The Doctor's Art
The practice of medicine–filled with moments of joy, suffering, grace, sorrow, and hope–offers a window into the human condition. Though serving as guides and companions to patients’ illness experiences is profoundly meaningful work, the busy nature of modern medicine can blind its own practitioners to the reasons they entered it in the first place. Join resident physician Henry Bair and oncologist Tyler Johnson as they meet with doctors, patients, leaders, educators, and others in healthcare, to explore stories on finding and nourishing meaning in medicine. This podcast is for anyone striving for a deeper connection with their medical journey. Visit TheDoctorsArt.com for more information.
The Doctor's Art
Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Trauma | Mariel Buqué, PhD
It is well documented that descendants of Holocaust survivors exhibit greater levels of anxiety, depression, and vulnerability. The trauma of domestic violence can ripple through generations, with maladaptive coping mechanisms and emotional instability perpetuating subsequent cycles of trauma and dysfunction. The brutal history of slavery in the United States is seen today in the form of persistent economic disparities and ongoing social injustices, affecting mental and physical health across generations. All of this, in various forms, is intergenerational trauma. Extending beyond the individual, the emotional and psychological wounds of this type of trauma embeds itself within the family lineage through behavioral patterns, emotional responses, and even biological alterations.
Our guest on this episode is Mariel Buqué, PhD, a health psychologist who specializes in helping individuals experiencing intergenerational trauma. Her book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma (2024) reveals the invisible threads that link the past and present and highlights the necessity for healing not just individuals, but entire family systems and communities. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Buqué shares how she draws on her experiences as an Afro-Latina immigrant from the Dominican Republic in her work, how a health psychologist connects with patients, how intergenerational traumas happen and their devastating effects on individuals, families, friends, and community members, and more.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
2:00 - What drew Dr. Buqué to the field of psychology
5:19 - What health psychology is
8:40 - What occurs in a course of treatment with a psychologist
18:30 - An overview of intergenerational trauma
28:00 - The far-reaching effects of intergenerational trauma in society and how psychology can help unload the burden
35:50 - Breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma
40:30 - The role of stigma in access to mental health care
45:10 - Dr. Buqué‘s approach to building trust with patients
48:28 - How all clinicians can better empathize and connect with their patients through trauma-informed care
Dr. Mariel Buqué is the author of Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma (2024).
Dr. Buqué can be found on Instagram at @dr.marielbuque.
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