Encoded Behaviors: How Epigenetics Shapes the Hidden Patterns of Trauma

What if the pain we carry didn’t begin with us—but was written into us?

In our latest episode of The Light Inside, we explore a transformative lens on human behavior, one rooted in emerging insights from epigenetics and neurogenetic encoding. With guest Len May, CEO of EndoDNA, we peel back the biological layers of trauma to reveal how primary, secondary, and ancillary behavior patterns may be deeply informed by inherited predispositions—long before they ever surface in a client’s conscious awareness.

Trauma as Biological Inheritance

For years, trauma-informed care has focused on psychological narratives: what happened, how it felt, and how to rebuild meaning from distress. But today’s science is showing us there’s more to the story. Studies now suggest that trauma doesn’t just leave emotional scars—it leaves biological signatures. These epigenetic markers, passed down across generations, can modulate gene expression, influencing how we regulate emotion, process fear, or respond to chronic stress.

This means that what looks like maladaptive behavior—emotional numbing, avoidance, even treatment-resistant depression—might not just be about poor coping or faulty thinking. It may be encoded.

Patterns Within Patterns: What Epigenetics Reveals

When we look at human behavior through a trauma-informed lens, we begin to map behaviors as primary, secondary, and ancillary responses:

• Primary patterns emerge directly from genetic and neurobiological predispositions—like hypervigilance, dysregulated sleep, or neurotransmitter imbalances.
• Secondary patterns develop in response to primary imprints—think coping mechanisms such as emotional detachment, perfectionism, or cognitive overcontrol.
• Ancillary patterns often manifest as distractions or misdirections—like substance misuse, people-pleasing, or identity confusion.

Len May’s work with genetic testing platforms like EndoDNA helps illuminate how these patterns may be predicted, tracked, and better understood using full-genome analysis and pharmacogenomic insights. In therapeutic settings, this level of insight allows clinicians to move away from trial-and-error treatment models and toward individualized, data-informed care.

From Guesswork to Precision: Why It Matters

When we ignore epigenetic data, we risk labeling biologically influenced behaviors as personal failings—or worse, treating symptoms that aren’t rooted in the current moment. But when we embrace the complexity of genetic influence, we open space for deeper compassion, clearer diagnosis, and more targeted healing.

In trauma-informed therapy, this means:

Supporting clients with treatment-resistant conditions using data-informed alternatives

Framing inherited trauma not as “brokenness,” but as biological legacy with modifiable expression

Guiding identity reconstruction with both emotional awareness and neurobiological clarity

Why This Episode Matters for Therapists

This episode speaks directly to therapists, clinicians, and behavioral health professionals seeking to bridge science with practice. It’s for those navigating epistemic humility—who know that while we may not have all the answers, we can ask better questions when we understand the body's role in the mind’s distress.

If you’re working with clients who feel stuck, dysregulated, or burdened by patterns they can’t explain—this conversation may offer a new path forward.

🎧 Tune into “Encoded Behaviors” and explore how the stories written in our genes shape the stories we tell in therapy.

Link to listen: Episode 225

Schedule a follow-up training or workshop: Len May