Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma (2024) by Dr. Mariel Buqué
Dr. Mariel Buqué wrote the book she needed in the hopes she was not alone in her calling to become an intergenerational cycle-breaker. With her unique personal and professional experiences, Dr. Buqué has not only helped to identify and define the concept of intergenerational trauma–a form of trauma that transcends generations and is transmitted via both biological and experiential avenues, but has also developed a comprehensive and nuanced protocol to treat the complex and multi-dimensional nature of intergenerational trauma that utilizes traditional and holistic methodologies to allow for more integrative healing (of mind, body, and soul) to achieve a sense of wholeness. This book acts as a guide for individuals to guide their own healing (with a pointed note at the beginning of the book about seeking professional help) and/or clinicians to support their clients through this protocol and providing a “comprehensive recipe to shedding intergenerational trauma” through a combination of scientific research and theory, personal and professional anecdotes to help exemplify the need and application of the material, as well as detailed practices such as exercises, writing prompts, reflection questions, and consistent encouragement to pause and take breaks and reflect on how the material is affecting you (body, mind, and spirit).
How was this book recommended to me? I don’t remember
Would I recommend this to my colleagues? Yes
Would I recommend this to my clients? Yes
How do I apply this content to my work: Since I have initiated my own de-colonizing journey (both personally and professionally), I have been exploring the concept of intergenerational/ancestral trauma. I have personally had the experience of feeling like I was carrying legacy burdens that were not mine and working on finding ways to heal that. As I explore this for myself, I am able to see this in some of my clients as well. To assess for bias, I check in with them about the patterns I am noticing in them to confirm if they resonate and get their consent about continuing to explore these patterns. And I think learning more about Dr. Buqué’s healing protocol could be incredibly beneficial to apply to guide my clients’ healing (as well as my own). Given that I am already a trauma therapist, this seems like it just adds another layer to my work with my clients; more depth to the healing. As a dance/movement therapist and a social worker, I also appreciate her holistic approach to healing via integration of mind, body, and spirit (and I appreciate the nod/shout-out to dance/movement therapy in the book). I am going to continue to explore this concept and this protocol in more depth and integrate it with my approach to healing trauma with my unique combination of credentials and lenses as a social worker, addictions counselor, and dance/movement therapist.
If you live in WA state and feel like you would be comfortable processing accumulated trauma with a female-identified therapist in a white body to release intergenerational trauma you may be carrying, contact me. Let’s schedule a free 15-minute consultation and see if we might be a good fit to work together.
