©2025 – Amy Morin, LCSW. All Rights Reserved
©2025 – Amy Morin, LCSW. All Rights Reserved
Intergenerational trauma is trauma that is passed down through family lines, with both biological and psychological components. That means the hardships your grandparents endured or the stressful events your parents went through might impact you in some surprising ways.
Dr. Mariel Buqué is a psychologist and the author of the book “Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma.” Some of the things she talks about are the importance of understanding and connecting the dots of our family history to better understand ourselves, how to break the cycles of trauma, and strategies for healing and creating positive change.
Key Takeaways:
“Intergenerational trauma is the only type of trauma that’s handed down the family line.” – Dr. Mariel Buqué
“We cannot heal what we cannot see.” – Dr. Mariel Buqué
“We have an opportunity to be the generation who creates positive change.” – Dr. Mariel Buqué
[0:00:00] Introduction to the topic of intergenerational trauma
[0:04:05] Explanation of intergenerational trauma as trauma passed down through generations
[0:06:20] Lack of previous discussion on intergenerational trauma in therapy
[0:09:59] Explanation of how trauma gets compounded over generations
[0:11:36] Different behaviors passed down through generations
[0:12:50] Discussion on survival modes and coping mechanisms in families
[0:13:17] Different coping mechanisms feeding off each other through generations
0:13:58 Introduction to electrolyte imbalance and sponsor message
0:15:34 Importance of connecting the dots of trauma in healing
0:17:19 How to connect the dots and understand unhealthy patterns
0:19:34 Recommendations for asking family members about their experiences
0:22:16 The challenge of discussing difficult childhood stories with parents
0:23:49 Using humor as a coping mechanism in families
0:25:05 The power of vulnerability and deeper connection
0:26:50 Desire for connection and harmony in difficult conversations
0:27:23 Importance of having hard conversations with ourselves
0:28:00 Conclusion and sponsor message
0:27:23 Gathering family history and clues from people in our lives
0:29:14 Disrupting cycles and creating new behaviors for future generations
0:30:22 Integrating holistic practices and self-care into our lives
0:31:49 Writing down disruptions and legacies we want to pass on
0:33:20 Recognizing the strength and resilience of previous generations
0:34:49 Supporting and honoring siblings in their own journeys
0:36:39 Finding peace within ourselves and spreading it to others
0:37:46 Impacting the next generation with mental fortitude and resilience
0:38:30 Encouraging more cycle breakers to emerge
0:39:03 Gathering family history and examining personal patterns for understanding
0:40:00 Connecting the dots and understanding family patterns
0:40:31 Identifying what to pass on and what to avoid
0:41:02 Tools for healing and creating positive change
0:41:34 Promoting mentally stronger Premium for more tips and support
0:42:00 Sharing the show to help others feel better and grow stronger
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Check out her book – Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma
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Email the show — Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.com
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