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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
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.”
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
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.”
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Published December 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews