Inspired by Latinx Therapy on Instagram
What does healing look like when you carry generations of silence?
How do you begin to talk about your mental health when you were never taught the language to describe it?
In a powerful conversation hosted by @latinxtherapy, therapist Adriana Alejandre sits down with Joicy Salgado, LMHC, founder of Salgado Psychotherapy to unpack what it means to seek help, reclaim your voice, and heal through a decolonized lens.
This conversation offers a roadmap for those navigating the complexity of mental health as immigrants, first-gens, and people of color. Here’s what we learned.
When Therapy Feels “Too American”
One of the most relatable moments from the Reel is when Adriana asks Joicy how her clients initially describe therapy. Many of them, Joicy explains, say things like:
“This feels so American.”
“We never talked like this in my house.”
“My family wouldn’t understand this.”
This dissonance is real. For those from collectivist or immigrant households, Western therapy can feel unfamiliar even alienating. But instead of forcing clients to adapt to a one-size-fits-all model, Joicy meets them where they are.
At Salgado Psychotherapy, we believe therapy can honor your roots, not erase them. Healing doesn’t have to feel foreign, it can feel like home.
Therapy as a Radical Act of Expression
Joicy shares how many clients begin therapy unsure of how to express themselves emotionally because they’ve never had the chance to.
They say things like:
- “I’ve never told anyone this.”
- “We didn’t talk about emotions growing up.”
- “Crying wasn’t allowed.”
But in therapy, Joicy creates space for them to explore their truth at their own pace. “There’s no right way to ‘do’ therapy,” she explains. The work is about creating emotional literacy especially for those who were never allowed to speak their truth growing up.
Decolonizing Mental Health
A key takeaway from the Reel is how Joicy centers liberation psychology and decolonized therapy in her work. For her, therapy isn’t just about symptom reduction; it’s about liberation.
“When you’re unpacking years of survival mode, therapy becomes a space to learn how to live, not just survive.”
That means naming intergenerational trauma. It means understanding how systemic oppression affects your nervous system. It means learning to rest, to cry, to breathe, and to unlearn shame around these things.
At Salgado Psychotherapy, this is the foundation of everything we do.
Advice for First-Gen & Immigrant Communities
Joicy offers a powerful message to those who may be hesitant about therapy:
“It’s okay if this feels unfamiliar.
It’s okay if your parents don’t understand.
You’re still allowed to heal.”
Healing doesn’t mean you’re rejecting your culture. It means you’re reclaiming it on your own terms.
Watch the Original Conversation
You can view the full Reel here:
🎥 Latinx Therapy x Joicy Salgado – Instagram Reel
Ready to Begin Your Own Journey?
Whether you’re navigating trauma, cultural identity, anxiety, or family conflict, therapy can offer you a soft place to land. At Salgado Psychotherapy, we specialize in supporting:
- First-generation individuals
- Immigrant communities
- BIPOC and multilingual clients
- Adults navigating identity, burnout, and intergenerational trauma
Our services are offered in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu because healing should speak your language.