Codependency in Asian Immigrant Families: A Conversation With Harry Au
Many adult children of Asian immigrant families grow up feeling responsible for their family’s emotions, needs, and wellbeing. Over time, this can create patterns of guilt, difficulty setting boundaries, and feeling responsible for everyone around them.
In this podcast conversation, I discuss how codependent patterns can develop within Asian immigrant families, how childhood roles shape adult relationships, and how adult children can begin creating healthier connections with their families while still honouring their cultural values.
Listen to the podcast:
Spotify: Listen on Spotify
YouTube: Watch on YouTube
Topics discussed
• What codependency can look like for children of immigrant families
• How immigration experiences and family roles can shape relationships
• Parentification and becoming the “responsible child”
• Narcissistic parents and the link to codependency in their children
• The relationship between guilt, boundaries, and family expectations
• Creating healthier relationships with family members
About the conversation
I joined Marissa Esquibel to discuss experiences that many adult children of immigrants navigate but often struggle to put into words. While every family is different, many Asian Canadians find themselves balancing love, loyalty, responsibility, and the desire to live a life that feels authentic to them.
Related resources
Why You Self-Sacrifice in Relationships
Signs You Grew Up With Emotional Neglect
Why Your Family Gets Mad At You For Healing Your Trauma
If you recognize yourself in some of these patterns, I created a free interactive guide called Why Do I React Like This? to help you understand your emotional reactions and explore what they might be trying to protect you from.
Hi, I’m Harry, a psychotherapist in Toronto. I work with 1.5 and second generation Asian Canadians who are trying to understand patterns around anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, relationships, family, and self-worth.
