The Hyphenated Life

Bridging the In-Between Spaces of Intersectional Identities

Coming Soon

Contributors

By Han Ren

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Jun 16, 2026
Page Count
288 pages
Publisher
Balance
ISBN-13
9781538771860

Price

$30.00

Price

$40.00 CAD

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.

  • “Instead of another narrow self-help framework to squeeze into, The Hyphenated Life helps you inhabit the richness of all the identities and roles you hold.”
    Alyson Stoner, award-winning entertainer, founder/CEO of Movement Genius, New York Times bestselling author of Semi-Well-Adjusted, and certified mental health practitioner
  • “This book fills an essential hole. With clarity and care, Dr. Han Ren offers a deeply grounded and accessible guide through terrain that is often oversimplified or ignored altogether. It is a rare combination: intellectually rigorous and emotionally resonant.”
    Laura Danger, educator and author of No More Mediocre: A Call to Reimagine Our Relationships and Demand More
  • "In The Hyphenated Life, Dr. Han Ren offers us a profound exploration of what it means to navigate the in-between spaces between cultures, expectations, and self. It is a moving guide for finding wholeness in our hyphens.”
    Natalie Y. Gutierrez, LMFT, author of The Pain We Carry & The Pain We Carry Workbook
  • “In The Hyphenated Life, Dr. Han Ren expertly synthesizes personal and professional experience to offer readers a powerful new way of understanding themselves and others. Her gift for simplifying complex ideas in a relatable and meaningful way is on display as she unpacks the 'too much, not enough' beliefs that are often described by those holding multiple marginalized identities.”
    Annie Farmer, PhD, licensed psychologist, Epstein survivor, advocate and educator for child sexual abuse and exploitation
  • “Dr. Han Ren will help you to learn more about building a strong relationship with yourself and others through her story.”
    Dr. Raquel Martin, licensed clinical psychologist, scientist, professor, podcast host, content creator

Han Ren

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.

Learn more about this author