Understanding Generational Trauma

Trauma is not just what happens to us; it is also what happened to those who came before us. Recent research in epigenetics shows that stress responses can be passed down through generations.

The Language of Silence

Often, generational trauma manifests as 'unspoken rules' or pervasive moods within a family. It might look like:

• Chronic hyper-vigilance.
• Difficulty with trust or intimacy.
• A sense of 'waiting for the other shoe to drop.'

Breaking the Cycle

The first step in healing generational trauma is naming it. By bringing these inherited patterns into the light of the therapeutic relationship, we can begin to differentiate our own story from the stories of our ancestors.