therapy — Read Editorials

Why Eldest Daughters Struggle with Self-Care in Filipino Families

In Filipino households, the eldest daughter, or Ate, is often viewed as the pillar of the family. She’s the one who helps raise younger siblings, supports her parents, and often makes sacrifices for the greater good of her loved ones. But what happens when all that giving comes at the expense of her own well-being? For many eldest daughters, the idea of prioritizing themselves feels impossible—something almost selfish. This article explores the cultural expectations placed on Ates and the journey toward self-care and self-love.

Sheena JawaFebruary 3, 2025mental health resources, mental health filipino, therapy, Sweet Mango Therapy, eldest daughterComment

For Filipinos Grieving a Parent: Healing Through Culture and Community

Grieving the death of a parent is one of the most profound challenges anyone can face. For Filipinos, this experience often comes with layers of cultural expectations, unspoken rules, and a deep sense of responsibility to family. While grief is universal, the way it is processed can vary significantly across cultural contexts.

Sheena JawaJanuary 20, 2025Mental Health, Sweet Mango Therapy, healing, therapy, Filipino therapist, anxiety therapyComment

Gay Filipinos and the Grief of Rejection: How to Find Healing and Acceptance

For many gay Filipinos, the journey to self-acceptance is not just personal—it’s deeply intertwined with family expectations. Growing up in a culture that places immense value on family unity, respect, and tradition, LGBTQ+ Filipinos often find themselves navigating a complex web of guilt and grief when their true selves are met with rejection or conditional love. But what does this grief look like, and how can healing begin?

Sheena JawaJanuary 10, 2025trauma therapy, Sweet Mango Therapy, Mental Health, healing, therapyComment

For Filipinas Who Choose Family Over Themselves: How Therapy Helps Break the Cycle

Generations of Filipinas have grown up internalizing a single narrative: family always comes first. While this value fosters deep connections and a strong sense of community, it often comes at a personal cost.

Sheena JawaDecember 29, 2024trauma therapy, Sweet Mango Therapy, Mental Health, healing, therapyComment

To the Filipinos Who Grew Up Striving for Perfection: It’s Time to Heal

For many Filipinos, childhood was marked by an unrelenting pressure to be perfect. Whether it was excelling in academics, winning competitions, or simply “making your family proud,” the expectations were sky-high. This drive for perfection, while often rooted in love and cultural pride, left countless Filipinos with feelings of inadequacy that persist into adulthood.

Sheena JawaDecember 26, 2024Mental Health, imposter syndrome, therapy, healing, Sweet Mango TherapyComment

Compliments That Hurt: How Generational Trauma Hides in Everyday Words

“You’re so mature for your age!” “Wow, you’re always so calm and collected!” Compliments like these might sound like a pat on the back, but for many, they carry a heavy weight. Beneath their surface lies a history of inherited survival mechanisms, often passed down through generations. These phrases, meant to be uplifting, sometimes reflect deeper patterns of generational trauma, particularly in families shaped by cultural expectations and hardships.

Kimberly SamonteDecember 10, 2024trauma therapy, Sweet Mango Therapy, therapy, healing, Mental HealthComment

Breaking the Cycle: How Therapy Can Help Unpack the Double Standards of Filipino Parents

Filipino families are known for their warmth, tight-knit connections, and shared values. But while these familial bonds are a source of strength, they can also carry deep-seated challenges. From double standards to unspoken expectations, many Filipino children grow up navigating a labyrinth of cultural pressures rooted in generations of tradition.

How do we reconcile our love for family with the weight of these expectations? How can therapy help us break cycles of shame, guilt, and obligation while maintaining our cultural identity?

Kimberly SamonteDecember 10, 2024Sweet Mango Therapy, trauma therapy, therapy, Mental HealthComment

Growing Up Gay in a Filipino Household: Struggles, Culture, and Finding Acceptance

Growing up gay in a Filipino household is a unique journey. It’s a complex intersection of identity, culture, and familial expectations—one that often feels isolating, confusing, and, at times, heartbreaking. For many Filipino-Americans, where traditional values dominate and religion plays a significant role, being gay means navigating a world that doesn’t feel built to embrace who you truly are.From whispered expectations of masculinity to the silent judgment of extended family, the struggle to reconcile one’s authentic self with cultural norms can feel like an insurmountable obstacle. But the journey of self-acceptance is one that deserves to be told.

Kimberly SamonteDecember 9, 2024LGBTQIA+, gay philippines, bakla, Sweet Mango Therapy, therapy, Mental HealthComment

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