This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Verywell Mind:Intergenerational trauma is a new concept for a lot of people.

Yolanda Renteria, LPC:The main purpose of our body is to keep us alive, right?

Survival is the key thing for any human being.

So we will adapt our bodies to survive the environment in which we’re living.

Because we cannot live attuned to the present moment and feel relaxed if we feel a threat.

The other part is epigenetics.

Because that’s the way that you’re going to survive.

That’s the way that you’re going to avoid a lot of pain.

So then, my child is more likely to be born with that survival mechanism.

Renteria:Our survival instincts are kicking in.

A lot of people struggle with their mental health and they’re still able to do those things.

We are asking more questions and we are noticing more things.

You’re not going to be really aware that there is something different.

So, intentional learning, and if people can access therapy, I’m always going to recommend that.

Let’s say you want to be a better parent.

And after that, I could be curious.

So have some curiosity aroundWhere did I learn this?

What was the way that my family disciplined?

What was the way I was redirected when I did something wrong?

VW Mind:What are some of the hardest things to overcome as a parent or as a person?

Because it’s not only about the past, but connecting to what we have now.

Because judgment blocks our ability to be curious.

We can’t be curious and open to exploring if we already determined something is never going to change.

VW Mind:How does racism come into play when talking about issues of intergenerational trauma?

If you are faced with racism on a daily basis, how does that contribute to trauma?

It’s not only about people actually going to prison, but what happens after.

How does it disrupt a family, a community when people go to jail?

Renteria:We internalize how people see us.

It’s that internalized message that you might’t be trusted.

And that’s trauma.

Renteria:I actually feel very honored to have worked with a lot of people who are older.

And so a lot of people learn to shut their emotions down.

Anything that’s not working, just put it aside and move through.

There have been a lot of instances of distrust for the systems.

BIPOC people are underrepresented in the mental health field.

So most of the time you do have White therapists, and sometimes people have more difficulty connecting.

I think it’s so important for therapists to talk about going to therapy and normalizing therapy for themselves.

I do feel like a lot of previous generations were really numb and were really dysregulated.

VW Mind:The social media component is pretty interesting.

Other generations didn’t have this easy way to connect anonymously with other people.

Renteria:I think we’re going through a generational shift when it comes to mental health.

But I also see this shift where people are more vulnerable.

They’re talking about their emotions more, they’re talking about their internal experience more.

But anything that’s too much on one side is going to create problems.

You’re not noticing the good things that are happening.

I’m hoping that eventually, things start balancing out.

Then that at least gets them somewhere where they can actually talk more about what is impacting them personally.

And what things do you do for your own self-care?

But then there’s also a whole lot of things happening in the moment that are also fun.

I think it’s so important.

I ask people toconnect with nature, attempt to be really present when you’re connecting with nature.

Socialize, we’re social beings.

We’re built for connection.

I talk about balance.