Intergenerational Trauma: Trauma As A Family Legacy?

By: Ryan Cocron, LMFT, CAADC     What is intergenerational trauma? Intergenerational trauma is a trend where people who experience trauma often pass down the effects of their trauma through both overt and covert behaviors. Overt behaviors look like perpetuating trauma through violence, aggression, or other behaviors that cause harm to the children or family of these trauma holders. Covert behaviors can be more discrete and often go unnoticed. For example, behaviors that I have often observed in clients look like a family history of anxiety, depression, or addiction. Anxious attachment, trust issues, people pleasing, and codependency are also common traits that I have observed. Why is learning about trauma important? [caption id="attachment_6741" align="alignright" width="199"] Source: Jana Sabeth via Unsplash[/caption] Something that I was told in my early work as a therapist is...