The Healing Trauma Workbook for Asian Americans - (Social Justice Handbook) by Helen H Hsu (Paperback)

About the Book

As hate crimes against Asian Americans continue to rise, there is an urgent need for culturally informed mental health resources for this population. Written by an Asian American psychologist, this workbook blends contemporary psychology with ancient mind-body approaches to help readers build resilience in the face of racism, overcome trauma and internalized oppression, reclaim mental health, celebrate cultural heritage, and thrive.

Book Synopsis

A powerful, culturally informed workbook to help you heal the pain of racial trauma, build resilience, and thrive.

If you are an Asian American who has experienced racial violence, verbal harassment, stereotyping, or microaggressions, you might feel like the world is unsafe. You may suffer from anxiety, depression, or painful memories as a result of this trauma. And if you seek help, you may find that Western-trained mental health professionals simply can't understand your pain and life experiences. This book provides culturally informed treatment methods to help you heal from and fortify yourself against race-based trauma--including intergenerational and historical trauma--and stress.

Written by an Asian American psychologist, this workbook blends contemporary psychology with ancient mind-body approaches to help you build resilience in the face of racism, overcome trauma and internalized oppression, reclaim your mental health, and celebrate your heritage. Using skills grounded in culturally informed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and somatic practices from Asian cultures, you'll learn to create a healthy identity, balance your emotions, cultivate a growth mindset, and increase a feeling of connection with your community.

You'll also discover tools to help you:

• Manage negative thoughts and feelings
• Identify your values
• Build resilience in the face of stress
• Improve relationships
• Foster healing in your community

If you're in search of mental health and wellness tools that respect, understand, and honor your experiences and cultural values, let this workbook guide you on your journey to heal the pain of racial trauma, so you can practice empowerment, and reclaim the life you deserve.

Review Quotes

"The Healing Trauma Workbook for Asian Americans speaks genuinely to the beautiful diversity of the Asian American community. Asian Americans navigate harms imposed by violence, microaggressions, stereotypes, and the hardships of migration and acculturation. In this workbook, every passage, activity, and reflection deepen connections to personal values, relationships, cultural wisdom, and the body/mind. It is a must-have for Asian Americans who wish to thrive in response to trauma."
--Lou Felipe, PhD, associate professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver, and coeditor of Clinical Interventions for Internalized Oppression--Lou Felipe, PhD

"Helen Hsu has written a must-read resource that serves as a beacon of empowerment and healing for the Asian American community. Addressing the intersection of cultural identity and mental health, she offers invaluable tools for navigating trauma with sensitivity and understanding. Utilize this workbook--and learn from the best!"
--Christine Catipon, PsyD, president of the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)--Christine Catipon, PsyD

"This is such an important topic! Helen Hsu has written the book we all need, whether we are clinicians/psychiatrists/psychologists or people struggling with trauma ourselves, (or both). Hsu is both an academic and an experienced clinical psychologist helping people every day at Stanford. This workbook is practical and readable, but also well-referenced and evidence-based. Healing requires both the heart and the mind, and Hsu's book helps with both."
--Rona J. Hu, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, founder of Stanford Mental Health for Asians Research and Treatment, and faculty of the Center for Asian Health Research and Education--Rona J. Hu, MD

"This is the workbook that clinicians and clients have been waiting for--a trauma-informed manual imbued with cultural humility that takes in the whole experience of Asian American trauma survivors--from the individual to the societal levels. Helen Hsu infuses her years of clinical experience with diverse Asian American communities throughout this book and its exercises."
--Ramani Durvasula, PhD, clinical psychologist, and author--Ramani Durvasula, PhD

"Trauma has always been a part of the Asian American experience--for refugees, immigrants and those living in the US for generations. Helen Hsu's work provides an important, culturally responsive approach that begins with an understanding of ourselves and our values, how we make wise decisions, and the importance of community."
--DJ Ida, PhD, executive director of the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA)--DJ Ida, PhD

About the Author

Helen H. Hsu, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at Stanford University. She is past president of the Asian American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association, Division 45: Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.