When the pain did not start with you
Sometimes people carry a sadness, fear, loss or sense of disconnection that feels difficult to fully explain.
You may notice patterns in yourself that seem to have no obvious starting point. Perhaps you find it difficult to relax, struggle with feelings of guilt or responsibility, or carry a sense of loss that feels bigger than your own personal experiences. You may wonder why certain emotions feel so familiar, even when you cannot connect them to something that happened directly to you.
At times, the stories, experiences and hardships of previous generations can continue to affect us in ways we do not immediately recognise.
Understanding intergenerational trauma
Intergenerational trauma refers to the impact that significant experiences can have across generations.
Families and communities can carry the effects of war, displacement, migration, political conflict, discrimination, poverty, loss and other traumatic experiences long after the original events occurred. Sometimes these experiences are openly discussed. Other times, they are rarely spoken about at all.
The effects can show up through family dynamics, beliefs, fears, coping strategies, relationships, and even the ways we understand ourselves and the world around us.
Understanding these connections can often bring a sense of clarity and self-compassion.
How therapy can help
When we work together, I provide a space where we can gently explore these experiences at a pace that feels right for you.
Together, we can become curious about your family history, cultural background, and the experiences that may have shaped the generations before you. This is not about assigning blame or becoming stuck in the past. It is about understanding how these experiences may still be influencing your life today.
My approach is warm, collaborative and trauma-informed. I believe that understanding where we come from can help us make more informed choices about where we want to go.
Moving forward with greater understanding
“You do not have to carry it all alone.”
Many people find relief in realising that some of what they have been carrying makes sense within a broader family, cultural or historical context.
Over time, therapy can help you feel more connected to yourself, more compassionate towards your experiences, and more able to move forward without carrying the same weight.
