🌿 Does Geography Work? Finding Belonging in Nyack, NY

When my family decided to move to Nyack, New York, it wasn’t just about changing our surroundings, it was about finding a place that reflected who we are. As a multicultural, multiracial family, we longed for a community where diversity wasn’t just present, but truly embraced.

In the place we had lived before, we faced experiences that cut deeply: bullying, discrimination, and a lack of understanding that left lasting marks on our family’s spirit. My daughter, in particular, experienced the kind of exclusion that no child should endure. As a mother and therapist, watching her lose her sense of safety and belonging was heartbreaking.

I had tried to make it work; to be the committed and dutiful wife, honoring the roots my husband had in his hometown, where he had the support of two loving parents and a strong sense of familiarity. But over time, I realized that geography can carry emotional weight. The very soil that feels like home to one person can feel heavy and isolating to another.

Eventually, my husband and I made a loving but difficult decision: to live in the places where each of us felt most grounded. He returned to Long Island with our son, Max, while I stayed in Rockland County with our daughter, Mikayla. And what unfolded next reminded me of the power of community as a form of healing.

Here in Nyack, I found what I had been seeking: diversity, acceptance, and genuine connection. The community surrounded us with warmth and support. My daughter was seen and celebrated for who she is. I was reminded that belonging is not only about geography - it’s about being embraced for your authentic self.

Through my journey as a mother and founder of Embrace Psychotherapy, I’ve come to understand that healing happens when we feel seen, safe, and supported. Families, like individuals, are shaped by their environments. Sometimes, the most loving choice we can make is to plant ourselves where we can truly grow.

So, do you know if geography works?

Maybe not always in the way we plan.

But when we follow the pull of belonging toward spaces that reflect our values, our stories, and our truths, we find our real home.

Here in Rockland County, surrounded by the diversity and compassion that define this community, I’ve found mine.