To the Latina daughters who grew up hearing messages from their parents, tíos, tías, abuelos about their bodies being “too flaquitas” or “too gorditas” and now struggle with body image and self love as adults, your worth extends beyond your pants size or how many tortillas you eat. May you heal your inner niña and remind her that she was always beautiful inside and out. May you affirm her that nothing was ever wrong with her. She was perfect that way she was and continues to be. ❤️

I recall hearing messages from tíos about my body since the age of 8 y/o and how I needed to look like for my quinceañera. I continue to heal my inner niña and my inner teen and remind her that she was perfect the way she was 🥹.

En nuestra cultura, we normalize terms of endearment like “Gordita, flaquita,” etc and police our cultural foods (“no comas tortillas”) but instead equate salads as “healthy eating.” Pero ALV! Many of these cultural and societal norms are rooted in colonial ideals and Eurocentric perspectives, machismo and marianismo, on how Latina women should look like.

Amigas, may you reconnect with your bodies, may you shed unhealthy intergenerational messages about your body, and love yourself throughout all the evolutions and life transitions. Somos poderosas! ✨

Con mucho amor y compasión,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy

#selflove #amorproprio #intergenerationaltrauma #intergenerationalhealing #latinoculture #bodyimage #firstgenlatina #firstgen #latina #palante #palantetherapy #latinatherapist #latine #saludmental #jennirivera #reels #reelsinstagram #réel

Sharing un pedacito of the “Rompiendo Stigmas” panel I did on Sunday at @revhhm with my amazing colleagues @luis_thee_lmft, @thefirstgenpsychologist, and the amazing @thereallisavidal. Our moderator, Adriana from @latinxtherapy asked a beautiful question inviting me to share about my experience being the eldest daughter. ❤️

Not included on this clip, but I shared about my experience being the eldest in a mixed-status household where I had to consistently step into a parentified role to support my parents and younger brother due to the environmental factors being impacted by my parents undocumented status.

I also shared how secrecy impacted me as being the eldest and being exposed to grown conversations in early childhood and carrying many secrets from the family that were rooted in trauma.

This was my first speaking engagement where my little brother @eta.jess28 was present and it meant the world to me. We often have conversations where we hold space for each other and talk about my experience being the eldest and his experience being the youngest, especially how he experienced parentification once I left the home. He will always be my hermanito (even if he’s in his 30s) 🥹❤️

Sending so much love and compassion to all the parentified children of immigrant parents. ✨

Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy

#eldestdaughter #parentification #immigrants #childrenofimmigrants #undocumented #mixedstatusfamilies #trauma #secrecy #intergenerationaltrauma #healing #firstgenlatina #latinatherapist #downey #downeyca #revolución #palante #palantetherapy #reels #reelsinstagram #explore

Just two First Gen Latina Therapists holding space for each other 🥹. I’d like to share about my first Reiki experience that I had last week con mi amiga Viridiana from @amartherapy ✨

I sit in deep agradecimiento for my amiga holding space for me and reminding me the importance of taking care of our wellbeing, even as therapists. As we all know, life stays life-ing and it was important for me to lean into my own healing through a holistic approach. Reiki is an energy-healing practice that has roots in ancient Japanese practices for stress reduction and relaxation. It is a form of energetic healing that involves hands-on touch or hands off.

So much came up for me including inner child wounds, maternal wounds, and a recent loss. After journaling and processing, naturally I just released. My tears felt safe with Viri. Gracias amiga, necesitaba este abrazo 😭.

If you would like to know more about Reiki or book a Reiki session, contact Viridiana from @amartherapy @amarte.community.

Fellow therapists, healers, and wellness providers, consider this an invitation to lean into your own healing. No lo merecemos! ❤️

Con mucho amor,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy

#reiki #reikihealing #reikihealingenergy #holistichealing #holistichealth #firstgenlatina #latinatherapist #latinxtherapy #latinxtherapist #traumatherapy #innerchild #innerchildhealing #therapy #latinas #palante #palantetherapy #reelsinstagram #réel #reels

But notes still don’t get finished! 😩

Who else’s playlist makes them want to dance instead of work? 🫣😅

#therapymemes #therapyhumor #palantetherapy #palante #latinatherapist #firstgenlatina #mexicana #latine #documentation #therapynotes #saludmental #terapia #bandas #tamborazo #cumbias

One rule I have with my clients: Never apologize for crying. Se vale llorar! 🥹

If you’ve been shamed for crying, this is for you... ❤️

✨How many times have you profusely apologized for crying?

✨How many times have you rolled your eyes and minimize your experience by thinking, “here we go again with the tears”?

✨How many times have you been told that you’re “too sensitive, too emotional, too dramatic”?

✨How many times have you been told, “I’ll give you something to cry about”? Especially in childhood.

Way too many times you’ve been shamed for having a natural biological response to an experience. When people get shamed for crying it is often due to the other individual carrying their own childhood wounds of shame and rejection around emotional expression. Someone who is crying can trigger a painful resurgence of historical trauma causing others to react by shutting down or invalidating that person’s emotions to escape their own discomfort.

When we can hold space for someone (especially our little ones) to express their tears, we show them that their experience of emotion is valid.

🍃 Breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma includes breaking the stigma that crying is a sign of weakness.

Crying doesn’t have a gender. Feeling doesn’t have
an identity. Pain doesn’t indicate your personality.
Never let stigma stop you from sharing your own truth.

Se vale lorar! Soy chillona Y chingona!

Con cariño,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy

*See highlights for disclaimer.

#emotions #generationaltrauma #intergenerationaltrauma #shame #stigma #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #therapy #saludmental #terapia #firstgeneration #firstgenlatina #latinatherapist #therapist #firstgen #latine #latinxtherapy #palante #palantetherapy #reelsinstagram #reels #reelsvideo