In this episode of Taking Up Space, host Cassie Krajewski is joined by Erika Yourdan, trauma therapist and EMDR specialist, for a powerful and illuminating conversation on generational trauma.
Together, they explore what generational trauma is, how it shows up in our lives, and the ways it’s passed down through both family dynamics and epigenetics. But this conversation doesn’t just focus on what’s heavy — it also highlights the strengths, adaptations, and resilience that are part of our inheritance.
Erika introduces the concept of "warrior genetics" — the idea that alongside trauma, we also carry ancestral strengths that can be accessed and mobilized for healing. They dive into how therapists can identify these strengths, as well as the importance of looking for "glimmers" — those micro-moments of hope, safety, and connection.
For clinicians, this episode offers grounded, practical strategies for assessing and treating generational trauma, including how to adapt EMDR to work with complex family legacies. Erika also shares a free downloadable guidefeaturing 10 powerful history-taking questions to deepen trauma assessment through a generational lens.
Whether you're a therapist or someone curious about your own healing, this episode offers a compassionate, hopeful, and deeply insightful approach to understanding and transforming what we carry — and what we can choose to let go of.
Resources Mentioned:
Free Download: History Taking with Generational Trauma
Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Card Deck
Erika Yourdan’s upcoming training on EMDR & Generational Trauma LIVE: August 21-22, 2025 | 8AM - 11:30AM MTN. Offered on demand after
Connect with Cassie Krajewski:
@inneratlastherapy | inneratlastherapy.com
@iristrainingcollective | iristrainingcollective.com
Guest Bio:
Erika is an LMFT-Supervisor, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and Clinical Fellow, EMDRIA approved consultant, and an EMDRIA approved CE provider. She is a licensed addiction counselor and a licensed chemical dependency counselor practicing in both Texas and Colorado. Erika is the practice founder for The Sum of You Counseling, PLLC, in Abilene, Texas where she regularly offers EMDR intensives and specializes in complex and generational trauma, substance use, and EMDR with couples and families. Erika is an assistant professor at National University where she provides a 1:1 teaching model to students pursuing their Master’s in Marriage in Marriage and Family Therapy. Both in therapy and in teaching roles, Erika approaches with curiosity, compassion, and an invitation to gently lean into the unknown. Outside of work, Erika enjoys connecting with nature, game nights, and watching movies with her family.
Connect with Erika: