Inter, trans, and multi-generational trauma, loss, and wisdom: – Dr Karen Treisman

Social care Ireland is delighted to have Dr Karen Treisman back this year to facilitate a full days workshop on Intergenerational trauma. This workshop is supplementary to previous events facilitated by Dr Karen Tresiman but no prior knowledge is necessary. This is an  interdisciplinary collaboration between Social care Ireland(SCI), The association of Occupational Therapist of Ireland AOTI, The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists ISLT, Irish Association of Social Work IASW and the Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute (INDI). It is funded by the National Health and Social Care Professionals Office within the HSE.

Intergenerational Trauma:

Trauma is an umbrella and broad term, and we often focus in services around certain types of traumas; but the crucial area of intergenerational, multigenerational, transgenerational, inherited, and historical trauma is often less acknowledged or spoken about. This day has a spotlight on intergenerational trauma at a collective, community, and society level such as within the context of genocide, war, and political oppression. As well as exploring the concept and experience of intergenerational trauma within a family and parenting context. This day is not focused on how to treat or intervene directly with intergenerational trauma (that is far beyond the breadth of a day and is multi layered and there are multiple different approaches which might be used) but rather intended to raise curiosity, awareness, understanding, and knowledge as to what it is, how it can show itself, how it can be transferred, some of the common patterns and themes, and why it is important to consider.

This day will support attendees to increase their knowledge and awareness this area and give some more confidence to discussing it with people and honouring and respecting its presence and legacy. There will also be an acknowledgment around some of the critiques around and limitations of the field of intergenerational trauma. We will also share different terms and ways of describing intergenerational trauma. There will be some examples of interweaving this understanding into tools such as a cultural genogram. We will also discuss some of the aspects of intergenerational hope, wisdom, and of community and collective care. There will be a combination of lecture style, small group discussions, analogies, metaphors, props, and interactive exercises. Please note whilst this is a new and different training course run by Sunflower, some of you who have attended Karen’s relational and developmental trauma and/ or genograms courses there will be some overlap and interweaving.

Biography Dr Karen Treisman 

Dr Karen Treisman, MBE, is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist who has worked in the National Health System and children’s services for several years. Karen has also worked cross-culturally in both Africa and Asia with groups ranging from former child soldiers to survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. She also is the author of 11 books/ workbooks, including the bestselling book, “The therapeutic treasure box”, and of 4 sets of therapeutic card decks.
Karen has extensive experience in the areas of trauma, parenting, adversity (ACE’s) and attachment, and works clinically using a range of therapeutic approaches with families, systems, and children in or on the edge of care, unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, and adopted children. Karen also specialises in supporting organisations and systems to move towards becoming, and to sustain adversity, culturally and, trauma-informed, infused, and responsive practice. This work focuses on creating meaningful and multi-layered cultural and paradigm shift across whole systems.