Trauma Stewardship, Revised and Updated

“Reading this book is like looking into a mirror. We will see ourselves much more clearly, will understand ourselves much better, and will come up with better ways of being and doing.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh

“In a world (and histories) saturated with violence, Trauma Stewardship is both urgent and indispensable. Blending deeply embodied compassion with grounded clinical research, it reframes what it means to bear witness—offering not formula, but compass and method, bridging survivorship and caretaking, oppression and healing at once. Most vitally, it equips us to sustain our humanity while supporting repair and renewal, casting a profound, practical guide for anyone seeking strength and purpose in the face of rupture.”
—Ocean Vuong, New York Times bestselling author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

“Trauma Stewardship offers something essential: profound yet practical wisdom that doesn’t look away from the world as it is. Clear-eyed, powerful, and deeply humane, this book is exactly what we need for a time such as this.”
—Beth Macy, New York Times bestselling author of Dopesick and executive producer of the Hulu miniseries of the same name

“We are not taught in school how to navigate overwhelm and trauma. This brilliant book balances emotional warmth with remarkable depth and reminds us we are not alone. It equips us with essential tools to overcome what may feel like insurmountable challenges. A critical read for all.”
—Devan Agrawal, climate tech researcher, Stanford University School of Engineering

“This book is a gift, a wise and compassionate guide for those who undertake the difficult work of caring for the traumas of the world.”
—Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart

Laura van Dernoot Lipsky is the founder and director of The Trauma Stewardship Institute and author of Trauma Stewardship and The Age of Overwhelm. She is the host of the podcast Future Tripping, which is dedicated to conversations about overwhelm. Widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of trauma exposure, she has worked nationally and internationally for more than three decades. Much of her work involves assisting in the aftermath of community catastrophes, whether they are fatal storms or mass shootings. Simultaneously, she has long been active in community organizing and movements for social and environmental justice and has taught on issues surrounding systematic oppression, structural supremacy, and liberation theory. Laura is on the advisory board of ZGiRLS, an organization that supports young girls in sports. She is a founding member of the International Transformational Resilience Coalition, which supports the development of capacity to address the climate crisis. Laura also served as an associate producer of the award-winning film A Lot Like You and was given a Yo! Mama award in recognition of her work as a community-activist mother.

Connie Burk is the executive director of Kol HaNeshamah. She previously directed the NW Network, where she founded the National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence, the National LGBTQ TTA Institute, and the annual Q&A summit.

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