Break the Cycle

A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma

By: Mariel Buqué

Narrated by: Mariel Buqué

***The Instant National Bestseller***

A Next Big Idea Club must-read title for January 2024

The definitive, paradigm-shifting guide to healing intergenerational trauma—weaving together scientific research with practical exercises and stories from the therapy room—from Dr. Mariel Buqué, PhD, a Columbia University–trained trauma-informed psychologist and practitioner of holistic healing

From Dr. Mariel Buqué, a leading trauma psychologist, comes this groundbreaking guide to transforming intergenerational pain into intergenerational abundance. With Break the Cycle, she delivers the definitive guide to healing inherited trauma. Weaving together scientific research with practical exercises and stories from the therapy room, Dr. Buqué teaches readers how trauma is transmitted from one generation to the next and how they can break the cycle through tangible therapeutic practices, learning to pass down strength instead of pain to future generations.

When a physical wound is left unhealed, it continues to cause pain and can infect the whole body. When emotions are left unhealed, they similarly cause harm that spreads to other parts of our lives, hurting our family, friends, community members, and others. Eventually, this hurt can injure an entire lineage, metastasizing across years and generations. This is intergenerational trauma.

This trauma is why some of us become estranged from our families, why some of us are people pleasers, why some of us find ourselves in codependent relationships. This trauma can be rooted in the experiences of ancestors, who may have suffered due to unhealthy family dynamics, and it can be collective, the result of a shared experience like systemic oppression, or harmful ingrained behaviors in a culture like the acceptance of physical discipline of children, or even a natural disaster like a pandemic. These wounds are complex, impacting our minds, bodies, and spirits. Healing requires a holistic approach that has so far been absent from the field of psychology. Until now.

A must read!

Loved everything about this book. It took me to my childhood memories. So much healing exercises. Very easy to understand and follow. Definitely buying to have an hand always.

The most insightful book I have ever listened to

Dr. Mariel is so thorough! I have learned so much about myself and others after listening to and practicing the teachings in this book. I have a newfound passion to study trauma after listening to this book and I am currently in the process of changing my major. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with the world. I purchased the audiobook and now I’m purchasing the physical book to add to my library collection!

A Must Read For Generational Healing

Dr. Mariel Buqué’s Break the Cycle is a groundbreaking and deeply validating resource for anyone seeking to heal intergenerational trauma. As a therapist who specializes in supporting clients navigating family of origin trauma, I found this book to be an invaluable tool—not only affirming the work I do but also introducing fresh, actionable ideas I’m eager to integrate into my practice. Dr. Buqué combines deep clinical expertise with compassionate storytelling, making complex concepts accessible and relatable for professionals and laypeople alike.

I had considered collaborating with a colleague to write a book about intergenerational trauma, but after reading Break the Cycle, I no longer feel the need. Dr. Buqué has written the book I dreamed of creating, offering insights and guidance that are both profound and practical. Her emphasis on breaking cycles of harm and fostering generational healing is a gift to the field of mental health and to anyone on a journey of healing. This book is a must-read for therapists, clients, and anyone who dares to dream of a more connected and healed future.

Break new ground with Break the Cycle

As the author states “this book was cultivated out of the deep desire to see a generational shift on how we approach trauma healing”

this book offers a deeply nuanced, trans•generational take on trauma.

As someone who only learned the term C-PTSD in 2019, I have been looking for Dr. Mariel Buqué nuanced lens for 5 years.

The fact that it is set up to be a guided workbook based on 2024 science: nervous system & poly•vagal science … and a takes a social justice stance - makes it a complete work of healing art.
So grateful this book exists.

The entire book was beautifully written!

This book came into my life just in time to help me through my own healing process and being a cycle beaker but did not have a name until now. Thank you