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The Gift: Trauma to Triumph

How to rise up when life beats you down.

About The Author

As a trauma survivor, trauma recovery clinician, substance abuse counselor, and healer, the author shares how to transform trauma into triumph.

Burton Fischler, MPsych, CASAC-A, CCTP shares The Gift: Trauma To Triumph, a journey from tragedy — murder, betrayal, suicide — to recovery and triumph. It’s a true crime story of how inadequately treated substance abuse and mental illness can irreparably tear families apart. He has worked on a suicide prevention hotline, a detoxification treatment center, and psychiatric wards. How trauma recovery and healthy growth are possible for trauma survivors determined to rise up when life beats them down.

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It took 11 years for me to muster the courage to request crime scene photos for this book. I felt my readers deserved to see brutal but honest images to prevent others from becoming victims of inadequately treated mental illness and substance abuse.

Location

LOCATION OF BARBARA’S BRUTAL MURDER ON MANHATTAN’S UPPER EAST SIDE

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Weapon

FACSIMILE OF THE MURDER WEAPON.

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Crime Scene

ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION OF AUTHOR’S PTSD NIGHT TERRORS

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Your Life, Transformed

The Gift: Trauma to Triumph

The Gift: Trauma to Triumph recounts the author’s struggle to survive, learn healing practices, build inner strength, explore effective pathways to recovery, and discover a life worth living. In this true crime self-help memoir, dubbed “The Trauma Survivor’s Bible,” readers learn how to heal their broken selves, families, communities, nations, and world.

The Gift: Trauma to Triumph begins with the murder of the author’s wife. A 10-year look-back divulges family maladies and miseries. A 10-year look-forward reveals unexpected recovery. If we’re courageous and fortunate enough to find our healing path, then we survive seemingly unbearable grief and misfortune to experience the miracle of post-traumatic growth.

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”THE TRAUMA SURVIVOR’S BIBLE

Marianne Masopust, LCSW, CASAC

“I traveled a frightening and lonely road through the darkness of tragedy to the light that brightened my path. Along the way, I discovered unexpected gifts: spiritual awakenings and revelations that brought me to a new place. A rich and peaceful space within me that’s grounded in love and forgiveness, faith and hope, gratitude and awe. A home in which I can continue to grow and thrive in heretofore unimaginable ways.”

Burton Fischler

“The thing about surviving trauma is that there is not one clear path that jumps out at the therapist or the patient as “the way.” And indeed, the end of suffering is nowhere in sight after tragedy strikes.”

Sarah Simms, Ph.D., LCSW

“What we don’t need in the midst of struggle is shame for being human.”

Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW

“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”

Carl Jung

“If we survive personal tragedy, we’re forced to reappraise what matters most to us — what a new, more meaningful life might look like. Herein lies our opportunity to discover what we choose to awaken to so that we can make sense of our survival and so that our survival makes sense.”

Burton Fischler

Reviews

“

Fischler’s memoir details a family tragedy and his struggle to find peace and purpose in the aftermath.

... details his arduous journey to healing and self-improvement, through which he discovered spirituality and mindfulness and a desire to help others struggling through devastating tragedies (hence this work).
... describes the curative powers of rediscovering awe, both for the world and for his hard-earned recovery: “Tragedy makes us brutally aware that our existence is a miracle...tragedy devastates, humbles, awakens, and overwhelms us."

An impressive journey of self-help and growth...

Kirkus Reviews
“

After reading this book, I would definitely recommend it! Because of how powerful and honest the story feels. It deals with very difficult experiences, but the way everything is described makes the message of strength and resilience stand out. I think many people can find comfort, motivation, or clarity in this book.

Francisco SorianoAmazon Customer
“

The Gift: Trauma to Triumph is a remarkable memoir: raw, generous, and deeply human. Burton Fischler invites readers into a life marked by profound loss, family crisis, addiction, mental illness, and unimaginable heartbreak, yet he tells his story with a clarity and openness that feel both courageous and restorative. What makes this book especially evocative is the way Fischler weaves literary and spiritual quotes, photographs, and musical references throughout the narrative, creating a rich emotional landscape that honors both suffering and resilience.

