You Are More Than You Achieve: Dr. Jaki Yi on Perfectionism, Mental Health & the Model Minority Myth

Episode Overview: In this episode of Courage Class, Lindsay sits down with Dr. Jaki Yi, psychologist, researcher, educator, and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington Bothell, for a wide-ranging conversation about Asian American mental health. This conversation covers a little bit of everything - in the best possible way. Together, they explore the Model Minority Myth and its impact on identity, self-worth, and family expectations. They discuss perfectionism, burnout, anxiety, hustle culture, scarcity mindset, emotional attunment, and why so many high-achieving students silently struggle beneath the surface. The conversation also touches on parenting, mental health stigma, therapy, emotional intelligence, and the skills young people will need to thrive in an AI-driven future. Whether listeners are parents, educators, students, leaders, or individuals working through their own relationship with achievement, this episode offers practical insights and compassionate reframes that can help them better understand themselves and those around them. In This Episode, Listeners Will Learn: • Why many Asian American children and college students struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and mental health challenges - even when they appear successful on the outside • How the Model Minority Myth shapes self-worth, family expectations, emotional expression, and the pursuit of achievement • What parents, educators, and mentors can do to recognize distress early and support students before they reach a crisis point • Why self-compassion, emotional attunement, and community can be powerful antidotes to burnout, shame, and perfectionism About Dr. Jaki Yi: Dr. Jaki Yi is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington Bothell. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her bachelor's degree in Psychology from New York University. Her research focuses on how Asian Americans navigate systems of oppression, particularly experiences with race, racism, mental health, perfectionism, and social justice. Dr. Yi teaches courses in Asian American Psychology, multicultural counseling, and clinical psychology, and has extensive experience providing culturally responsive counseling and mental health support to racially minoritized communities. Her work helps illuminate the often unseen psychological experiences of Asian Americans and offers practical pathways toward healing, self-compassion, and collective well-being. Connect with Dr. Yi: Tiktok:   / jakiyiphd   LinkedIn:   / jacqueline-yi   Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast ⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/9... Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387