The Inheritance You Didn't Ask For: How Transgenerational Trauma Affects Women and Children in Washington DC

Who here just spent at least a month collaborating, organizing, and planning with their family? Who here is ready for therapy?! Are those two things related? Absolutely.

You know you got your hairline from your Dad’s side and your eye color from your mom. You know diabetes runs in your family, as does heart disease. Did you know that many families also pass down trauma to their loved ones? It’s not just our physical makeup and risk of disease that we inherit from our family; it is the emotional and psychological wounds as well.

For myself, my family is rooted in hard-working, salt-of-the-earth midwesterners that moved to the "big city" because hunger literally forced my grandparents to seek work. 

From there, Grandpa, a smart engineer type, who taught himself what a computer was armed with but a user manual and an early 80's, rectangular shaped Commodore computer, used his mechanical engineering skills to shift his family into a more stable financial experience. So when they moved to the big city and gained financial stability, all the fear about lack of food and money simply melted away, right?

Absolutely not.

As a child I remember my mother, who is an incredibly successful self-made businesswoman in downtown D.C., always having a look of concern and worry when writing a check at the grocery store. For what? Out of necessity? No. Out of habit, maybe. Certainly because of generational trauma. Grandma and grandpa were literally starving when they moved to the city, and that intense fear has not left our family without some tough ripping up of the roots of our generational beliefs.

This deeply embedded history is why trauma therapy is vital, particularly for the high-achieving women and DC professionals working today. We are often managing today's high-pressure deadlines while subconsciously dealing with our ancestors' fears.

The Science of Inheritance: Understanding Transgenerational Trauma

Before you were even born, you were in your mother’s womb and very susceptible to her emotional state. As your mother felt joy, her body released hormones that made you feel joy. When she felt sad, scared, or angry, her body released stress hormones that meant you experienced those same emotions.

Furthermore, you were born and raised in a house that may not always have been happy or harmonious. Your parents may have been emotionally distant or even abusive because they may have been brought up by parents who had their own reasons for being emotionally absent or abusive.

This is the essence of transgenerational trauma: Many families have unresolved trauma that works its way through one generation to the next. Those families who have dealt with addiction, chronic anxiety, terror, racism, or severe poverty often continue to pass on negative emotions, poor behaviors, low self-esteem, and maladaptive coping strategies.

The ACE Score Connection

It is crucial to understand that these emotional wounds are not just psychological; they are physical. Studies on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) show a clear connection between experiencing trauma in childhood and developing chronic health conditions later in life. 

A high ACE score is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even a shortened lifespan. Your body truly keeps the score. 

When therapists provide trauma therapy in Washington DC, they are not just working on your mind; they are working on healing your body and literally improving your long-term physical health.

Trauma therapy is especially critical when dealing with relational trauma—the pain derived from dysfunctional family bonds. Relational trauma often manifests as chronic anxiety or perfectionism, which are hallmark traits of the successful Washington DC professionals work with.

The Right Approach: Why You Need Specialized Trauma Therapy Washington DC

If you have a history of family conflict or trauma, you can be the individual who puts an end to the cycle. You can be the one who begins a new cycle, one of passing down loving communication and positive self-images.

Of course, it will take work on your part to overcome the pain of your family history. That’s why it’s a good idea to work with a therapist, counselor, or mental health professional who can offer you the right tools and coping strategies to pass down to your own children.

When seeking help, it's vital to choose a therapist in Washington DC who understands how deep these roots go and who offers specialized modalities:

1. Beyond Talk: Healing the Nervous System

Traditional talk therapy is useful, but trauma is stored in the body, not the narrative mind. This is why my practice utilizes Brainspotting. This rapid trauma release technique is a profound physiological treatment that works by accessing trauma stored deep in the subcortical brain. Brainspotting allows for rapid trauma release without requiring you to constantly re-narrate or relive the painful events. This efficiency is critical for the busy DC professional.

2. Foundational Support: Understanding Different Modalities

While trauma requires specialized processing, foundational techniques are still important. A skilled therapist might integrate techniques. For example, knowing that your therapist is also a CBT therapist means they can provide effective cognitive tools alongside the deeper trauma work. We use this comprehensive approach to ensure you get both immediate coping skills and lasting emotional resolution.

3. Professional Discretion and Location

For the high-achieving professional, confidentiality is paramount. You need a counselor in Washington DC who understands the weight of working in a city that judges relentlessly. Our office is discreetly and conveniently located in the nexus of power and business. When you choose a therapist on K street, in downtown DC, you choose a partner who understands the high stakes of your environment.

It Can Stop With You!

You don't have to carry the emotional burden of your grandparents' hunger or your parents' unresolved conflict. You can dedicate yourself to healing, not just for yourself, but for your children and future generations. Breaking the cycle of relational trauma is the most loving, powerful gift you can give your family.

If you’re interested in exploring trauma therapy in Washington DC, please get in touch with me! I’d love to help you end the cycle of trauma in your family.

Call to Action

Ready to start healing your inheritance? Contact Marina Barbosa LPC today. Marina is a specialized therapist in Washington DC, today for a confidential consultation, virtually or at our downtown D.C. office.