 The Struggle with Trust and Competition within Communities
28:52 The Journey of Brown Girl Therapy and Facing Challenges
31:20 Cultural Scapegoats and the Cycle of Exceptionalism
36:31 Navigating Difficult Conversations and Emotional Validation
46:16 Reflecting on Parenting and Cultural Legacy
47:01 The Healing