Identity, Family and Mental Health as a South Asian Woman with Dr. Nadia Huq

Are you a second generation South Asian trying to balance cultural expectations? Navigating traditional gender roles, generational conflicts, parental pressure can all be challenging! In this week’s episode on "Through the Looking Glass," Lavanya interviews Dr. Nadia Huq, a clinical psychologist specializing in family dynamics. Dr. Huq shares insights on generational shifts, the nuances of managing parental expectations, particularly around marriage, and setting boundaries while maintaining healthy relationships. This podcast offers practical advice for young South Asian women navigating these unique cultural and ethnic identity challenges. Get to know Nadia more: Dr. Nadia Huq earned her Bachelor's in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan in 2008, followed by a Master's and PhD in Clinical Psychology from UNC Greensboro by 2016. She completed her Pre-doctoral Internship at Children’s National Health Systems and a Postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Child Psychology at NYP-CUIMC. Dr. Huq served as a clinical psychologist and faculty member at Columbia University Irving Medical Center for six years, specializing in therapy for children and families and training psychology interns. She joined TMB Psychological Services in 2023. Get to know me better on Instagram: ⁠Lavanya | Podcast Host (@lavanyauthaman) | Instagram profile⁠ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/lavanya.uthaman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@throughthelookingglasspod Chapters: 00:00 Intro to Dr. Nadia Huq 02:24 Understanding gender roles in South Asian families 05:25 Cultural identity and acculturation conflicts 09:42 Managing parental expectations 14:32 Mental Health in South Asian Immigrant families 18:25 Navigating toxicity in families 22:37 How to set boundaries w/family 30:28 Navigating familial pressure 38:22 Marriage in South Asian culture 49:55 Advice for brown girls in their 20s