Freedom in the Tension: Navigating Intergenerational Trauma, Attachment, and Cultural Expectations

Abstract

This capstone investigates how intergenerational trauma impacts emotional resilience and attachment in immigrant and Indigenous families. It explores how trauma is transmitted across generations through attachment disruptions, cultural conflict, and systemic oppression. Drawing on trauma theory, Attachment Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the project presents a holistic framework for understanding and supporting second-generation and trauma-affected clients. The proposed Bridging Families Model integrates psychoeducation, cultural identity work, and parts-based therapy to support attachment repair and emotional healing. This project is grounded in both personal experience and clinical work, offering clinicians culturally responsive tools to work with clients navigating inherited trauma. By understanding the emotional and cultural complexities of intergenerational trauma, therapists can foster healing that honours both ancestry and autonomy.