A Transpersonal and Humanistic Approach to Healing Trauma

Can We Separate Personal Trauma from Family Systems, Collective Suffering, and Intergenerational Trauma?

Trauma as defined by Mind, is ‘when we experience very stressful, frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control’. It is a multifaceted phenomenon that extends far beyond individual experience. Trauma is not only a psychological wound but a spiritual and bodily imprint that affects the whole person.

‘Trauma is an injury to the capacity to feel.’ – Donald Kalsched

When we discuss trauma, it is crucial to recognize that it is not just personal, but often deeply connected to family systems, collective suffering, and even intergenerational patterns. These forms of trauma are passed down through familial and societal structures. In addition, they shape how individuals experience the world and relate to others. Addressing such complex trauma, especially in transpersonal therapy and contemporary humanistic and existential psychotherapy, it is possible to heal both individual wounds and the broader wounds of systems and culture.

Whose Trauma is it? Personal Trauma vs. Family and Collective Trauma

At first glance, personal trauma and family systems trauma might seem like distinct categories. However, they are often deeply intertwined. Personal trauma refers to an individual’s direct experience with overwhelming or life-threatening events, such as abuse, loss, or violence. And then, this trauma becomes encoded in the psyche, often manifesting as anxiety, depression, dissociation, or physical symptoms.

On the other hand, family systems trauma refers to the trauma experienced within a family unit or passed down through generations. According to family systems theory, trauma within the family can create repeating patterns of behavior, beliefs, and emotional responses that affect every member. For instance, a parent’s unresolved trauma, such as neglect or addiction, can result in emotional dysregulation in children, who then may carry forward the same emotional burdens. Moreover, these dynamics are not just psychological but can influence how we relate to ourselves and others.

Collective trauma, in a broader sense, refers to the shared suffering of a group or society, such as that resulting from war, cultural oppression, or systemic racism. This collective wound can be inherited in the collective unconscious, affecting individuals at a societal level. Furthermore, it influences everything from societal norms to unconscious biases, often manifesting in widespread psychological distress and cultural fragmentation.

“The polyvagal theory explains how an individual ‘s felt sense of either safety or danger is deeply connected to his or her social environment.” – Thomas Hubl

Intergenerational trauma—a term popularized by the work of Juden and Danieli—refers to the transmission of trauma from one generation to the next, whether through behavioral patterns, family dynamics, or unresolved grief. As a result, intergenerational trauma isn’t only psychological but can also be stored in the body, influencing physical health and responses to stress.
Although personal trauma can feel like a separate entity, its connection to family and collective suffering is inseparable. These different forms of trauma inform each other and create layers of unresolved pain that must be addressed for true healing.

Trauma in the Mind, Spirit, and Body

“Trauma is residue that’s living inside of you now” – Van der Kolk

Effects of trauma are not confined to the mind; it also affects the body and spirit. Somatic experiences of trauma manifest as tension, chronic pain, and physical ailments. These may even be carried for generations in the form of epigenetic changes. These bodily responses are ways in which trauma is stored, preventing the individual from fully integrating their experiences. The body remembers what the mind cannot. It holds onto the residue of pain long after the traumatic event has passed.

”…the collective psyche of all humanity… “We are both I and we, body and society, psyche and culture.” – Thomas Hubl

On a spiritual level, trauma can disrupt the individual’s sense of meaning and connection to the sacred. This often leads to a loss of purpose, alienation from self, or a feeling of disconnection from the world. In transpersonal psychotherapy, this spiritual aspect is central, as trauma can profoundly affect the soul’s evolution and its connection to the divine or higher consciousness.

“A person is always in a social context; he is not an isolated unit.” – Roberto Assagioli

For example, a child growing up in an abusive family may not only carry psychological scars (e.g., anxiety, depression). They may also feel disconnected from their soul’s purpose. Or they may experience spiritual confusion, leading to a fractured sense of identity. Equally, collective trauma, such as oppression or war, can leave individuals feeling spiritually adrift, as they struggle to find meaning in a world where suffering seems rampant.

Healing Through Transpersonal Therapy: Soul Awakening and Self-Realization

“Human suffering anywhere, concerns men and women everywhere.” – Eli Wiesel

Transpersonal psychotherapy addresses trauma by acknowledging not only the psychological wounds but also spiritual and bodily aspects of individuals. The primary aim is to help individuals awaken to their higher Self and reconnect with their soul’s purpose. There is potential to unlearn the limiting stories created by trauma. Transpersonal therapy (and therefore Psychosynthesis therapy) is not just about treating symptoms, but about helping clients experience soul-level healing and self-realization.

The concept of soul awakening in transpersonal psychology, especially as defined by figures like Assagioli and Firman & Gila, is central to healing. For instance, Assagioli’s Psychosynthesis therapy emphasizes the importance of the higher Self—a state of consciousness that transcends ego and trauma. Healing occurs when individuals reconnect with this deeper sense of self, allowing them to integrate fragmented experiences and move beyond the constrictions of trauma.

