I conducted an interview with Sunny (Songqin) who is working as a psychotherapist and is currently based in Waterloo, Canada. Sunny is a new immigrant just moving from China to Canada with her husband for 2 years. As a psycho expert but also a stakeholder, Sunny shared her valuable perspectives and suggestions on my previous intervention “London City Walk” and my current intervention”Mapping your cultural identity”. Furthermore, I invited her to join the “mapping your cultural identity” intervention remotely, and she provided me some useful feedbacks after that.
****Below is a summary of my conversation with an expert. Per the expert’s request, the phone conversation was not recorded, so the following content is a recap of our discussion. This interview also included text communication through WeChat and Instagram.******
Q: Considering the ‘city walk’ intervention in my project, which aims to help immigrants and international students explore London, how do you think such an activity influences their psychological journey towards navigating the complexities of their cultural identity and establishing a cultural identity in a new environment?
The ‘city walk’ intervention is an experiential activity that serves as a sensory bridge connecting individuals to their new environment. Theoretically, it aligns with the concept of environmental psychology, where physical spaces influence feelings and behaviors. By engaging with London’s landscapes, immigrants and students can anchor their personal experiences in the city’s cultural narrative, fostering a sense of belonging.
Q: From a psychological standpoint, what benefits do you believe the process of creating personal cultural maps could offer to individuals in their quest for cultural identity and a sense of belonging while living abroad?
Creating personal cultural maps is a therapeutic exercise that mirrors aspects of narrative therapy. It allows individuals to externalize and visualize their cultural journey, which can be empowering. This act of mapping can help in reauthoring their identity narrative, providing clarity in their cultural self-concept and potentially easing the dissonance caused by cultural shifts.
Q: Could you suggest ways to enhance the introspective and reflective aspects of both the ‘city walk’ and cultural mapping activities to better support the participants’ mental well-being and cultural integration?
To deepen the reflective quality of both activities, I’d suggest incorporating elements of mindfulness and journaling. Encouraging participants to be fully present during the ‘city walk’ and to reflect afterward can heighten awareness of their internal state. With cultural mapping, guiding them to identify emotions associated with each place or memory can provide insights into their evolving identity, aiding in their psychological adaptation and well-being.
*********************Below is the survey provided by the expert and her cultural map generated by AI*******************