Maria shares that as a Korean-Canadian, she has experienced covert and overt racism in her childhood and as an adult. Her parents are 1.5 generation and they are resourceful entrepreneurs. She said that she became a psychologist by chance, and there needs to be more representation. She voices the importance of reaching out, connecting, and finding community.
Maria Kim is a second-generation Korean-Canadian woman and a Registered Psychologist. Raised in rural northern Alberta, she was often the only Asian or BIPOC person in her community, which deeply shaped her experiences with racism. Growing up with 1.5-generation Korean parents and a Caucasian grandmother, Maria navigated multiple cultural worlds with little representation of people like her, struggling with internalized racism, shame, and guilt. As a child, Maria recalls wishing to wake up in a white girl's body, viewing her own identity as something to escape. But as she grew older, she began to redefine what it meant to be a Korean-Canadian woman. Now, as an adult, she proudly embraces her cultural heritage, finding strength in her unique multiple identities. These experiences inform Maria’s work as a psychologist in private practice, where she specializes in bi-cultural identity and intergenerational trauma. She helps Asian clients navigate the challenges of racism and identity, creating a safe space for healing and growth. Through her own journey, Maria is dedicated to empowering others to embrace their cultural identities and confront the impacts of systemic racism.
