410 - Navigating First-Gen Mental Health: Insights from Dr. Lisette Sanchez
410 - Navigating First-Gen Mental Health: Insights from Dr. Lisette Sanchez
Listeners, this week we have a conversation with Dr. Lisette Sanchez
In this episode of Café con Pam, Pam chats with Dra. Lisette, a first-gen Latina psychologist with roots in both Mexico and El Salvador. They dive deep into what it means to embrace your heritage, especially when you’re balancing multiple cultures and expectations. Dra. Lisette shares her personal story of reconnecting with her family’s origins, the challenges that come with being an eldest daughter, and how therapy and self-awareness played a huge role in her journey.
They also highlight Dr. Lisette’s “First Gen Sin Barreras” project, which aims to help first-gen folks turn obstacles into opportunities. The conversation is full of powerful insights, practical mental health tips, and lots of encouragement for anyone carving their own path. Grab your cafecito and join us!
Dr. Lisette Sanchez is an award-winning bilingual and bicultural psychologist, international speaker, and insightful writer committed to empowering first-generation professionals, especially Latinas and BIPOC leaders. She specializes in breaking mental health barriers such as the impostor phenomenon and intergenerational trauma, while helping individuals cultivate confidence.
Raised in Southern California by Salvadoran and Mexican immigrants, Dr. Lisette is deeply passionate about supporting her community. She is the co-founder of First-Gen BIPOC Therapists, a space designed to uplift and support first-generation therapists of color through professional development, mentorship, and resource sharing.
She also founded Calathea Wellness, a virtual platform providing therapy, consulting, writing, and speaking services to bridge mental health gaps for first-gen professionals.
Her expertise has been featured in Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, Refinery29, and HipLatina. She also leads mental health workshops for Fortune 500 companies worldwide, helping organizations foster workplace mental health, build resilience, and empower first-generation professionals by delivering transformational experiences tailored to their needs.
As a trusted expert, she has appeared on LAist (NPR Los Angeles), Univision, and Telemundo.
Dr. Lisette began her academic journey at UC San Diego, earning a degree in psychology, followed by dual master’s degrees in psychological counseling from Columbia University before completing her doctorate in counseling psychology at the University of Oregon.
During this episode we talked about:
08:25 Managing Travel Anxiety
11:30 "Journey Back: Navigating Ancestral Ties"
17:00 Dad's Frequent Family Visits
21:25 Overcoming Childhood Separation Anxiety
31:04 Choosing Art Over Architecture
33:38 "Decaf's Intense Effects on Me"
37:25 "Cacao's Natural Appeal"
45:41 First Gen Mental Health Struggles
50:56 "First-Gen Experience as Growth"
55:31 "Expanding 'First Gen Simbarreras'"
01:03:02 "Four-Quarter Day Stress Hack"
01:04:15 "Seize Every New Moment"
Check out today's sponsor Savvy Ladies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women like YOU take control of your financial future. They offer free resources, webinars, and my favorite: a free financial helpline where you can connect one-on-one with trusted financial experts. Visit www.savvyladies.org today and connect with the financial helpline to get the personalized support you deserve. Your journey to financial independence starts here.
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