Overcoming toxic invisibility
Are you Asian American? Are you sick of working your ass off but not receiving the recognition that you deserve? The variety of experiences that the Pan Asian American Pacific Islander community faces is broad and diverse. Yet the one struggle that we can all relate to in some way is toxic invisibility. Asian Americans have a long history of contributing to the culture and flourishing of the United States, yet we are underrepresented in media, modeling, politics, the C-suite, and positions of power and leadership. Many of us have lost sight of our ethnic heritages and identities through assimilation, many of our accomplishments are not acknowledged by broader society, many of our needs and desires are ignored by our parents, and many of us repress and hide our physical and emotional pain rendering ourselves invisible even to ourselves.
In an effort to put an end to decades of silencing and toxic invisibility of Asian Americans, Bay Area Relationship Support has partnered with professional actor, community organizer, and inspirational speaker on identity and cultural synthesis, Ryan Takemiya, to create a groundbreaking curriculum on overcoming toxic invisibility for Asian Americans.
Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, sociology, the expressive arts, and our personal experiences as Asian Americans, we will share with you practical tools and skills that will enable you to finally be seen for the incredible person you are.
Through our workshops, we hope to empower our Asian American community to be at the forefront of bringing Asian Americans out of darkness into light. It is time that society recognizes our vast contributions to this country, that our parents recognize we are indeed good enough, and that we recognize ourselves – seeing and acknowledging the beautiful people we are.
Our 4-week workshops are on Monday nights from 7-8:30pm in downtown San Leandro. Cost of our 4-week courses is $240; sliding scale spots available for those in financial hardship – please contact Stephanie Lee at steph@steph-lee.com or 630-384-9065 for more info or to register.
Overcoming Toxic Invisibility for Asian Americans
Overcoming Invisbility 101: How we can use neuroscience, storytelling, self-awareness, and cultural synthesis as a basis for overcoming invisibility.
This is an introductory workshop to our series on overcoming toxic invisibility for Asian Americans. In this course, we will provide an overview of our healing and empowerment philosophy and show you how you can start laying the foundation and platform from which you will learn to be seen. In this workshop we will give you the building blocks for gaining a more objective view of yourself.
Overcoming Toxic Invisibility for Asian Americans: Using neuroscience to unlock barriers holding us back from Asian representation in leadership
Have you hit the bamboo ceiling? Are you feeling stuck? Don’t know how to keep moving up in your profession? Understanding the human brain and how it has evolved will help us discover what could be holding us back from our true potential.
Through this workshop, we will help you to gain the tools and insights needed to break through the structural and personal barriers we face as Asian Americans by teaching you how to take advantage of neuroplasticity. You will learn:
- What is neuroplasticity and how can we have power over our brains
- Gain insight into why we do what we do
- Have more control over our actions
- Work with the negativity bias that has actually kept humans alive for thousands of years
- Team up with our inner critics to produce the best outcomes
Overcoming Toxic Invisibility for Asian Americans: How understanding how our unique stories can empower us to reclaim our humanity and proclaim our true identity
For the last hundred years, popular culture has defined what it means to be Asian American. They have classified us into nerdy Asians or cool Asians. Kung fu Asians or sexually submissive Asians. Asians with no personality, desires, or unique abilities. Our experiences, identities, and incredibly hard work to build a life in this country have been rendered invisible despite the vast contributions we have made to our society. Through telling your story you will:
- Take ownership of defining what it means to be Asian American
- Become the protagonist
- Develop a more complex understanding of your life as a story of setbacks and triumphs
- Draw parallels between the story of your life and the story of the Asian American narrative (connecting the personal to the historical)
Overcoming Toxic Invisibility for Asian Americans: Beyond the Spa: How genuine self-care is the first step toward visibility
Self-care is more than a mani pedi or a night in with Netflix. Self-care is about cultivating a nurturing relationship with ourselves. If we want to be seen by others, we need to learn to first see ourselves. In this workshop, you will learn how to:
- Feel sensations in your body and understand what they mean
- Learn how to name your feelings
- Know how to recognize your needs
- How to cope when life feels overwhelming
- What is the window of tolerance and how to stay in it
- Get in touch with our inner parent and inner child
Interested in working together?
Fill out the form below so I can learn how to best serve you! I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have and get to know you so we can see if we'd make a good fit.
630-384-9065 | steph@steph-lee.com
Stephanie Lee, LCSW
