Are you a Desi Sister trying to improve your sibling and family relationships?
You aren’t alone.
Connect with a like-minded community of South Asian women that can help!
Are you feeling stuck in life, even as a mental health practitioner? You aren't alone.
Connect with a support group of like-minded community of mental health clinicians!
Family support provides such relief when facing life’s challenges. However, it’s unfortunate that some families have unhealthy dynamics that can be a source of conflict and stress. What makes things even worse is that addressing these problems are often avoided, ignored or invalidated, which can lead to resentment and frustration.
With how complicated families can be, don’t you think there’s a lack of guidance, especially for South Asian sisters such as yourself?
Do you feel that a South Asian community with experts on healthy family relationships would be helpful? Well, keep reading on, because we’re here for you!
The South Asian Sisters Support Group is a safe space with an expert-led and designed program for South Asian women who hope to improve their family relationships.
The coaching support group regularly meets to learn and explore:
…and more!
Counselling for All is dedicated to providing a safe space where you feel at ease in sharing your authentic experiences and vulnerabilities.
Created and led by tenured trauma counsellor Mobina Hasan, support group participants can access:
All of which allows them to improve their quality of life.
Let's meet your facilitator!
FACILITATOR
As a South Asian woman who lived in five countries and in a cross-cultural unhappy marriage for 28 years, I have navigated cultural challenges for many years. Being a mental health therapist, I recognize the role culture plays in making or breaking a family, and by extension, relationships.
The reason I started the South Asian Sisters Support Group is for us to share our collective wisdom, allowing us to offer support, advise and celebrate each other's successes.
I envision that through our shared life experiences, we will make positive lasting changes in our families, relationships and future generations.
FACILITATOR
I am a mother, daughter, sister, wife, friend and a veteran Social Worker and psychotherapist. As a South Asian woman, I am no stranger to navigating several roles and responsibilities daily that are unique and often challenging due to our cultural landscape. The South Asian Sister's Support Group was conceived as a powerful catalyst for personal discovery, growth, community and fellowship for all those involved. I look forward to learning, sharing and creating a healthy support system!
Let's break down the details!
We meet through video call every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month
5PM Pacific/ 6PM Mountain/ 8PM Eastern/ 9PM Atlantic
Each meet up is an hour long with the opportunity to interact with others in breakout rooms of 2-4 people
It's all casual —feel free to bring a cup of tea, wine or dinner!
The first part of the meet up is for us to get to know each other and discuss things like:
The following segment will take place in breakout rooms.
A reflective topic is usually offered by facilitators to support you through your personal journey.
Last, but not least, the closing of the meet-up allows for time to share our insights.
A private South Asian community of sisters pursuing healthier family relationships
Learning and discussion under the guidance of mental healthcare professionals
Have access to resources and an expert designed program to make positive change
Connect to other members and guest speakers through live chat
Check out these benefits you will gain!
Feel comfort knowing there are others have a similar experience
Be understood and encouraged by fellow South Asian sisters also navigating family relationships
Guidance or pointers for awkward or difficult family situations
Gain clarity on how to move forward with life
Find methods to increase internal resilience when feeling challenging emotions like jealousy, isolation or rejection
Have space to discuss, normalise and validate difficult experiences involving family
Discover relevant practical perspectives from other South Asian sisters within the community
Meet guest speakers with experience and wisdom on South Asian families
Learn how to manage and improve your familial and sibling relationships
Pursue an increase in self-esteem and self-acceptance
Potentially make lifelong friendships and connections
And much more!
Maybe you’re thinking,
Women experiencing unhealthy family dynamics may not fully realise the extent of the additional obstacles they must navigate:
Many feel isolated because they can’t authentically connect with their parents or siblings
Many feel a lack of self-esteem and acceptance due to stressful family interactions
Unhealthy families could favour one sibling over another, creating conflict and/or jealousy
Resentment can grow from being forced to endure unfair or unhealthy expectations
Feeling like you’re missing a major part of your support system and have no one to turn to
The trauma from damaging family dynamics can bleed into your relationships with others
You could be seeing your own children or loved ones in the next generation repeating the same patterns
Growing up with a dysfunctional family is difficult. It takes from your ability to perceive yourself in a healthy and balanced way while negatively influencing your interactions with others. We understand how painful it can be to feel like the people meant to support you aren’t there, and it’s common for others in your situation to wonder if it was their fault. And it’s not!
Most make the mistake of denying the possibility of positive change, and choose to endure and continue the negative cycle, thinking it’s for the best to keep the peace. However, this can’t be farther from the truth.
