Historical/ Intergenerational Trauma

I believe trauma is the root of most things that are wrong in this world. I use evidence based practices to address trauma, intergenerational trauma, and attachment trauma. I blend attachment based therapies, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, along with skills based in neuroscience.

Intergenerational trauma has a significant influence on the way we process and interact with the world. Identifying generational patterns and processing historical trauma gives you more autonomy in shaping your story.

As a Certified EMDR Therapist, I support individuals who have experienced various types of traumatic events and who are dealing with strong and distressing memories that have an impact on their lives.

Trauma can derive from obvious, horrific events, as well as from universal ones such as having been raised by a critical parent. In other words, what determines trauma is its impact, not the event(s) itself. Upsetting experiences - even forgotten ones - can get lodged in our nervous systems and stimulated in subsequent, parallel circumstances. Trauma treatment, including EMDR, can help clients adaptively process past experiences to prevent them from getting re-triggered in the present.

Sexual trauma can really shake us to our core. Living in a sexist world after a trauma can be overwhelming as a woman. Toxic masculinity is prevalent in both work and home life – creating complex triggers in unlikely places. As our awareness of these intersections between trauma and sexism increase, we may feel up in arms, ready to start a revolution! But we need to take exquisite care of ourselves first or else we are left feeling overwhelmed, drained and hopeless. After a sexual trauma we often wonder – can we ever feel beautiful, sexual, and/or feminine again and still feel safe? Can we trust others – or even ourselves – again? The answer is a resounding yes. Through a multi-modal approach that infuses relational, experiential and body-oriented approaches I help clients overcome trauma, create healthy boundaries, increase resilience, reclaim their sense of self and create the lives they wish to lead.

My expertise lies in understanding the transmission of trauma across generations and employing culturally sensitive therapeutic approaches to address its complex impact on individuals and families.

The way we are in the world is informed so much by our current systems and environments, but also the cultures and practices we come from. We inherit explicit traits from our caregivers, ancestors, and communities like hair color and speech patterns; we also learn to replicate behaviors and responses that may have once served someone else a long time ago, but no longer are relevant to us. Our work involves sifting through the tools you've accumulated and identifying what you want to keep.

Historical/Intergeneration Trauma is a specialty that is near and dear to my heart! Specifically I am trained in many Trauma focused therapies and utilize a variety of approaches to collaborate with you to recognize triggers, work together to have deep self compassion for your experience, and create intentions and intuitions that support you in healing and being a well ancestor. This is a brave and courageous endeavor and I have dedicated my personal and professional life to the cause.

Transforming the Experience-Based Brain (TEB) is a regulation focused model integrating learnings from somatic, attachment, & neurophysiological models. Through hands-on or intentional presence in healing you are able to access pre-verbal & early childhood developmental trauma stored in the body. As a non-pathologizing method of care, this embodied approach is a different way of healing as it targets the nervous system rather than specific symptoms & supports integration of primitive reflexes.

The way we were brought up, including the way we were parented, the messages we were told, and/or the values imposed on us, has impacted on the people we are today (intentionally or not). We do not have to be victim to these patterns. If you would like to break generational patterns, we can begin this work by gaining more insight to previous generations' patterns.

My work as a former social worker in schools exposed me to real-time cases of difficult childhood experiences, allowing me to see firsthand how these challenges unfold & affect both individuals & their loved ones, often contributing to cycles of intergenerational trauma. I had the opportunity to support these children & families, educating them on ways to break these cycles. Intergenerational trauma impacts an individual's mental & physical health, as well as their relationships with others.

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.

Whether you've experienced a single traumatic event or ongoing trauma, I am here to offer a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your feelings, process memories, and develop coping strategies at your own pace. Using techniques such as CRM (Community Resiliency Model) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), I work collaboratively with you to address symptoms of trauma such as anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts.

I have extensive training and experience in working with historic, intergenerational, and complex trauma through my time providing mental health services for NARA, NW and Wolf Pack Consulting and Therapeutic Services. As a relationship therapist, I understand how impactful historical/intergenterational trauma can be on a relationship system and focus much of the work on helping the couple/family identify this trauma and create strategies to minimize it's impact.

I have been trained in the Sanctuary Model of trauma-informed care, and practice a trauma-responsive approach in all aspects of my practice.

Breaking the cycle of recurring generational patterns of abuse, violence, and dysfunction within family systems.

I help clients understand how generational cycles of trauma can impact thought processes and their ability to navigate stressors in a healthy way. I work with clients to explore coping skills to manage life stressors in a healthy way.

Trauma is deeply intertwined in immigration histories past and present. Using trauma-informed practices and narrative therapy, we assist clients in processing inherited trauma and reclaiming their narratives, promoting resilience and healing across generations. We hope to guide clients through the legacy of past atrocities like colonization or genocide, which continue to affect their well-being today.

That weight on your shoulder will go away. We will talk about some new ways to think and look at this painful story. We will give you skills to manage your thoughts and feelings. You will build confidence as this process unfolds. And then one day you will be on the other side of this life experience. You will be able to talk about it with out crying. You will feel strong again. Your dreams will stop. You can then exhale and feel calm again. You can look forward without these painful experiences

You notice your internal self-talk and beliefs embody familiar sentiments and values held by the current and previous generations in your family and culture. What once was a guiding force, helping you make critical decisions around careers, partner(s), and where you live, are now anxieties, ennui, and inexplicable anger. You realize you are living your parents' trauma and survival mechanisms. You seek to unburden from expired legacies and empower with generational strengths and wisdom.