As a marriage and family therapist, I am reminded by the Sankofa bird from the Akan tribe in Ghana, that it is important to know where we came from. This mythical bird image has its head turned backwards, an egg in its mouth, and its feet facing forward. The word and the symbol translate to “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.” The Sankofa tells us that history serves as an important guide as we move forward in reviewing our past and how it impacts our life today.
You Are Not Here Alone
From a Family Systems perspective, I believe “you are not alone in this office.” The spirit of your ancestors are here too. By this, I am referring to the multi-generational patterns that have been passed down.
Science continues to support the notion that most of our behaviors are learned. The root of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, obsessive thoughts, health conditions, and other difficulties may not reside in your immediate life experiences or as chemical imbalances in the brain - but in the lives of our ancestors. Yes, traumatic experiences can be passed down through generations.
These emotional legacies are often hidden, encoded in everything from gene expression to everyday language. They play a far greater role in your emotional and physical health than you might think - just like the imbalance of a mobile.
This transformative approach resolves longstanding difficulties that in many cases, other forms of therapy, medications, or interventions overlook.