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Releasing Our Burdens: A Guide to Healing Individual, Ancestral, and Collective Trauma
Acclaimed authors Richard Schwartz and Thomas Hübl teach us how healing trauma can empower us to reclaim resilience and transform our world.
Too often, we assume that our trauma is an individual wound, and that we can only heal it through individual work. In truth, our trauma is shaped by so much more than our own experience—we’re impacted by ancestral trauma from previous generations as well as collective trauma from the world around us. Beloved teachers Thomas Hübl and Richard Schwartz bring together their wisdom to chart a new path forward that addresses all of these sources of pain, so we can heal ourselves and also our communities and world.
In this powerful collaboration, Hübl and Schwartz help us understand why individual trauma cannot be separated from the legacies of shared past and present traumas. Each author offers an overview of their healing modality and how they work together. Schwartz is the creator of Internal Family Systems, a highly effective, evidence-based therapeutic approach that teaches 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 teach methods and practices that help us begin to release beliefs and emotions that no longer serve us, break cycles of harm, expand our awareness, and become more compassionate and curious as we heal. Through this work, Hübl shares, “we can unload the burden and create a more flourishing world.”
Too often, we assume that our trauma is an individual wound, and that we can only heal it through individual work. In truth, our trauma is shaped by so much more than our own experience—we’re impacted by ancestral trauma from previous generations as well as collective trauma from the world around us. Beloved teachers Thomas Hübl and Richard Schwartz bring together their wisdom to chart a new path forward that addresses all of these sources of pain, so we can heal ourselves and also our communities and world.
In this powerful collaboration, Hübl and Schwartz help us understand why individual trauma cannot be separated from the legacies of shared past and present traumas. Each author offers an overview of their healing modality and how they work together. Schwartz is the creator of Internal Family Systems, a highly effective, evidence-based therapeutic approach that teaches 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 teach methods and practices that help us begin to release beliefs and emotions that no longer serve us, break cycles of harm, expand our awareness, and become more compassionate and curious as we heal. Through this work, Hübl shares, “we can unload the burden and create a more flourishing world.”
224 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 27, 2025
Pages 67-71 dedicated to whitewashing the colonising of Palestine by Israel. Absolutely rich considering the book talks about how colonisation can exile groups of people. What about the Palestinians?
Very underhanded to follow up the pro-Israel chapter with a chapter from a black Muslim practitioner. Way to whitewash.
IFS is not a bad framework, but it feels tainted by American-Zionist bigotry.
Update the book acknowledging that Israel is a settler colonial project and I will rethink my rating.
Very underhanded to follow up the pro-Israel chapter with a chapter from a black Muslim practitioner. Way to whitewash.
IFS is not a bad framework, but it feels tainted by American-Zionist bigotry.
Update the book acknowledging that Israel is a settler colonial project and I will rethink my rating.
December 3, 2025
This book illustrates what trauma healing looks like when the best therapists at the top of their game are doing their finest work. This book is a masterclass, and the premise of this book makes sense: true healing addresses not just the individual in isolation but the generations of familial and collective trauma that the individual carries by addressing painful legacy burdens. Illuminating, deeply moving, and heartfelt, this book lands in all the right ways. What the world would be if all our mothers and fathers and all of us did this kind of brave, exciting, truly exquisite work.
All the therapists featured in this book are excellent (Richard Schwartz, Fatimah Finney, Thomas Hubl). This book is for everyone, but I wanted to highlight something for therapists reading this book. Thomas Hubl’s level of presence is so next level. Please read his transcript. I felt something shift/heal in me just reading his words. His description of dissociation and his way of dealing with trauma were spot on.
Overall, for me, this book, more than anything, felt hopeful. I feel I am walking away feeling an abundance of hope and feeling reenergized in all the best ways.
All the therapists featured in this book are excellent (Richard Schwartz, Fatimah Finney, Thomas Hubl). This book is for everyone, but I wanted to highlight something for therapists reading this book. Thomas Hubl’s level of presence is so next level. Please read his transcript. I felt something shift/heal in me just reading his words. His description of dissociation and his way of dealing with trauma were spot on.
Overall, for me, this book, more than anything, felt hopeful. I feel I am walking away feeling an abundance of hope and feeling reenergized in all the best ways.
