Bicultural Identity

Bicultural identity refers to an individual who identifies as belonging to more than one culture.  There are many ways this may happen for people, whether they were raised in another country, have two parents from separate cultures, or have parents who immigrated from one culture to another.  

Dr. Peterson has extensive experience working with young adults who are navigating what it means to be an individual from two or more cultures.  He approaches counseling for individuals looking at bicultural identity with a multicultural lens, honoring both cultures.  Clients find that after working with him, they are able to navigate their multiple cultures more smoothly and authentically show up as themselves in moving towards a life where being present in both cultures is possible. 

Bicultural individuals may experience life as if they are a part of multiple worlds and need to code-switch between them.  This could be a genuine shift in the language they speak, the way they communicate with one another, and their perception of thoughts and feelings, all of which can vary depending on the environment they are in. The changes may be easy to manage and fluid, or hard and difficult. 

Discovering who we are as individuals takes time and reflection, especially for those who grow and develop in multiple environments and cultures.  Bicultural identity formation occurs in stages, with one cultural identity often being favored over the other.  There are multiple stages of development within bicultural identity formation and Dr. Peterson brings these to the counseling room.