“The Self is pure Being. It is contentless and transcends superconscious experience” – Diana Whitmore

Disconnection from Self

In transpersonal therapy, trauma is seen as a disconnection from Self and the divine. By including meditation, visualization, and spiritual practices, therapists guide clients to explore their inner worlds and reconnect with their authentic being. This work helps clients tap into the superconscious and transcend the limitations imposed by past wounds. For instance, by engaging in self-exploration, individuals may come to understand that their trauma does not define them; rather, it is part of their broader spiritual journey. There is an opportunity for deeper growth and awakening.

A critical aspect of transpersonal therapy is the ability to integrate personal, familial, and collective traumas. By recognizing that individual trauma is often a manifestation of family systems dynamics or societal structures, transpersonal therapy allows clients to transcend their personal narrative and reconnect with the universal truths that unite all human beings. In this way, transpersonal therapy creates a healing space that addresses both individual wounds and the broader collective unconscious.

Gabor Maté and Contemporary Humanistic Approaches

Gabor Maté, a leading figure in contemporary humanistic and trauma-informed therapy, emphasizes the connection between mind, body, and spirit in healing trauma. Maté’s work focuses on how trauma, especially in early childhood, affects both the body and the psyche, and he stresses that addiction, depression, and physical illnesses are often the manifestations of unhealed trauma.

“Trauma is the invisible force that shapes our lives. It shapes the way we live, the way we love and the way we make sense of the world. It is the root of our deepest wounds.”              – Gabor Maté

He argues that trauma, especially when experienced in early life, distorts the true self—what he calls the authentic self—and forces individuals to live in accordance with external expectations, suppressing their emotional needs and spiritual yearnings. Healing the primal wound, in his view, requires reconnecting with one’s true self, which is accomplished by acknowledging the pain caused by trauma, integrating it, and ultimately reclaiming personal power.

Maté’s approach mirrors transpersonal principles in that it places great emphasis on compassionate self-awareness and spiritual healing. He encourages clients to approach their trauma with self-compassion (see The Art of Self-Forgiveness article), recognizing that healing involves integrating all aspects of the self—the body, mind, and spirit—and not just focusing on the cognitive or emotional dimensions.

Existential Therapy and the Search for Meaning

Existential psychotherapy also offers valuable tools for healing trauma, especially when it comes to existential questions of meaning, freedom, identity, and death. Renowned Existential therapist Irvin Yalom argues that trauma can disrupt an individual’s ability to find meaning in their life, often leading to existential anxiety and despair.

“[Anxiety] is an experience of threat which carries both anguish and dread, indeed, the most painful and basic threat which any being can suffer, for it is the threat of loss of existence itself.” – Rollo May

Existential perspectives encourages individuals to confront the absurdity of existence and to take responsibility for creating meaning in their lives, despite the suffering that trauma may bring. In this framework, trauma is not just something that happens to an individual—it is part of the larger human condition, and the search for meaning within that context can lead to spiritual awakening and personal transformation.

In existential therapy, healing occurs through authentic self-exploration, confronting suffering directly, and coming to terms with the limits of human existence. By embracing the freedom to make meaning out of life’s challenges, clients can transcend the limiting effects of their trauma, giving them the power to reclaim their identity and potential.

Conclusion: The Path to Healing

Healing trauma is not simply a matter of resolving individual pain; it is about reclaiming the whole self—the mind, body, and spirit—and reconnecting with the soul’s purpose. Transpersonal therapy, along with contemporary humanistic and existential approaches, provides a powerful framework for healing personal, familial, and collective trauma. These approaches offer tools for soul awakening and self-realization, guiding individuals toward a deeper understanding of their trauma within the context of the broader human experience.

By addressing trauma on every level—psychological, somatic, and spiritual—transpersonal therapy helps clients integrate their wounds, transforming them from sources of suffering into opportunities for growth and empowerment. Whether through self-compassion, spiritual practices, or existential exploration, the journey toward healing involves reconnecting with the Self, the soul, and the larger collective, allowing individuals to reclaim their sense of purpose, resilience, and interconnectedness. In this process, the therapeutic relationship becomes a sacred container for self-discovery and transformation, where deep wounds are acknowledged, held with compassion, and ultimately transcended. By embracing both the darkness and the light within, clients can emerge from their healing journey more whole, embodied, and aligned with their true essence.

Further Reading:
Comas-Diaz, L. (2020) Liberation Psychology: Theory, Method, Practice and Social Justice. USA. American Psychological Association.
Firman, J and Gila, A. (1997) The Primal Wound. USA. State University of New York Press.
Hillman, J. (1997) The Soul’s Code London. Bantam Press
Hubl, T. (2020) Healing Collective Trauma. USA. Sounds True
Moore, T. (1992) Care of the Soul. New York. Harper Collins
Ruppert, F. (2019) Who Am I In A Traumatised and Traumatising Society. UK. Green Balloon Publ.
Van der Kolk, B. (2015) The Body Keeps the Score New York. Penguin Books

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