Why I Became a Second-Generation Trauma Therapist

I'm a second-generation trauma therapist, and my path to this work is both personal and professional. My mother and I come by this work honestly - we come from a family tree marked by nervous system dyregulation and intergenerational trauma. Together, we've worked to heal many of these wounds, and in the process, we've learned how to help others do the same. Through this work, I guide clients in restoring a healthy sense of internal safety and embodiment, reconnecting to themselves, others, and the world around them.

Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how early family experiences shape patterns, coping strategies, and the nervous system across generations. These experiences sparked a calling to help others navigate the lasting effects of trauma, reclaim safety, and rebuild connection in their lives.

While my mother's practice has focused primarily on restoring internal regulation and embodiment, my practice has grown to focus more on attachment trauma and it's impact on being relational with other humans. These can be with our family of origin, our children, our partners, our coworkers, pets (ok not quite human), or people on the street and at the grocery store. The three modalities that seem to touch this place in us are Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Meditation/Mindfulness. In a later blog post I'll try and write more about this.

Trauma doesn't just live in the mind - it lives in the body. Early experiences without felt safety leave lasting imprints on the nervous system, often showing up as dissociation, codependency, chronic pain, compulsive behaviors, or challenges in relationships. It is rewarding work because it acts to heal the lasting legacy of family trauma, so it doesn't continue to pass down to further generations.

Below is a picture of my mother and I in June 2025 in front of our family cottage in Coosheen, Ireland on the West Coast of Claire. I was able to return with my mother and my children to pay tribute to our ancestral land.