IDT musings about intergenerational issues ​and trauma

Blog submitted by Frauke Hobbs 

During the last 10 years of using IDT with many young and some older people in therapy sessions I have become increasingly aware of and interested in aspects of intergenerational trauma showing up and being processed on the IDT page.  Trauma therapists may assess these presentations as developmental and/or relational trauma, for example as the result of attachment issues with caregivers or resulting from other adverse experiences in earlier life.  
In IDT practice the indication that a psychological issue or complex has significance beyond a client’s lifetime may show up as ancient or very old parts or aspects on the page, elements that have been around for a long time, and are further revealed via archetypal components and forces once we work at depth with clients.  It could be as obvious as clients’ ancestors being identified or named on the page when working through a relational, family or intergenerational issue.  By the time clients get to about the third page of writing and drawing, archetypal themes, characters, objects and story lines of fables, legends or fairy tales may show up that carry intergenerational significance.

It is helpful to look out for clients’ spatial or time context descriptions of what is beyond, behind, above or below and ancient, pre-historic, very old or been around for a long time.  I am always on the look-out for potent drawing cues that lead people into a bigger and more expanded perspective beyond the limits of our constructs of time and place. You never know whether this could lead to a more enlightened perspective on how the resolution of seemingly personal issues or challenges could also help resolve bigger and more far-reaching issues concerning our ancestors and future generations to come. 
Here are some examples of drawing cues that could help uncover intergenerational issues:
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• Show what’s below/behind/above/beyond an identified problem.
• Show what was before/will be after a certain issue.
• Show someone or something on the page that has been around for a long time.
• Show something unexpected/not what it seems.
  
  

I am sure that readers of this IDT newsletter could come up with other examples of IDT drawings and writings indicating the presence of intergenerational issues, challenges and struggles.  Could processing them with IDT turn them into opportunities?
 
Frauke works as an IDT practitioner in her private practice Beyond Talk Therapy and is researching the use and benefits of IDT in recovering from trauma.  Frauke co-facilitates the monthly, online IDT Peer Support Group and supports the development of this Expressive Therapy modality through an IDT Custodian Group.  
For more information about Frauke go to: https://www.beyondtalktherapy.com.au