327 - The Lights and Shadows of Our Past: Toward an Improved Understanding of Intergenerational Trauma

Session Description: We are fortunate to be in a place and time that has access to more research, understanding, and treatment options than ever before. Despite this privilege, we have seen deaths related to substance use disorders steadily increase over the past 20 years in the United States. This calls us to deeply consider, explore, and develop how we may best support others in need. A critical space for improvement exists in how we view and integrate family systems and intergenerational factors into clinical care.
Therefore, this session will focus on family system and intergenerational dynamics as a means of improving current understandings of trauma and the emergence of acute clinical presentations like substance use disorders. The session will present an integrative definition of trauma that draws on key findings from the areas of neuroscience, genetics, and psychology. The session will highlight considerations for informing comprehensive clinical care including aligning modalities and interventions to effectively address presenting issues and engaging in meaningful family system assessment and care. Attendees will benefit from information and perspectives that will further understanding of how to integrate intergenerational and family system considerations into direct practice.