Integrative Epigenetic Relational Therapy® (IERA-Therapy®) 

What is IERA-Therapy®?

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IERA-Therapy® (Integrative Epigenetic Relational Approach) is an innovative, research-based therapeutic model developed by our Founder, Dr Novena-Chanel Davies, exclusively for The Epigenetic Relational Therapy Academy (ERTA). The certification-led approach offers a structured, scientific and integrative understanding of epigenetics, human development, cultural identity, neuroscience and the development of intergenerational trauma.

 

Training within the IERA-Therapy approach enables certified practitioners to work therapeutically with immediate trauma, intergenerationa patterns of harm, systemic oppression, and anti-oppressive practice.

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                       What is Trauma and Intergenerational Trauma?

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Trauma is often thought of as a life-threatening event or a major catastrophe, but in reality, it can be any experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope, especially when there is no support to process it. Trauma is not just about what happened, but about how it was experienced, if it has ended, and whether it was witnessed, validated, or processed.

 

This means that, at times, trauma is less about the event itself and more about its lasting emotional, neurological, and physiological impact.

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Where unprocessed trauma continues to be passed through generations, biologically and relationally, particularly within systems that further reinforce and embed its effects, intergenerational trauma becomes the predictable outcome of systemic harm.

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How Trauma affects the Brain and Body

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When a person experiences trauma, the brain and nervous system react as if the body is under immediate threat, activating the fight, flight, freeze, fawn or flop response. This is controlled by a part of the brain called the amygdala, which acts as the brain’s alarm system. If the trauma is too overwhelming, the brain struggles to process it properly, leaving the person in a heightened state of stress.

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Trauma also impacts:

• The Prefrontal Cortex (Thinking Brain) – The part of the brain responsible for rational thinking and emotional regulation may become weakened, making it harder to process emotions or feel safe.

• The Hippocampus (Memory Center) – Trauma can disrupt memory processing, leading to flashbacks, dissociation, or difficulty recalling events clearly.

• The Nervous System – Trauma keeps the nervous system on high alert, sometimes leading to chronic stress, anxiety, or physical symptoms like tension, headaches, digestive issues, and fatigue.

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Over time, if trauma is not processed, the body remains stuck in survival mode, reacting to everyday stress as if it were still in danger.

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Intergenerational Trauma: How Trauma is Passed Down

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Studies in epigenetics show that trauma can leave biological markers on DNA, influencing how stress and emotions are regulated in future generations.

​Research on Holocaust survivors, indigenous communities, and children of war survivors has shown that trauma can be inherited through:

• Learned behaviours (how caregivers respond to stress and relationships)

• Neurological programming (heightened stress responses passed to children)

• Biological changes (epigenetic markers that affect emotional regulation).

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In more simplistic terms, when your grandmother was pregnant with your mother, your mother already had the egg that later became you. Whatever your grandmother lived through, became the womb climate that housed your mother, and the environment in which her own nervous system developed. Research has also shown the effects of the father on the unborn foetus, each parent providing the genetic and behavioural basis of experience and stress regulation.  This means the effects of trauma can be seen not only in behaviour but also in biological responses, making descendants more sensitive to stress, even if they have not personally experienced the original trauma.

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IERA-Therapy®- Healing from Trauma

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The good news is that trauma can be supported through relational connection, emotional processing, and nervous system regulation. When trauma is acknowledged, processed, and witnessed in a safe environment, the brain can rewire itself, a concept known as neuroplasticity.​

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IERA-Therapy® provides a comprehensive, structured, relational methodology for addressing trauma at both the individual and systemic levels. Designed for qualified therapists, counsellors, and mental health practitioners, it combines insights from epigenetics, relational neuroscience, and trauma-informed psychotherapy.

 

The approach helps therapists work with intergenerational trauma, attachment wounds, and systemic influences, providing a relational, evidence-informed model of human development to support clients in their healing journey. From the introductory certificate course to the advanced Practitioner Certification, you are taught the theory, research, and hands-on application of becoming a robust and culturally-aware therapist.

The Epigenetic Relational Therapy Academy offers an exclusive certification, ensuring high standards in IERA-Therapy®. The certification pathways are only available through ERTA's accredited training programmes.

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Want to learn more?
Contact us to explore our training and practitioner directory.

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