Releasing Our Burdens: A Guide to Healing Individual, Ancestral, and Collective Trauma

"The authors' definition of trauma is valuably broad and complex, and their concepts are unpacked in nonjudgmental terms. It's a solid addition to the rising tide of literature on trauma." --Publishers Weekly

A groundbreaking collaboration between Dr. Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Dr. Thomas Hübl, renowned teacher and trauma healing facilitator, on healing individual, ancestral, and collective trauma to reclaim resilience and transform our world

We often view trauma as a personal wound to heal on our own--but trauma is rarely just an individual issue. It is shaped by ancestral burdens passed down through generations and by the collective pain we experience from the world around us. Beloved teachers Richard Schwartz and Thomas Hübl bring together their wisdom to chart a new path forward that addresses these deeper layers of wounding, so we can heal ourselves, our communities, and our world.

In this powerful book, Hübl and Schwartz help us understand why individual trauma cannot be separated from the legacies of shared past and present traumas. The authors explore their respective approaches to trauma healing and how these modalities can work together. Schwartz is the creator of IFS, a highly effective, evidence-based therapeutic approach that teaches that we all contain many parts--and also have an undamaged, healing Self. Hübl has done powerful work on trauma healing, particularly collectively and in groups. Together, they offer methods and practices that help us begin to:

- Release beliefs and emotions that no longer serve us
- Break cycles of harm
- Expand our awareness
- Become more compassionate and curious as we heal

A chapter from Fatimah Finney, a licensed mental health counselor and a trainer at the IFS Institute, helps us apply these methods to the wounds caused by social injustices, such as racial bias and oppression. Through this work, Hübl shares, "We can unload the burden and create a more flourishing world."

Author: Thomas Hübl,Richard Schwartz
Publisher: St. Martin's Essentials / Sounds True
Published: 12/02/2025
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.53lbs
Size: 8.97h x 6.10w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781649634108


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/22/2025

About the Author

Thomas Hübl, PhD, is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator whose work integrates modern science with the insights of humanity's wisdom traditions. He is the author of Healing Collective Trauma and Attuned.

Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, is the creator of Internal Family Systems and founder of the IFS Institute. He is currently on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and has written several books, including No Bad Parts.