Breaking the Cycle: Intergenerational Trauma, Epigenetics, and Adaptive Survival

Friday, March 27, 2026
9:30 a.m. - 12:30  p.m.

Zoom Webinar

Registration Fee: $50

OVERVIEW: Intergenerational trauma is a collection of adaptive survival responses—held in bodies, relationships, and systems—that are shaped by past environments and carried forward over time. Research in epigenetics helps explain how prolonged threat and unmet needs influence stress regulation and vulnerability across generations—without changing DNA itself. In this 3-hour webinar, participants will learn how intergenerational trauma is transmitted through relationships, environments, belief systems, and stress physiology, and how epigenetic mechanisms help “set” the nervous system for survival in dangerous or unstable contexts. Using a practical, trauma-conscious framework, we will map how unmet core needs (Safety, Connection, Regulation, Identity, and Meaning) show up across life domains and translate into predictable behavioral patterns. Participants will leave with clear language to explain intergenerational patterns, practical tools for assessment and engagement, and concrete strategies to interrupt cycles—supporting regulation, relational repair, and long-term resilience while remaining grounded in the realities of historical and systemic harm.

OBJECTIVES: After attending this Zoom webinar, the participant will be able to:

• Define intergenerational trauma as a pattern of adaptive survival responses shaped by historical, relational, biological, and systemic conditions,
• Explain how chronic stress and epigenetic processes influence nervous system regulation, contributing to the transmission of vulnerability and resilience across generations,
• Identify key transmission pathways of intergenerational trauma, including relationships, environments, belief systems, and stress physiology, 
• Apply a practical, trauma-conscious framework to map how unmet core needs (Safety, Connection, Regulation, Identity, and Meaning) show up across life domains and translate into predicatable behavioral patterns,
• Identify strategies to interrupt intergenerational cycles by supporting regulation, relational repair, and long-term resilience within historical and systemic contexts. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This continuing education Zoom webinar is designed for case managers, social workers, psychologists, therapists, counselors, and health care workers. The community is welcome to attend. 

CONTINUING EDUCATION:                                                              
Mental Health America of the Heartland is a pre-approved provider for social workers through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) Provider Number 17-007. This continuing education provider is approved 3.0 hours for social workers and accepted for psychologists, professional counselors, masters prepared psychologists, marriage and family therapists and addiction counselors.

In order to receive continuing education credit and a certificate of attendance for this Zoom webinar, you will be required to participate in the Zoom webinar. You will receive a Zoom invitation via email within a week of webinar. Also you will need to take an online exam and complete an evaluation that will be sent in a separate email after the live Zoom webinar. You must pass the test by 70%. The Zoom webinar will not be available by recording and viewing at any other time.