According to the American Immigrant Council, in 2019, 44.9 million immigrants (foreign-born individuals) comprised 14 percent of the national population. The United States was home to 22.0 million women, 20.4 million men, and 2.5 million children who were immigrants.
My family is part of the many refugees and immigrants who left their home country to start a new life in the United States. As a refugee daughter and immigrant, I had difficulty navigating my new home. I came to a place where everything was new, and everything had to be re-learned; life became very overwhelming and different, from language to culture to food. Everything you were, everyone you knew, disappears as you enter a new country and try to forge a new identity. It took me a while to find my voice in a new country.
Two years ago, when I was searching for a therapist, I had difficulty finding someone who looked like me and shared the same cultural background. It took a while, but I found a great therapist. The searching journey reminded me of the importance of creating space for the diaspora community in my coaching practice. I believe effective coaches need to be culturally competent. I understand the importance of having a culturally sensitive coach and telling someone your experiences without explaining the cultural implications.
The diaspora community struggles with a sense of separation, navigating and the feeling of no longer being tied to a home. The psychology of living in one country while not feeling that sense of belonging may lead the diaspora community to feel depressed, insecure, and lonely. That's why self-development is vital for the diaspora to bring them to a place where they feel purposeful and confident.
For those entering a new country for the first time, there are several new things they must learn to navigate the world around them. These include a new language, new lifestyles, new perspectives among the native population. To fully embrace a new culture, capitalize on one's past, link to another culture, find a coach who can help with these things.
Here are just a few reasons why finding a coach to help with self-development is a great idea:
The coach will know your struggles. Trying to do self-development independently will be a challenging journey if you have no one who understands your history. A coach will identify the barriers to your success, especially those linked to the diaspora. This will allow them to create a more personalized plan for you to develop into a successful person.
The coach can be there when you don't think you can achieve these new self-development goals. By having a coach, you can turn to them in moments of doubt, insecurity, and pain. Doing it alone is tough, and having a coach brings a sense of accountability.
The coach will help you see things that need improvement that you didn't even recognize yourself. We often become complacent with our surroundings and where we are in life and don't need to push ourselves further. A self-development coach will help you continue to grow and learn past that point.
I am well versed in the dynamic complexities that being a minority and someone with multiple cultural influences has on you. As your Coach, I will work with you to help you move toward your desired goals. I am intentional about creating environments that allow my clients to feel safe enough to bring their whole selves to a coaching session. If you are interested in learning more about diaspora coaching, feel free to schedule a consultation here.