Transgenerational Trauma and Institutional Dynamics: A Systemic Narrative Intervention in a Child Protection Case

Abstract

Healthcare, educational, and social care institutions are frequently affected by what has been conceptualised in psychoanalytic and systemic literature as “transgenerational ghosts”—unprocessed traumatic experiences transmitted across generations, which shape individuals’ relationships to themselves, others, and the world. These unresolved dynamics do not remain confined to the individual or family system but may extend into institutional settings, where they contribute to relational tensions, fragmentation, and therapeutic impasses among professionals. Drawing on a clinical case within the child protection system, this article examines how transgenerational trauma can manifest as multi-level dissociative processes, affecting intrapsychic functioning, interpersonal relationships, and institutional dynamics. Particular attention is given to the emergence of polarised representations of the child across professional teams and to the resulting difficulties in coordinated care. In response to these challenges, the article presents a collective systemic narrative-based intervention designed to facilitate the transformation of dissociative dynamics into processes of emotional and symbolic re-association. By mobilising metaphor, role-taking, and shared narrative construction, this approach enables the integration of fragmented perspectives and supports the restoration of coherence within the institutional system. The findings highlight the importance of addressing transgenerational trauma not only at the individual and familial levels but also within the institutional contexts in which care is provided.