Historical/ Intergenerational Trauma

Historical trauma, or intergenerational trauma, refers to the cumulative emotional and psychological wounding of a person or generation caused by traumatic experiences or events. Historical trauma can be experienced by any group of people that experience a trauma. Examples include genocide, enslavement, or ethnic cleansing. It can affect many generations of a family or an entire community. Historical trauma can lead to substance abuse, depression, anxiety, anger, violence, suicide, and alcoholism within the afflicted communities. If you are feeling the effects of historical or intergenerational trauma, reach out to one of TherapyDen’s experts today. 

Need help finding the right therapist?
Find Your Match

Meet the specialists

 

As a second-generation Asian-American, I understand the relationship between symptoms of depression/anxiety and intergenerational trauma. The patterns and cycles passed down from generation to generation contribute to our mental health - either negatively or positively, and we have the power to stop or continue the cycle. We can begin living an empowered life.

— Jessica Cruz, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in San Diego, CA

Since 2013, most of my clients would have reported this was an issue in their lives. I provide the space needed for you to share and we can work together to begin healing these wounds!

— Ashley Hilkey, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Bloomington, IN
 

Indigenous practices have been around and utilized for centuries yet, due to cultural stigma, erasure, and genocide, many of these practices have been lost or not deemed acceptable within our Eurocentric mental health profession. The act of reindigenizing mental health is the effort to replace the current systems with culturally specific, culturally sustainable, and culturally appropriate mental health and well-being practices developed and passed on among indigenous people.

— Dr. Erik Escareño, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Unfortunately, trauma is much more common than we want to acknowledge. When I work with clients to address the impact of trauma, we first have to build safety, self-compassion, social support, and skills in managing intense emotions. We work to make sense of your story and to unlearn unhelpful patterns. This can feel like a scary journey, and it’s important that you feel supported and safe along the way.

— Annie Holleman, Psychologist in Austin, TX
 

I'm a survivor of intergenerational trauma and am experienced in supporting others in recovering from theirs. I incorporate several approaches including somatic work and reparenting. I am also 12-step recovery fluent.

— Heather Lenox, Clinical Social Worker in Charlotte, NC

Trauma can affect people in different ways. I work with clients struggling with acute, chronic, or complex trauma.

— Tomoko Iimura, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in ,
 

We sometimes "catch" our parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents trauma and/or hurts. Although they are not taught to us, I believe we certainly can inherit them. It is up to us whether or not we want to perpetuate the trauma or unhealthy patterns, or strive to reverse those patterns, and create lasting meaningful change which we can adopt, as well as pass on to future generations.

— Michael Serpico, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Hallandale Beach, FL

As an Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I am systemically trained and like to utilize Bowen Family Systems and Genograms to explore intergenerational trauma and family history. Which is all a lot of fancy words to say I like to help people understand how their family's generational history may contribute to things they struggle with in the here and now!

— Heather Hollysmith, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
 

Historical trauma, its transmission, and its manifestation across multiple generations were both an area of academic concentration and a personal interest, given my background as a child of people who experienced war and genocide. Many of the people I have work with have found that relief, more fulfilling relationships, and aliveness have coincided with an increasing ability to place their present-day problems against a backdrop of wider social and historic forces.

— Vuthy Ou, Clinical Psychologist in Philadelphia, PA

All staff are people of color that participate and have completed training in this area as well.

— NYC AFFIRMATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY, Clinical Social Worker in , NY
 

"Sometimes in my daily life, I lose time or have feelings that don’t match what is going on around me." Trauma can result from a single event, but more often, it comes from a long period of challenging circumstances. Often, we can only see that there is trauma through its effects, which is the feeling of disconnection or erratic feelings and behaviors, usually beyond our control. These experiences can prevent us from feeling like our lives our whole, or even that we know who we are.

— Open Space Therapy Collective, Licensed Professional Counselor in Los Angeles, CA

I work with individuals in navigating the effects of present, historical and intergenerational trauma resulting from systems of oppression as well as individual/ family experiences. Focusing upon the macro experience of family systems, I support my clients in understanding the effects of trauma as they resonate through the self via society. My therapy practice centers on the tenets of advocacy and empowerment as roads to healing, understanding and growth as change agents.

— Neil Panchmatia, Counselor in Portland, OR
 

As a psychotherapist, I specialize in addressing Historical/Intergenerational Trauma. My approach involves understanding deep-rooted emotional patterns and their impact across generations. I help clients unpack complex family histories, heal past wounds, and break cycles of trauma. Through empathy and evidence-based practices, I guide individuals towards awareness, healing, and resilience, fostering a path to a more empowered and liberated future.

— Justine Moore, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in , TX