58 pages 1 hour read

Mark Wolynn

It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2016

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Key Figures

Mark Wolynn

Wolynn is a leading expert in the field of inherited family trauma, recognized for his innovative approaches to understanding and healing the transmission of trauma across generations. His journey into this specialized area of psychology is deeply rooted in his personal experiences and transformative healing process.

In his early adulthood, Wolynn faced a sudden and unexplained loss of vision in one eye, diagnosed as a chronic form of retinopathy with no known cure. Medical professionals attributed his condition to stress but offered no viable treatment options. This health crisis propelled Wolynn into a global search for healing, leading him to study with various teachers and explore alternative therapeutic modalities. Through this journey, he discovered that his vision loss was linked to unresolved familial trauma, particularly the anxiety inherited from his grandparents, all of whom experienced early maternal loss. This realization underscored the impact of inherited trauma on physical health and set the foundation for his future work.

Professionally, Wolynn has made significant contributions to the field of inherited family trauma. He serves as the director of the Family Constellation Institute in San Francisco, where he has developed and refined therapeutic techniques aimed at identifying and healing generational trauma.