Psychotherapeutic Work with Intergenerational Trauma

Interrupting intergenerational cycles of trauma and violence Part I

In this presentation, Clinical Psychologist, Dr Pamela Alexander discusses the clinical significance of research findings that show that the dynamics of future intimate partner relationships and parenting abilities can be anticipated from early childhood attachments. These findings give us the possibility of considering more exactly how intergenerational patterns of neglect and abuse can predict someone’s capacity for loving relationships – both as a parent and a romantic partner. The parent-child attachment relationship can either exacerbate or mitigate the effects of a history of maltreatment on intergenerational cycles of violence. We will see that intimate partner violence both results from a history of child maltreatment and contributes to these intergenerational cycles through the impact on the child’s ability to regulate emotions and through internal working models of self and other. The trauma history of both partners in childhood is found to be important, however most parents who experienced violence in childhood do not become abusive towards their own children or partners. How are they able to interrupt the intergenerational cycle of trauma? Dr Alexander proposes that alternative sources of attachment, such as a good therapist or one non-abusive parent, can counteract the effects of a history of maltreatment and interrupt the cycle of violence before it reaches the next generation.