In this presentation, Debbie Ford will explore how dreams reveal the presence and impact of inter- generational trauma, drawing on Jungian psychology and her own lived experience. She will share two significant dreams that revealed a deep
understanding of her inner world, and illuminated parallels between early childhood experience and
what is now recognised as inter-generational trauma.

Trauma is thought of as being experiences that occur in our own lives. As individuals and societies, we endure repetitive cycles of trauma and conflict. Freud described this as having a “repetition compulsion”, the unconscious drive to re-enact unresolved, repressed trauma. These patterns can be passed down from generation to generation, shaping unconsciously. Healing becomes possible when these repressed patterns are brought to consciousness and integrated – a process Jung regarded as essential to the journey of individuation.

Dreams play a vital role in this unfolding. They provide a bridge to the hidden depths of the psyche, expressing symbols and metaphor that allow the unconscious to emerge into consciousness and facilitate healing. Debbie will illustrate how the dream-ego encounters material not only from the personal but also the collective unconscious. She will consider how dream imagery can act as a guide and a catalyst for transformation.

Participants are invited to reflect on their own dreams and any thoughts or emotions that arise during the talk.