Worksheet
Generational Trauma Therapy™: A Guided Imagery Exercise
Pain can pass down through families, and so can strength. This guided imagery exercise, created in collaboration with psychologist and intergenerational trauma expert Dr. Mariel Buqué, PhD, helps clients connect with their generational higher self. Through the image of a family tree, clients draw on the resilience of their ancestors and feel rooted and supported as they heal.
by Insight Timer in collaboration with Dr. Mariel Buqué
How to Use This Worksheet
Introduce this exercise when a client is exploring family patterns or needs a resourcing practice. Review the Family Tree of Strength first, then guide clients through the seven steps, reading slowly or using the companion practice. Allow 10 to 15 quiet minutes. Invite clients to repeat the affirmations and use the further reflection prompts after the exercise.
Who This Worksheet Is For
This worksheet is designed for therapists, counselors, and trauma-informed practitioners working with intergenerational or family-rooted pain. It also suits individuals who want a gentle, imagery-based practice to feel connected to their lineage, their resilience, and the wisdom of those who came before them.
Expected Outcomes
- Improved access to a calming inner resource through imagery
- Stronger recognition of personal challenges overcome
- Increased confidence through affirmations of resilience
- Reduction in feelings of isolation while healing
- Greater ability to hold both inherited pain and inherited strength
Related Topics
References
Buqué, M. (2024). Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. Dutton.
Yehuda, R., & Lehrner, A. (2018). Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: Putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. World Psychiatry, 17(3), 243–257.
Menakem, R. (2017). My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies. Central Recovery Press.
Holmes, E. A., & Mathews, A. (2010). Mental imagery in emotion and emotional disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(3), 349–362.
Frequently Asked Questions About Generational Trauma Therapy™: A Guided Imagery Exercise Resources
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