Are there recurring issues when treating the Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities?
Often yes, specific to age and the generation of the client. Youth and young adult clients who are of first generation or “1.5 generation” often struggle with issues of identity and cultural conflicts. (The term “1.5 generation” is often used by the Korean/Korean-American community to identify immigrants who came to the States between the stage of infancy to early teen years). First generation adults often struggle with issues of role conflict and displacement. They often feel shameful of their shortcomings and for failing themselves, their families, and their community at large. These feelings also exist among youth and young adults. A power shift may occur in new immigrant families between parents and children. In the most traditional Asian communities, it is incumbent upon the family members to be caretakers for the elders of the household, who [are revered]. Often, immigrant parents have limited English language proficiency. Language translation may fall to the children, creating a
