Online Counselling for Intergenerational Trauma in British Columbia
Intergenerational trauma is unique in that it results from the experiences of our ancestors. When folks in our family line lived through serious oppression or distressing events, the emotional and behavioural reactions to those can ripple through our family tree, causing significant impacts even decades later.
Examples of events that can cause intergenerational trauma include experience of abuse, broader experiences of oppression like the impact of the residential school system on indigenous communities in Canada, or global events like a pandemic. It can even include a natural disaster.
The emotional and behavioural responses to these become entrenched in family dynamics. For example, a family that has a history of generational displacement through forced migration, may experience a higher sense of fear or trauma related to loss of place or feel a sense of panic related to a lack of belonging. This could leave those folks to minimize the ways they are different as as a result, their cultural uniqueness can be lost, leaving them with more to grieve.
At the Commons Wellness Collective, you will find space to gain curiosity about your family's story. We want to help you make sense of the context you find yourself in and allow for all of the emotions that surface to be honoured and processed. You do not need to do this work alone.
How It Manifests
When discussing intergenerational trauma, because folks did not experience the traumatic events themselves, they will not have flashbacks. Instead, the trauma response is inherited. Our DNA can code in a genetic ‘survival response’ to trauma that is passed down for several generations. As a result, we live in a more hypervigilant state, constantly anticipating danger. This has a significant impact on health outcomes, and can increase the likelihood of being impacted by things like autoimmune conditions, cancer, and heart disease. This is in addition to life long impacts to memory, emotion, learning, and behaviour.
Healing Generational Wounds
Intergenerational trauma, once named, acknowledged, and understood, can begin to be healed. Acknowledging the impact of the trauma is the first step. It is also critical that the systemic issues that perpetuate trauma are changed for true healing to occur. When we think about reconciliation with Indigenous communities in Canada, this is a big part of the work that still needs to happen. We cannot fully heal as individuals or communities until the ongoing inequities experienced (for example, water quality issues) are changed, and true reparations have been made. Many of the 94 Calls to Action made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are still pending.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Counsellors in BC Today
Our Therapeutic Approach
At The Commons Wellness Collective, we work from a systemic approach. This means that all of the aspects of your lived experience will be considered when we are exploring your mental health and what healing might look like. While we cannot overhaul systems of oppression as individuals, we can acknowledge their impact, and create a safe enough space to process all of the emotions associated with how those systems are experienced. Being able to access anger, and grieve what you have lost as a result of oppression while also exploring and celebrating yours and your ancestors' (or family's) strengths and resilience can be a part of the healing journey. We would love to be with you and hear your story.
