What ‘Encanto’ Can Teach Clinicians About Intergenerational Trauma

As a Latinx psychologist, I enjoyed Disney’s newest animated film, Encanto, at many levels. The first time I watched Encanto, my Latina inner child reclined back at the theater and reveled while watching a Disney movie that had it all. This movie, with a full Latinx cast and sprinkled with my native Spanish language, is of a family with special powers, in a magical house no less, and portrays characters who look like me.

I was elated that Disney chose a matriarch, the stoic Abuela Alma Madrigal, to lead and keep the family together, as opposed to the traditional male figure typically seen in Latinx and other collectivist cultures. Alma, a word which translates into “soul,” is just what this Abuela and most Abuelas are for Latinx families: the soul of the clan. She keeps them together, infuses them with moral and cultural values, and although she runs a tight ship, she has the best of intentions. Tears were shed at the beauty of this magical world which made me feel like I was back “home.”

A deeper dive into Encanto is not as magical and content, however. Themes of immigration and displacement as well as intergenerational transmission of trauma which are very real issues faced by Latinx and other communities soon emerge. At the beginning of the movie, Alma and Pedro Madrigal are shown being displaced from their home country and forced to flee to a new land. In the process, Alma loses her husband and becomes the single mother of triplets. The matriarch suffers major loss and trauma at the outset of the movie, trauma from which she never fully recovers. This untreated trauma is then passed on to subsequent generations as we see throughout the movie.

Following the tragedy, Alma receives the gift of a magical candle which grants her children and descendants magical gifts as well as the refuge of a magical casita. Alma suffers so much loss that she becomes overprotective, and everything must be perfect. She focuses on everyone’s magical gifts and what they contribute as opposed to each as a person. This is her coping mechanism and what she unconsciously believes will prevent future loss of her loved ones.

In coping with her own trauma, Alma inadvertently transmits trauma to her children and grandchildren. Just like the casita which literally cracks under the pressure, the family members are figuratively doing the same. Bruno was exiled from the family for being different, Pepa is not allowed to express her emotions, Luisa breaks down from a “heavy burden,” Isabela is destined to a loveless marriage, Camilo morphs into anyone but himself, and finally Mirabel is ostracized for not having any magical powers although she is the most powerful of all. It is only after Mirabel helps Alma realize she needs to re-sort her priorities that the family and by extension the casita build a stronger foundation and have a fresh start.

Like the magical Madrigals, my grandparents left our country of origin following a horrific 31-year dictatorship and an ensuing civil war. Similarly, many of my clients are immigrants and refugees who have been forced to flee their country of origin due to warfare, extreme poverty, trauma such as domestic violence, sexual assault, political persecution, and many other traumas. They seek a refuge in our country where they often encounter additional issues and yet more trauma.

Given their past, trauma survivors tend to minimize issues, such as poor communication or family conflicts, which pale in comparison to their traumatic experiences. Unfortunately, they often move forward without processing their harrowing past and continue the intergenerational transmission of trauma.

Children and their children’s children learn maladaptive coping styles from their predecessors. Neutral stimuli may begin to provoke fear and anxiety. As a therapist, it is important to identify intergenerational transmission of trauma and its effects if present and when possible. The steps below are an abridged version and some tips to follow to achieve this goal.

1. Begin by establishing rapport and creating a safe environment. Although establishing rapport and creating a safe environment are important with any treatment, it is more so in trauma work, as a safe environment facilitates trauma disclosures and processing. Be sure to validate your client’s efforts in discussing this highly distressing topic with you.


2. A thorough intake assessment is highly recommended. Besides gathering pertinent clinical information, be sure to consider cultural factors in your client’s assessment.


3. Make use of your resources: in addition to talk therapy, nonverbal therapies such as play therapy and sand tray therapy are great ways to help disclose and process trauma.


4. Break the silence. Telling one’s story has been found to be salubrious both physically and psychologically.


5. Finally, embrace change. This is easier said than done, of course. The therapeutic journey may be painful at times, but the end result is well worth it. Like the lovely Encanto song by Sebastian Yatra, Dos Oruguitas, “Caterpillar don’t hold on too tight…” Transformation can be quite freeing.