Breaking Free from Generational Trauma and Emotional Blocks Through Community
Therapin*y Kapwa Network’s FILIPINO MENTAL HEALTH & HEALING SERIES, Ep. 1:
Breaking Free from Generational Trauma and Emotional Blocks Through Community
Written by Phoebecates Perez,
Founder, Dream Builders
Co-Lead, Therapin*y Kapwa Network Hawai’i Chapter
Healing is both an individual and collective journey, and through community, we can magnify its impact. Just as we’ve inherited our pain, we heal through others. Community is essential in this process.When we come together in safe, supportive spaces, we create a powerful environment where deep healing can unfold. In these moments—when we are witnessed, supported, and understood—we have the courage to face what we’ve buried, release it, and choose peace over the war within.
But ultimately, the healing we seek starts within. The peace we long for, the end of the internal struggle, begins with our choices. We have the power to say, “It ends with me.” The cycles of generational trauma and emotional pain do not have to continue. We are the ones who can break the chains, reclaim our emotional freedom, and choose to live in peace.
How You Can Start Your Healing Journey in Community:
Harness the Power of Your Breath in Group Healing:
Breath is the key to unlocking stored trauma. In a group setting, somatic breathwork allows you to feel the collective release of deeply held emotions. Together, we breathe. Together, we heal. Each breath is a step toward peace—within yourself and for those who came before you.
Break Free from Cultural Expectations—Together:
Cultural pressures like hiya (shame) and pakikisama (harmony) often silence our true feelings. But healing happens when we let go of these expectations and allow ourselves to feel in the presence of others. We find the courage in the community to break free from these limitations and embrace authenticity.
Reconnect Body,Mind, and Community:
True healing involves reconnecting with your body and soul, but it is magnified when done with others. Group healing practices—such as yoga, meditation, and somatic therapy—offer the profound realization that you are not alone. Healing is a shared experience, and together, we rise.
Healing is a Choice—Let it End with You.
Healing is a choice, and that choice starts within. The war ends when we decide to release the pain. The peace we seek begins when we choose to heal. And in the community, we can make that choice together. Let it end with you. Together, we heal. Together, we rise.