Denying your authentic self, keeping silent in resentment and imposing on other family members to do the same is not peace. We want you to experience true peace. You deserve to feel accepted and celebrated for your natural gifts and qualities.
Rather than stress, we hope for you and your family to experience true warmth and joy during get-togethers. Rather than conflict or rivalry, we envision playfulness and collaboration with your siblings to establish a new future for the generations to come.
This change can start with you.
Do you want to pave the way for better times for you, your family and potential future children?
“...positive attachment experiences in early life result in an internal working model of attachment that includes a favorable image of the self as worthy of love and affection and of the surrounding social world as dependable and nurturing resulting in less anxiety, depression, delinquency, and aggression.”
—Brody, G. H., Stoneman, Z., & McCoy, J. K. (1994). Forecasting Sibling Relationships in Early Adolescence from Child Temperaments and Family Processes in Middle Childhood. Child Development, 65(3), 771–784. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1994.tb00782.x
“Nobody will change. Why should I put in effort if no one in my family wants to? I have tried in the past and my efforts were wasted.”
It’s very understandable to be skeptical after past negative experiences. However, you should consider the difference in having mental health clinicians that would be supporting you as they facilitate the coaching support group.
These expert facilitators are fellow South Asian sisters who understand the ins and outs of the mind, relationships and the culture you share. You can be sure to learn beneficial things from them that could make a positive difference!
In the past, you were alone. Now, you would be working with peers and expert facilitators who get it. Since you’re here reading, perhaps you still have hope. We’re here to help you ground that hope into a real action plan leading to positive change.
“What if people judge me and my family because they think we’re messed up?”
It’s very understandable to be skeptical after past negative experiences. However, you should consider the difference in having mental health clinicians that would be supporting you as they facilitate the coaching support group.
These expert facilitators are fellow South Asian sisters who understand the ins and outs of the mind, relationships and the culture you share. You can be sure to learn beneficial things from them that could make a positive difference!
In the past, you were alone. Now, you would be working with peers and expert facilitators who get it. Since you’re here reading, perhaps you still have hope. We’re here to help you ground that hope into a real action plan leading to positive change.
With the help of South Asian sisters who are mental health clinicians as your facilitators:
Learn ways to improve self-esteem and acceptance,
strategically manage familial dynamics,
foster stronger connections with your siblings,
Still thinking?
Members gain free access to:
South Asian Sisters Support Group is designed to provide a foundational support system for your wellbeing.
As you join the community, you’ll begin to realize how to make positive differences for yourself, your family and your future.
We highly recommend subscribing for at least 3 months to allow for enough time for you to grow and see positive change.
This is an ongoing online support community, members can join and leave as they see fit.
The support group does not replace professional therapy.
Do I need to share right away?
Not at all! You can choose to do whatever you feel comfortable with.
Our expert facilitators will make sure the support group is a positive and safe experience for you.
Do I need to turn on my camera?
Yes. It feels more comfortable to share when we all see each other.
Can I connect with other participants on the platform or outside?
Absolutely! We highly encourage participants to connect with each other through one-on-one chat and share contact details if they feel comfortable. Many of our participants meet outside the weekly meetings and have formed life-long friendships!
Do I need to engage with other participants outside of the sessions?
It’s totally up to you. You may decide how and where you engage with the other participants outside of the weekly meetings.
Research evidence indicates that support groups create more impactful positive changes when participants engage with each other and combine their various insights, perspectives and learned wisdom.
Will the facilitators be available for individual calls if difficulties come up and I need to speak with someone?
We encourage you to let us know you would like to speak with someone through the South Asian Sisters Support Group platform’s chat function. You will receive useful perspectives and encouragement from your fellow support group participants while gaining insight from the expertise of the facilitators.
The facilitators are not available for phone calls. If you need further individual support, we recommend exploring professional counselling services. Please see the Q&A below for more information.
What if I need more than what the South Asian Sisters Support Group community offers?
The South Asian Sisters Support Group is not a replacement for professional counselling services. If you feel that you need more individual support, counselling could be helpful for you.
You can reach out to Mobina Hasan at Admin@CounsellingForAll.org for a referral to a counsellor that specializes in working with other counsellors.
How will you protect my personal information?
The South Asian Sisters Support Group is a safe space for you and your information. We have measures in place to prevent doxxing and keep important data confidential. Support group participants are encouraged and regularly reminded to refrain from sharing personal information.
What are you waiting for?
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