The Hyphenated Life: Bridging the In-Between Spaces of Intersectional Identities

For readers of Permission to Come Home, Minor Feelings, and Pleasure Activism, an insightful guide for "hyphenates" seeking to better understand themselves and help others understand them, too.

What does it mean to live a hyphenated life?

So many folks are forced to toggle across the multiple layers of who they are, and across the diverse spaces they occupy. They may be children of immigrants, 1.5 gen, of color; they may be disabled, neurodivergent, or queer. Regardless of how they identify, they exist in an in-between space while also trying to fit into the dominant culture. With a foot in multiple worlds, belonging fully to none, it can be hard to figure out where they fit in.

Dr. Han Ren, licensed psychologist and a hyphenate herself, seeks to offer solutions for those with intersectional identities to fully express who they are in any and every environment. The Hyphenated Life is an intersectional, inside out excavation of how existing in marginalized bodies affects the ways folks show up in dominant culture and predominantly white spaces.

Offering tools, stories, conversations, solutions and insights, this book will resonate with anyone who is navigating the intricacies of their multicultural identity development.

Author: Han Ren
Publisher: Balance
Published: 06/16/2026
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.04lbs
Size: 9.14h x 6.37w x 1.01d
ISBN: 9781538771860

About the Author

Dr. Han Ren is a proud Hyphenated human and professional--licensed clinical and school psychologist, speaker, educator, content creator, author, 1.5-generation Chinese-American immigrant, neurodivergent mind, mother, partner, and only child (which explains a lot).
Rooted in anti-oppressive liberation psychology, Dr. Ren works from an interpersonal, culturally humble, and systems-informed framework. She is committed to making mental health accessible and resonant, especially for historically overlooked communities. Through her widely viewed social media content, she translates complex psychological concepts into everyday wisdom with humor and compassion. Her work centers fellow Hyphenates, helping those who live between cultures, identities, and expectations move from the margins toward their own growth edges.
Dr. Ren earned a doctorate in child clinical and school psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, a master of education in special education from the University of Houston, and a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Michigan. A lifelong educator, she has served as an adjunct professor at UT Austin and began her career teaching pre-K special education in a Title 1 school as part of Teach for America.
Her work has been featured on the TEDx stage, the Headspace app, NPR, Healthline, and other major media outlets. Whether she's supporting clients, teaching workshops, or giving keynote talks, Dr. Ren brings a blend of clinical expertise, cultural attunement, humor, and deep commitment to collective healing and community care.
Outside of work, you'll find Han traveling to explore new food scenes, seeking out sunshine, and dancing (enthusiastically and offbeat) to live music. She lives in Austin, Texas, where she coleads Pivot Psychology Austin, a group private practice dedicated to inclusive and affirming care.