Understanding Multigenerational Trauma

Multigenerational trauma, also known as intergenerational trauma, refers to the transmission of emotional, psychological, and even physiological pain from one generation to the next. Although it was first observed in the descendants of Holocaust survivors, this phenomenon is now recognised in many different cultural, social, and familial contexts. From families affected by war, displacement, abuse, addiction, or systemic oppression, the invisible threads of trauma can shape lives in profound and lasting ways.

At its core, multigenerational trauma involves inherited patterns of behaviour, emotion, and relationship that are rooted in unresolved wounds from previous generations. This is not simply about learned behaviours, but also about the internalised emotional responses that are often unconscious and deeply embedded in the psyche.

The Role of Attachment

Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and later expanded by Mary Ainsworth, offers a powerful lens through which to understand the dynamics of multigenerational trauma. According to this theory, early relationships with primary caregivers form the blueprint for future emotional bonds. When a caregiver is traumatised, they may struggle to provide a consistent, safe, and nurturing environment for their child. This can lead to insecure attachment styles—avoidant, ambivalent, or disorganised—that compromise the child’s ability to regulate emotions, trust others, and develop a stable sense of self.

Children who grow up with emotionally unavailable, unpredictable, or frightening caregivers may develop coping mechanisms that carry into adulthood, influencing how they relate to partners, children, and themselves. These patterns, if not examined and healed, are often passed down again, perpetuating the cycle of trauma.

A Person-Centred Perspective

Person-Centred Theory (PCT), pioneered by Carl Rogers, provides another valuable framework for understanding and healing multigenerational trauma. Central to PCT is the belief that all individuals possess an innate capacity for growth and self-healing, given the right conditions. These conditions—empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence (genuineness)—are essential for fostering psychological resilience and wellbeing.

In families affected by trauma, these core conditions are often absent. A traumatised parent may struggle to show empathy or maintain emotional availability. Their own unresolved wounds may prevent them from being authentic or offering unconditional acceptance. Consequently, children may internalise a belief that they are only worthy of love when they behave a certain way or suppress certain emotions—leading to a fragmented sense of self.

Therapeutically, a person-centred approach can offer a reparative experience. In a safe and non-judgmental space, individuals can begin to explore and reprocess their past experiences, reconnect with disowned aspects of themselves, and ultimately disrupt the transmission of trauma to the next generation.

The Impact and the Way Forward

Multigenerational trauma doesn’t just affect individuals—it can shape entire family systems and communities. Its effects may include chronic anxiety, depression, addiction, emotional numbing, and difficulties with intimacy. Sometimes, the source of distress is unclear because it originates not in the individual’s own life experiences, but in those of their parents or grandparents.

Awareness is a crucial first step. Understanding the roots of certain behaviours or emotional patterns can be profoundly liberating. Psychotherapy, particularly approaches grounded in attachment theory or PCT, can help individuals make sense of their inherited pain and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.

Healing multigenerational trauma is not just about addressing the past—it’s about changing the future. When individuals begin to process and release their inherited pain, they create the opportunity for more authentic, secure, and nurturing relationships in their own families. In this way, the cycle of trauma can be transformed into a legacy of resilience and compassion.

If you want to learn more about this and how you can move forward and heal, then please book an assessment with us today.

Recommended Reading

It Didn't Start With You: How inherited family trauma shapes who we are and how to end the cycle

Building on the work of leading experts in neuroscience and posttraumatic stress, Mark Wolynn has developed a pioneering approach to identifying and breaking these inherited family patterns.

Having worked with individuals and groups on a therapeutic level for more than twenty years, It Didn't Start With You is his accessible, pragmatic and transformative guide to a method that has helped thousands of people reclaim their lives.

Grab a copy HERE.

What My Bones Know: A Memoir from Healing from Complex Trauma

In this deeply personal and thoroughly researched account, Foo interviews scientists and psychologists and tries a variety of innovative therapies. She returns to her hometown in California to investigate the effects of immigrant trauma on the community, and she uncovers family secrets in the country of her birth, Malaysia, to learn how trauma can be inherited through generations.

Ultimately, she discovers that you don't move on from trauma - but you can learn to move with it.

Grab a copy HERE.