In a heartfelt interview for the Peruanas Poderosas series by Peruvian Sisters, Joicy Salgado, a Licensed Mental Health Counsellor based in New York, shares powerful reflections on navigating mental health, identity, and healing, especially for individuals with immigration backgrounds.
Joicy, who works closely with first-generation clients and communities of colour, blends her lived experience as a queer, Peruvian, first-gen immigrant with a compassionate and decolonized approach to mental health care. Her insights remind us that healing doesn’t always look the same for everyone, and that’s not only okay, it’s necessary.
🧠 Why Mental Health Days Matter
“Sometimes you do need to take that mental health day,” Joicy says. “You do need that nap. You do need to just stay still.”
During the pandemic, Joicy found comfort in the companionship of her two dogs, Benny and Lulu—her “coworkers” and in intentionally creating space for rest and self-reflection. For many, especially in immigrant households where rest is often seen as laziness, that kind of stillness can feel foreign. But Joicy reminds us: healing requires a pause. Rest is not indulgent. It’s a tool for survival.
🌎 Culturally Rooted Healing Spaces
While therapy can be a transformative space, Joicy stresses that it’s not the only place where healing happens. In collectivistic cultures like Peru’s, support often comes from family and community.
“There are different spaces for different people,” she says. “For some, it may be therapy. For others, it may be family, community, or spirituality. The key is to find what works for you.”
And often, it’s not about choosing one over the other. it’s about combining both the individual and the collective. A therapy session might be complemented by a heart-to-heart with a sibling, or a moment of clarity during a walk with your abuela.
💬 Trial, Error—and Trial Again
Therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and Joicy is the first to acknowledge this: “If therapy doesn’t work for you, let’s try something else.”
Instead of “trial and error,” she reframes it as “trial and trial” because every attempt, even the ones that don’t land, brings you closer to what does. Whether it’s a traditional counselling session, somatic healing, or a conversation in your mother tongue over tea, the journey is about finding the support that feels right.
✨ Advice for First-Gen and Immigrant Communities
Joicy’s message to other Peruanas—and really to all first-gen and immigrant individuals—is rooted in two words: patience and support.
Growing up with immigrant parents often means carrying unspoken expectations and pressure to “succeed.” But healing can’t be rushed. It demands grace and compassion for yourself. “If you’re not finding support within your family,” she encourages, “there are many other ways to find it.”
🧵 Peruvian Pride, Andean Roots, and Women-Owned Inspiration
When asked about the best part of being a Peruvian woman, Joicy laughs and says: the food. No matter where she travels, there’s always a moment of searching for a Peruvian restaurant—it’s a cultural anchor.
She also gives a shout-out to Brooklyn Warmi Designs, an Indigenous Andean, women-owned business, celebrating shared roots and beautiful craftsmanship. For Joicy, it’s another example of community-based healing: reconnecting to culture through creativity.
❤️ Final Thoughts
At the heart of Joicy Salgado’s work is a message of hope, patience, and self-compassion. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, family pressure, cultural identity, or trauma, there is no “right” way to heal. There is only your way.
At Salgado Psychotherapy, Joicy and the team are here to support you on that journey—with care that honors your story, your background, and your brilliance.
Ready to take that first step toward healing?
Book a virtual session with a culturally attuned therapist today at salgadopsychotherapy.com.