A Therapist’s Reflection: Supporting Immigrant Families in an Uncertain America

By Vanessa Torres, LMFT

As a first-generation Mexican-American therapist, I grew up straddling two worlds.

At home, I spoke a language that didn’t show up in my textbooks. I watched my mom and family navigate an unfamiliar system with quiet strength—translating medical forms, working long hours, and shielding us from fears they rarely voiced out loud.

Outside, I quickly learned how to adapt: to blend in, to translate not just words but culture, expectations, emotions. I learned how to hold my family’s story in one hand and America’s in the other—and sometimes, the weight felt like too much.

Now, as a therapist, I sit across from families who remind me of my own. And in today’s political climate, I see the same fear in their eyes that family and friends of the family tried to hide in theirs.

The Unseen Emotional Cost

What’s happening in the headlines isn’t just political—it’s deeply personal for immigrant families. The uncertainty, the threat of separation, the anti-immigrant rhetoric—all of it lands in the body and spirit.

Children carry questions they don’t know how to ask:
Will my mom get taken away? Why does my dad keep checking the locks? Why do people at school make fun of how we talk?

Parents carry shame and exhaustion:
Am I doing enough? Should I have stayed? Why is surviving here so hard?

And in between them, often, is silence. A silence that protects and divides.

What Therapy Can Offer—And Why It Matters

I’ve seen how powerful it can be to give immigrant families a space to speak freely, to exhale, to grieve, and to hope. Therapy can be more than just a place to process feelings—it can be a place to reconnect with dignity, identity, and voice.

Here’s what I believe makes a difference:

1. Naming the Stress

Many of us grew up believing we had to be “strong” no matter what. But resilience isn’t the absence of pain—it’s the ability to move through it with support. Simply acknowledging the weight families are carrying can be a profound relief.

2. Honoring the Complexity

Every immigrant story is layered—with love, loss, sacrifice, and survival. Therapy should create room for those layers without forcing families into categories or stereotypes.

3. Healing the Silence

Children of immigrants often become emotional interpreters. Therapy can help parents and children find shared language again—through storytelling, validation, and cultural pride.

4. Being an Advocate

We don’t stop being human when we leave the therapy room. Whether it's helping families find legal resources, supporting access to culturally responsive care, or speaking out against injustice—we have a role to play.

To Fellow Children of Immigrants: I See You

If you’re like me, you may have spent years feeling like you had to shrink or adapt parts of yourself to belong. You may have learned early how to navigate systems, decode expectations, and push your needs aside–carrying the emotions weight quietly.

But your story, your feelings, your voice—they matter.

You don’t have to do it alone.

Final Thoughts

Immigrant families bring so much strength and wisdom to this country, even when they’re met with resistance. In these times of political uncertainty, the most radical thing we can do is care for one another—deeply, intentionally, and without conditions.

As a therapist, and as a daughter of immigrants, I hold space for both grief and possibility. I know what it means to live in-between. And I know that healing is possible.

If your family is looking for a safe space to process, reconnect, and grow, we’re here.

You are seen. You are valued. You belong.

Resources for Immigrant Families and Allies

Mental Health & Culturally Relevant Support:

• Therapy for Latinx – A national directory of Latinx therapists.
  

• The National Latinx Psychological Association – Advocacy and culturally competent resources.
  

• Immigrants Rising – Mental health, education, and career support for undocumented and first-gen students.

Legal & Advocacy:

• RAICES – Legal services, advocacy, and education for immigrant families.
  

• United We Dream – The largest immigrant youth-led organization; support for DACA recipients, families, and allies.
  

• National Immigration Law Center – Legal advocacy and resources around immigrant rights.
  

Crisis & Hotline Services:

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (Spanish-speaking counselors available)
  

• SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – Free and confidential support in English and Spanish
  
  

Interested in learning more about therapy for immigrant families or bicultural identity? Reach out for a free consultation—I am honored to support you.