The Rise of Intergenerational Trauma and Family Systems Healing: Why These Overlooked Concepts Populate Social Media
Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Intergenerational trauma and family systems healing have long simmered under the radar of mainstream family therapy.
While these concepts are well-documented in academic circles, they’ve often been sidelined in favor of more immediate relational dynamics.
Now, thanks to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit, these once-neglected ideas are experiencing somewhat of a populist revival.
Let’s explore why intergenerational trauma and family systems healing have been somewhat underutilized in therapy, how social media has amplified them, and what therapists can learn from this shift.
The Roots of Intergenerational Trauma
Intergenerational trauma refers to the psychological and emotional wounds passed down through generations due to unresolved trauma in the family system.
Research on Holocaust survivors first illuminated the concept, with later studies expanding it to include Indigenous populations, African Americans, and other marginalized groups.
Why It Was Neglected in Therapy
Traditional family therapy has often prioritized "presenting problems" like behavioral issues, communication breakdowns, or marital discord. Delving into intergenerational trauma requires a broader lens that incorporates:
Family-Of-Origin Stories: Understanding how past generations influence present dynamics.
Cultural Heritage: Acknowledging systemic oppression, racism, or displacement.
Historical Context: Considering how major events—wars, colonization, economic crises—shape family patterns.
Let’s be frank. Many therapists shy away from this work due to time constraints, insurance limitations, or a lack of training in systemic approaches. Consequently, intergenerational trauma has been a blind spot in many therapeutic practices, and across most couples therapy models.
How Social Media is Leading the Charge
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram thrive on relatable content, making complex psychological theories accessible. Influencers and therapists alike share bite-sized explanations of concepts like intergenerational trauma and family systems healing, resonating deeply with audiences.
Viral Trends in Content Creation:
Breaking Generational Curses: Videos and posts encouraging people to "break the cycle" of inherited patterns.
Inner Child Healing: Posts explaining how unresolved childhood wounds perpetuate trauma.
Family Roles: Content dissecting roles like the “scapegoat” or “golden child” in family dynamics.
The Appeal of Simplification
Social media’s strength lies in its ability to distill complex ideas into bite-sized digestible narratives.
While this has democratized access to psychological insights, it’s also led to occasional oversimplifications. Concepts like intergenerational trauma risk becoming buzzwords, often divorced from their deeper, systemic roots.
Family Systems Healing: A Nuanced Cousin
Family Systems Healing takes intergenerational trauma a step further by emphasizing the interconnectedness of family members. It’s rooted in theories like Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, which suggests that unresolved issues in one family member often ripple across the system.
Why It’s Somewhat Neglected in Therapy
Focus on Individuals: Many therapeutic models prioritize individual and dyadic clients, typically neglecting the entire family as a unit.
Systemic Barriers: Insurance models sporatically cover family-based interventions.
Cultural Blind Spots: Therapists may lack training in culturally informed systemic work, particularly with marginalized families.
Social Media’s Role
Family Systems Healing is gaining traction online, with content creators emphasizing:
The importance of boundaries within families.
Emotional regulation across generations.
Collective healing practices, such as reconnecting with cultural traditions.
The Challenges of Pop Psychology
While social media has amplified awareness, it’s also created a double-edged sword. Simplified narratives can lead to:
Overshadowed Complexity: Trauma is framed as linear or easily "fixed" by cutting ties with toxic family members.
Misuse of Terminology: Terms like “trauma bonds” or “breaking cycles” are used inaccurately.
Therapists can bridge the gap by:
Educating Clients: Providing deeper, research-based insights during sessions.
Adopting Accessible Language: Borrowing from social media’s relatability without oversimplifying.
How Family Therapy Might Evolve
To meet the demand for systemic approaches, family therapy must integrate the best of academic research and social media’s accessibility. Here’s how:
Incorporating Narrative Therapy
Family therapy can help clients "rewrite" their family scripts, balancing accountability with compassion.
Expanding the Focus
Therapists might:
Examine historical patterns within families.
Explore cultural resilience and strengths alongside trauma.
Emphasizing Education
Clients benefit from understanding how their ancestors’ experiences shape present dynamics, empowering them to make intentional changes.
The Future: Bridging Social Media and Therapy
The rise of intergenerational trauma and family systems healing on social media signals a paradigm shift in how families view themselves. Therapists must seize this moment to:
Embrace culturally informed practices.
Foster deeper, systemic healing in their work.
Learn from social media’s ability to connect with diverse audiences.
Intergenerational trauma is not just a theoretical concept—it’s a lived experience for countless people. When we address it with nuance, depth, and compassion, family therapy can rightly reclaim its role as a space for profound transformation.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Bar-On, D., Eland, J., Kleber, R. J., Krell, R., Moore, Y., Sagi, A., & Soriano, E. (1998). Multigenerational perspectives on coping with Holocaust trauma. International Handbook of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma, 109–28.
Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York: Jason Aronson.
Danieli, Y. (Ed.). (1998). International Handbook of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma. Springer Science & Business Media.
Kirmayer, L. J., Gone, J. P., & Moses, J. (2014). Rethinking historical trauma. Transcultural Psychiatry, 51(3), 299–319.
Yehuda, R., & Lehrner, A. (2018). Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. World Psychiatry, 17(3), 243–257.