The Parenting Trap Asian Families Keep Repeating (And How Two Psychologists Are Helping Parents Break It) wiith Dr. Michelle Chung & Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge

Oct 28, 2025

Guest

Laura Berssenbrugge

Guest

Michelle Chung

Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge, a child psychologist and former middle school teacher, and Dr. Michelle Chung, a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and perfectionism, discuss the Modern Asian Parent approach. They cover why parents’ inner work matters. They explore redefining success beyond traditional careers. They explain tools for value-based parenting, validation, and supporting kids’ natural strengths.

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INSIGHT

Parenting Starts With Parents Doing Inner Work

Parenting change starts with parents doing inner work first rather than only focusing on child skills.
Michelle Chung and Laura Berssenbrugge explain intergenerational expectations shape parents' visions and must be examined before teaching kids.

ADVICE

Start Parenting By Defining Family Values

Begin parenting by defining family values and use them as the root for decisions and rules.
The MAP model gives a family values worksheet to narrow top values, then translates those into concrete priorities instead of one-size rules.

INSIGHT

Redefine Success Beyond Traditional Careers

Expand traditional definitions of success beyond stable professions to include meaning and choice.
Michelle notes immigrant parents often equate success with safety, but their hard work intended to give children options beyond doctor-lawyer-engineer paths.

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In this episode of Big Asian Energy, John Wang sits down with clinical psychologists Dr. Michelle Chung and Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge to explore their groundbreaking Modern Asian Parent (MAP) movement—a research-based approach that challenges traditional tiger parenting while honoring cultural heritage. The doctors share why effective parenting starts with parents doing their own inner work around generational trauma, how to redefine success beyond traditional career paths, and why validation is the missing ingredient in most Asian family dynamics.

What Dr. Michelle and Dr. Laura Share:

Why healing generational trauma and perfectionism starts with parents doing their own inner work first
Redefining success beyond doctor-lawyer-engineer to support unconventional career paths
Building values-based parenting through connection, validation, and authentic strengths

About Dr. Michelle Chung

Dr. Michelle Chung is a clinical psychologist and head of Inpractice Psychology, specializing in anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. As a board member at Korean Community Services, she works directly with Asian families navigating the tension between cultural expectations and mental health. A recovering perfectionist herself and mother to a budding artist, Dr. Michelle is passionate about helping families break toxic cycles of pressure and achievement while building emotionally intelligent, values-aligned relationships.

About Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge

Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge is a Hawaii and New York-based child psychologist and former middle school teacher with specialized training from the Child Mind Institute and NYU Child Study Center. She works with children, teenagers, and families dealing with stress, anxiety, and the unique pressures facing Asian American youth. Dr. Laura focuses on giving parents practical tools to become cheerleaders for their children's emotional wellbeing while teaching stress management skills the whole family can practice together.

Connect with Dr. Michelle Chung and Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge

Website: themodernasianparent.com (free worksheets and resources)

Instagram: @themodernasianparent

Substack: themodernasianparent.substack.com