Depth Psychotherapy for immigrants, adult children of immigrants and people of multicultural backgrounds

 

Raissa Alvero, MA, AMFT (she/they/siya) is a Bay Area-based therapist

I provide psychodynamic therapy to people facing life transitions and challenging intergenerational family dynamics. Many people I work with struggle with trust and intimacy and experience anxiety, depression and trauma.

I combine depth-oriented, liberation-focused and trauma-responsive approaches to support people in gaining deeper awareness of the underlying issues that impact their sense of self and sense of belonging.

I help people to expand and deepen their capacities to experience, understand and be in relationship with themselves and with others. I believe that therapy is equal parts pain, love and liberation. As a therapist, I see my role as a guide who can co-create the balanced conditions of support and internal pressure - the optimal heat that allows the process of meaningful change to unfold.



 

Therapy is a unique and powerful process; a non-judgmental, exploratory space for you to unravel and move towards awareness, healing and growth.

Depth psychotherapy invites you to step into the unknown and face your fears. It can be a dynamic process that requires a supportive witness and guide. Progress is rarely linear. It can be challenging to know yourself and to change, but you don’t have to do it alone.

The only way out is through.

By being fully present to the process of therapy, you may experience greater

RELIEF • AWARENESS • CLARITY • CONNECTION • WHOLENESS • ACCEPTANCE

 
Therapy for BIPOC, Asians and multiracial people

Who I see in my practice

I welcome people of all intersections of identity to my practice. I find myself to be especially effective with anxious high achievers and overwhelmed perfectionists, second or third time therapy seekers who are looking to “dig deep” and those navigating emotional distance or estrangement from their family of origin.

I have experience and enjoy working with:

  • Emerging adults

  • Multigenerational families

  • Multiethnic teens

  • Lawyers, educators and advocates

  • Professionals, tech workers and engineers

  • Artists and creatives

  • Queer-identifying, LGBTQIA+ folks

  • New parents and people who are contemplating parenthood

Approaches

 

Depth-Oriented

Paying attention to what is outside of awareness and uncovering the deepest parts of who you are

Together we will listen deeply, generate insight and get a deeper understanding of what keeps you stuck. We will explore inner conflicts, relationship patterns and structures of behavior that may be blocking you and your interpersonal relationships. Through our work together, we will discover what is alive beneath your surface.

Liberatory

Examining your struggles through the context of interlocking systems: family, society, ideology, sociopolitical, cultural, historical

I value supporting folks in their move towards greater authenticity and liberation. Together we will address internal and structural obstacles, harness your unique strengths, empower your voice and sense of agency. In therapy, we can get to know your stories, examine cultural influences and release intergenerational burdens.

Trauma-Responsive

Promoting embodied healing in the present moment and making meaning out of your experience

As a trauma-responsive therapist, I acknowledge how systemic and cultural oppression can cause trauma. Together we will develop inner and outer resources as we process unresolved past experiences. With time, I can help you access intuition and trust the wisdom of your body and your imagination.

Focus Issues

I offer psychotherapy to teens, adult individuals and couples experiencing a broad range of life challenges.


Asian American Experience

Burnout & Imposter Syndrome

Family conflict

Acculturation, im/migration & race-based stress

Intergenerational legacies, burdens & trauma

Relationship Difficulties

Premarital Counseling

Relational Trauma including experiences of abandonment, neglect, codependency, racial trauma, family violence and intimate partner violence

Difficulty finding a partner or making friends

Attachment issues


Mental Health Challenges

Anxiety

Depression

Low self-esteem

Self-harm and disordered eating

Managing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults

Trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress & Complex PTSD

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Developmental Trauma

Cultural trauma, colonial mentality and the effects of oppression

Purpose, Meaning and Existential Issues

Life transitions

Grief and loss

Climate anxiety and ecological grief

Identity exploration

“And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

―Anaïs Nin