January 15, 2026
I requested a digital ARC of "Releasing Our Burdens" from NetGalley because of the topic, the authors’ credible backgrounds in trauma work, and its publication by Sounds True, a company whose books I’ve consistently found thoughtful and helpful.
The book integrates Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems (IFS) model with Thomas Hübl’s work on collective and intergenerational trauma. The central idea—that emotional burdens are shaped not only by personal experience but also by family systems and historical forces—felt timely and meaningful. I appreciated the clear explanation of IFS before the discussion expands to collective healing.
This is a dense, reflective read rather than a practical how-to, but its emphasis on presence, curiosity, and compassion stood out. It will most appeal to readers already interested in trauma-informed work, spirituality, or personal growth.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Sounds True, and the authors for providing a digital ARC to read and review.
The book integrates Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems (IFS) model with Thomas Hübl’s work on collective and intergenerational trauma. The central idea—that emotional burdens are shaped not only by personal experience but also by family systems and historical forces—felt timely and meaningful. I appreciated the clear explanation of IFS before the discussion expands to collective healing.
This is a dense, reflective read rather than a practical how-to, but its emphasis on presence, curiosity, and compassion stood out. It will most appeal to readers already interested in trauma-informed work, spirituality, or personal growth.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Sounds True, and the authors for providing a digital ARC to read and review.
February 7, 2026
10-15 years ago I was pretty involved with Family Constellations, from which some of Thomas Hübl's collective healing ideas come from, and have had a few sessions of IFS. So that background set some of the expectations for me. I imagined there would be some conceptual integration.
Well both of the authors prefer quite simple concepts actually so what there is are some pretty low-key ideas how to start from parts and release their burdens (a very fitting metaphorical term for any persistent emotions they have) with a view that some of them might be transgenerational as well as cultural. A chapter about racism for example.
It's a quite disjointed book but I suppose if one brings oneself totally into it, it sort of comes together. As other reviewers have pointed, the transcripts are what's good about the book. I also liked finding some of my own ideas and experiences validated.
Well both of the authors prefer quite simple concepts actually so what there is are some pretty low-key ideas how to start from parts and release their burdens (a very fitting metaphorical term for any persistent emotions they have) with a view that some of them might be transgenerational as well as cultural. A chapter about racism for example.
It's a quite disjointed book but I suppose if one brings oneself totally into it, it sort of comes together. As other reviewers have pointed, the transcripts are what's good about the book. I also liked finding some of my own ideas and experiences validated.
March 17, 2026
Such mixed feelings about this book. I want to highlight other comments about Fatimah Finney not being acknowledged as a co-author. I don’t think a book about ancestral trauma should be written by a cis-het white man, at all. There were a lot of aspects not helpful for those who are not religious. Not to mention, the worst part for me was referring to the genocide in Gaza as “conflict” - WHILE MENTIONING SETTLER COLONIALISM AND ETHNIC CLEANSING EARLIER. Soooo problematic. Not okay at all. Newer editions of the book should not highlight a Zionist’s views. There was a lot missing about race except for in Fatimah’s chapter.
April 27, 2026
This is the second IFS book I've read by Richard Schwartz, the other being No Bad Parts. I feel like this book was a beautiful extension from doing the foundation into ancestral wounds, collective trauma, and they even move into how to process death/dying at the end. This was a really beautiful book. There was a section on our racist parts, which as a white woman, I noticed the resistant parts coming up right away! The ancestors grumbled their way through the legacy burdens chapter too.
I really love Dick Schwartz's work. I can feel the heart that he brings into his writing. If you have the option, check out the audio book which is a nice guide for the practice parts!
I really love Dick Schwartz's work. I can feel the heart that he brings into his writing. If you have the option, check out the audio book which is a nice guide for the practice parts!
January 8, 2026
Ir was a good read.
January 21, 2026
The ancestral trauma section hit extremely hard for me. Very useful with many great ideas for healing.
March 1, 2026
Mixed bag for me. Lots that I connected with and really appreciated. Some felt a bit too woo-woo.
March 21, 2026
Really beautiful book for anyone into parts work. Covers so many different macro levels of the approach of parts work for the world but also within ourselves
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews