We have a pair of sisters on the pod this week! Join Carissa Caiyco and Cyril So as they share more about their mental health pursuits as an upcoming LMFT and LPCC! We chat about how mental health was talked about in our families and specifically how education and resilience are such core aspects of the Filipino culture. Later, both sisters say more about how taking care of yourself and starting therapy can all be useful tools to begin investing in ourselves and our future growth. Follow us on Instagram at @kapwakulturepod and @csun_counselingservices for more details and updates each week! We'll pause here and pick back up next Friday. See you then!

This week, we have Gabriella Cuaderes, LCSW on the pod and she and Jemima Ruth talk about different perspectives on having a mixed-ethnic identity and coming from a large, multiculturally rich family based on Gabriella's own lived experiences. Later, Gabriella and Jemima Ruth discuss more about EMDR, trauma work, and how both parents and children can engage in inner child work within therapy. Follow us on Instagram at @kapwakulturepod and @csun_counselingservices for more details and updates each week! We'll pause here and pick back up next Friday. See you then!

This week, Maria Cristina Castro and Jemima Ruth talk about the helpful and harmful ways humor and positivity can be used within the Filipinx culture as a response to coping through life's experiences. Cristina talks about her journey of helping her family become more open about understanding mental health experiences. Later, Cristina and Ruth also discuss some tips for mental health as well as for those starting their own mental health journeys. Follow us on Instagram at @kapwakulturepod and @csun_counselingservices for more details and updates each week! We'll pause here and pick back up next Friday. See you then!

This week, Dr. Gemariah Valencia Williams and Jemima Ruth talk about how to care for family, friends, or loved ones struggling with their own mental health issues. We discuss how to respectfully set boundaries, acknowledge cultural norms, and be more open with conversations about different types and levels of support and care. Gem and Jemima Ruth later share about the concept of being "good enough" and how freeing this mindset can be when we sometimes feel stuck in a perfectionistic way of being. Follow us on Instagram at @kapwakulturepod and @csun_counselingservices for more details and updates each week! We'll pause here and pick back up next Friday. See you then!

This week, Dr. Samantha Benavidez-Walsh joins us to talk about her research on colorism and the narratives that her Filipinx participants have shared about their experiences. Jemima Ruth and Sam discuss "pretty privilege" and the hurtful impact and assumptions made about one's self and character simply based on one's looks and skin tones. Afterwards, we start the conversation around beauty standards in the direction towards healing, acceptance, and pride in Filipinx beauty. Follow us on Instagram at @kapwakulturepod and @csun_counselingservices for more details and updates each week! We'll pause here and pick back up next Friday. See you then!

We’re talking about some core Filipinx values this week with Dr. Lesther Papa! Join us as Lesther shares more about his recent experiences of community while visiting the Philippines and three different tiers of Filipinx hospitality. Lesther and Ruth also talk about ‘utang na loob’ and how this value can be viewed from the lens of gratitude rather than relational indebtedness. Follow us on Instagram at @kapwakulturepod and @csun_counselingservices for more details and updates each week! We'll pause here and pick back up next Friday. See you then!

This week, we're joined by Roanne de Guia-Samuels! She is a licensed psychotherapist who is here to share more about her own research passions relevant to intergenerational communication and how attunement or pakikiramdam, plays a role in communication for Filipinx folks. Throughout the episode, Roanne and Jemima Ruth talk about how therapy can be also be playful and healing within the context of a relationship. Check out Roanne's podcast, Pinoy Love Language, and follow us on Instagram at @kapwakulturepod and @csun_counselingservices for more details and updates each week! We'll pause here and pick back up next Friday. See you then!

In this week's episode, we have our first guest! We're joined by Dr. Cherry Ordonez who is a postdoctoral fellow in mental health tech. Cherry and Jemima Ruth dive into exploring each other's Filipinx identities and how it relates to their understanding of wellbeing. Cherry shares some information on different mental health career paths and how their Filipinx experiences have influenced this stage in their career. Throughout the episode, topics such as attunement and belonging are explored as well as how each are deeply rooted in the Filipino language and culture. Follow us on Instagram at @kapwakulturepod and @csun_counselingservices for more details and updates each week! We'll pause here and pick back up next Friday. See you then!