Trauma does not end with the individual who experiences it—it can ripple through generations, shaping behaviors, beliefs, and family dynamics long after the original event has passed. This phenomenon, known as multigenerational trauma or intergenerational trauma, is a critical focus in contemporary psychology and family therapy. Whether caused by war, genocide, slavery, colonization, domestic abuse, or systemic oppression, unresolved trauma can imprint itself on future generations through both psychological and biological pathways.
Family therapy provides a powerful framework for identifying, understanding, and healing multigenerational trauma. By exploring family history, systemic dynamics, and patterns of emotional transmission, Marriage and Family Therapists help clients disrupt cycles of pain and restore healthier, more adaptive relationships.
This article explores the origins and mechanisms of multigenerational trauma, its manifestations in family systems, and how family therapy—particularly through systemic and relational models—intervenes to foster healing.
See also The Complete Guide to Marriage and Family Therapy: What It Is, How It Works, and Who It Helps
What Is Multigenerational Trauma?
Multigenerational trauma refers to trauma that is passed down from those who directly experience a traumatic event to subsequent generations. While the initial trauma may be historical or personal, its emotional and behavioral consequences continue to affect families long afterward.
Historical Examples
Holocaust survivors and their descendants
- Indigenous populations impacted by colonization and forced assimilation
- African American families affected by slavery and systemic racism
- Families impacted by forced migration, civil war, or genocide
Personal and Family-Level Examples
- A grandparent who experienced childhood abuse and never discussed it
- A parent who suffers from unresolved PTSD that affects their parenting style
- Patterns of silence, mistrust, or emotional unavailability passed through generations
How Trauma Is Transmitted Across Generations
Psychological Transmission
Parents or caregivers who have unresolved trauma may unconsciously pass on anxiety, fear, or shame. Children may adopt maladaptive coping mechanisms modeled by their caregivers.
Examples:
- A parent with abandonment trauma may become emotionally distant, causing a child to develop insecure attachment.
- Family secrecy about past events (e.g., abuse, loss) creates an atmosphere of confusion or mistrust.
Behavioral Patterns
Multigenerational trauma often manifests as repeated behaviors, such as:
- Domestic violence
- Addiction
- Emotional neglect
- Poor communication
- Avoidance of conflict or emotional expression
These behaviors become embedded in family culture.
Family Narratives and Beliefs
Families may carry beliefs that stem from trauma, such as:
- “You can’t trust anyone.”
- “We don’t talk about our problems.”
- “Showing emotion is weakness.”
These narratives shape how family members interact with each other and the world.
Epigenetics
Emerging research suggests that trauma can leave biological imprints. Stress responses and trauma-related genes may be passed down, altering how future generations respond to stress.
For example, Yehuda et al. (2016) found that children of Holocaust survivors showed altered cortisol levels and epigenetic markers associated with stress regulation.
See also Understanding Family Therapy: Healing Relationships Across Generations
Signs of Multigenerational Trauma in Families
- Chronic anxiety or hypervigilance
- Parent-child conflict or estrangement
- Emotional cutoff between family members
- Cycles of abuse or neglect
- Enmeshment or rigid roles (e.g., “the rescuer,” “the scapegoat”)
- Unexplained guilt, shame, or sadness in younger generations
- A pervasive family “secret” or taboo subject
The Role of Family Therapy
Family therapy is uniquely positioned to address multigenerational trauma because it focuses not just on the individual, but on the patterns, roles, and relationships within a family system.
Goals of Family Therapy for Multigenerational Trauma
- Identify intergenerational patterns and unresolved trauma
- Foster open dialogue about family history
- Promote emotional safety and empathy
- Help family members individuate from dysfunctional roles
- Reframe negative beliefs or narratives
- Support healing rituals and family cohesion
See also Family Therapy for Blended Families: Common Issues and Solutions
Key Theoretical Models Used in Therapy
Bowen Family Systems Theory
Murray Bowen’s theory is foundational in addressing multigenerational issues. He introduced the concept of the multigenerational transmission process, emphasizing how emotional patterns are passed down.
Key Concepts:
- Differentiation of self: The ability to separate one’s thoughts and feelings from family pressures.
- Triangles: Unresolved conflict between two people pulls in a third.
- Emotional cutoff: Severing relationships to manage unresolved emotional pain.
Therapeutic Tools:
- Genograms: Three-generation family maps that reveal patterns of behavior, illness, conflict, or loss.
- Process questions: Help clients reflect on family influence and their emotional reactivity.
Structural Family Therapy (SFT)
SFT helps restructure unhealthy family hierarchies and boundaries often distorted by trauma.
Focus Areas:
- Realigning enmeshed or disengaged relationships
- Empowering caregivers and restoring parental leadership
- Creating healthy boundaries
Example: In a family where a child has become a caretaker for a traumatized parent, therapy helps reassign appropriate roles.
Narrative Therapy
Traumatized families often carry dominant narratives that reflect pain, shame, or victimization.
Approach:
- Externalize the trauma (“The trauma is the problem, not you.”)
- Re-author stories to reflect resilience and agency
- Validate the family’s survival and honor their journey
Narrative therapy allows families to rewrite scripts shaped by trauma and integrate alternative narratives of healing and strength.
Trauma-Focused Family Therapy
Incorporates trauma-informed principles with family systems work, especially relevant when children have experienced or inherited trauma.
Elements Include:
- Safety and stabilization
- Acknowledgment of trauma’s impact
- Emotion regulation skills
- Strengthening family attachments
- Integration and meaning-making
Culturally Responsive Family Therapy
Given that much multigenerational trauma stems from cultural or collective experiences, Marriage and Family Therapists must integrate cultural humility and awareness into their approach.
Examples:
- Working with Indigenous families using culturally grounded rituals
- Recognizing racial trauma in African American or immigrant families
- Validating spiritual or religious frameworks of healing
See also Parent-Child Conflict: How Family Therapy Can Help Heal the Rift
Interventions and Techniques: Multigenerational Trauma
Genogram Construction
A genogram is a powerful tool to identify intergenerational patterns such as:
- Repeated trauma (e.g., substance abuse, estrangement, suicide)
- Relational patterns (e.g., cutoffs, alliances, roles)
- Unresolved grief or family secrets
By visually mapping family dynamics, clients gain insight into inherited emotional patterns.
Family Storytelling
Encouraging family members to share their experiences breaks cycles of silence and secrecy.
Benefits:
- Builds empathy between generations
- Validates pain that was never acknowledged
- Facilitates emotional expression and bonding
Role Reassignment
Family therapy can help disrupt unhealthy roles, such as:
- The hero (overachiever masking dysfunction)
- The lost child (emotionally neglected)
- The scapegoat (blamed for family problems)
By recognizing and shifting these roles, families create space for authenticity and balance.
Rituals for Healing
Rituals—whether religious, cultural, or symbolic—help families grieve, honor the past, and move forward.
Examples:
- Memorializing lost ancestors
- Apology and forgiveness ceremonies
- Story-sharing circles
These practices foster connection, meaning, and closure.
Psychoeducation
Marriage and Family Therapists teach families how trauma affects the brain and relationships. Understanding the science of trauma can reduce shame and promote compassion.
Topics may include:
- Fight-flight-freeze responses
- Attachment theory
- Epigenetics of trauma
Challenges in Treating Multigenerational Trauma
Resistance or Denial
Older generations may minimize or deny past trauma due to stigma or shame.
Therapist Response: Use non-blaming language, normalize trauma responses, and build rapport slowly.
Cultural Taboos
In some cultures, discussing family problems outside the home is frowned upon.
Therapist Response: Integrate culturally respectful practices and obtain informed consent about what can be shared.
Emotional Intensity
Opening up multigenerational wounds can trigger intense emotions.
Therapist Response: Pace sessions carefully, establish safety, and teach grounding techniques.
Fragmented Families
Estrangement or death may prevent some members from participating.
Therapist Response: Use letters, symbolic dialogues, or individual sessions to address absent members.
Measuring Success in Therapy
Success may not look like full reconciliation. Instead, progress can include:
- Increased awareness of trauma patterns
- Improved emotional regulation
- Reduced conflict and better communication
- Greater empathy and forgiveness
- New family narratives focused on resilience
Real-World Applications
Example 1: Three Generations of Abuse
A grandmother who experienced abuse raised a daughter who also experienced violence and is now raising a son with behavioral problems. Through genogram work and structural therapy, the family explores the roots of their patterns and begins setting new boundaries.
Example 2: Holocaust Legacy
A second-generation Holocaust survivor experiences debilitating anxiety. Family therapy explores inherited trauma and helps the client separate their own fear from their parents’ lived experiences. Rituals and narrative reframing bring a sense of peace and pride in family survival.
Conclusion
Multigenerational trauma can shape families for decades—but it is not a life sentence. With the guidance of a Marriage and Family Therapist, Family therapy provides a compassionate, systemic path for healing, allowing families to make sense of their histories, disrupt painful cycles, and foster resilience for future generations.
By acknowledging the pain of the past, validating each person’s experience, and co-creating new narratives, families can transform their legacies from ones of silence and survival to those of understanding, connection, and healing.
Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
Author Bio
Dr. Randi Fredricks is a leading expert in the field of mental health counseling and psychotherapy, with over three decades of experience in both research and practice. She holds a PhD from The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and has published ground-breaking research on communication, mental health, and complementary and alternative medicine. Dr. Fredricks is a best-selling author of books on the treatment of mental health conditions with complementary and alternative medicine. Her work has been featured in leading academic journals and is recognized worldwide. She currently is actively involved in developing innovative solutions for treating mental health. To learn more about Dr. Fredricks’ work, visit her website: https://drrandifredricks.com
References
Bowen, M. (1978). Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. Jason Aronson.
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and Family Therapy. Harvard University Press.
Danieli, Y. (1998). International Handbook of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma. Springer.
Yehuda, R., Daskalakis, N. P., Lehrner, A., et al. (2016). Influences of maternal and paternal PTSD on epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in Holocaust survivor offspring. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(8), 872–880.
Siegel, D. J. (2012). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are. Guilford Press.
Nichols, M. P., & Davis, S. D. (2020). Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods (12th ed.). Pearson.
Ungar, M. (2018). Systemic Resilience: Principles and Processes for a Science of Change in Contexts of Adversity. Oxford University Press.
White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends. W. W. Norton & Company.
American Psychological Association. (2021). Multigenerational trauma. https://www.apa.org/topics/multigenerational-trauma
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258.