His tributes to the wise and compassionate healers who walked with him – from clinicians and teachers to spiritual guides – add a layer of gratitude and grounded hope that stays with you long after the book is closed. This memoir is not only a testament to surviving the unthinkable; it is a testament to rising, rebuilding, and finding meaning in places where despair once lived. Fischler has written a gift indeed – one that inspires, consoles, and reminds us of the strength that lives within each of us.

Kristen Brooks, RDT, LCATAmazon Customer
“

The Gift: Trauma to Triumph is a powerful and deeply moving testament to what it truly means to rise after devastation. The author takes readers on an intimate journey through trauma, not for sympathy, but to illuminate the strength, resilience, and profound transformation that can emerge on the other side of pain.

What makes this book exceptional is the author’s courageous transparency. They do not shy away from the darkest moments—yet every chapter is infused with a steady, unwavering thread of hope. Their story embodies post-traumatic growth in its purest form: the ability to rebuild with intention, rediscover identity, deepen purpose, and reclaim joy through healing.

The author shows that healing is not linear, but possible. That self-reflection is powerful. And that triumph is not defined by the absence of wounds, but by the wisdom, boundaries, clarity, and compassion gained from surviving them.

This book is more than a memoir—it’s an offering. A reminder that even the most painful experiences can become the soil from which strength, insight, and purpose bloom. Anyone seeking inspiration, empowerment, or proof that healing is real will find it in these pages.

A beautiful and necessary read.

Candice Charles, LCSW, CASAC-M, SIFIAmazon Customer

TRAUMA RECOVERY GROUPS
MEMBERS ONLY CLUB

Burton Fischler, MPsych, Certified Life Coach
Author, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Trauma Recovery Group Facilitator

It’s time we learn how to take the best from trauma, rather than letting it continue taking the best from us. — Burton Fischler

What’s left after trauma? Abuse? Betrayal? Grief? Serious illness? Addiction? Financial loss? Relationship Breakup? Falling from grace? A Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Model provides the framework for healing our body, mind, emotional child, and spirit.

Not a substitute for therapy, but a safe space for receiving shared support from fellow survivors and access to vast resources. Multimodal learning, exercises, techniques, and evidence-based psychoeducation are harnessed to maximize learning, integration, and human healing potential.

Group members must have access to Zoom video and be willing to commit their time and financial resources to the 25-week program. To maximize group cohesion, selected members are required to pay the full amount for 25 sessions in advance of the group commencement date. All members must sign an agreement to respect the privacy of all group members and not share group content outside the group.

Two closed groups of 10 – 12 members each. Saturday morning groups: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EST. Sunday evening groups: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST. 1-2 group leaders per session, including guest speakers. 25 – One-Hour Group Sessions @ $2,500. Insurance not accepted. No make-up sessions available.

The group process will organically unfold and will include the following stages:

FORMATIVE STAGE – group rules; signed confidentiality agreement; establishment of safe, gentle, and kind space; group participants information exchange; group goals; trauma healing journaling; and gratitude journal.

TRANSITION STAGE – storming and norming; group vs individual goals; moving from me-ness to we-ness.

WORKING STAGE – including weekly Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) exercises and unpacking cognitive distortions; weekly trauma-informed yoga; progressive muscle relaxation; cognitive reprocessing therapy exercises; trauma-sensitive somatic experiencing; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); mandala and sensorimotor art therapy; kintsugi; morning altars; sound therapy; finding trauma’s silver lining; and creating a new life that’s worth living.

TERMINATION STAGE – wrap-up, evaluation, and next steps.

TO REGISTER, CONTACT [email protected] to reserve your spot and receive payment instructions. Please specify Saturday morning or Sunday evening group. First come, first served. Enrollment is subject to availability and not guaranteed.

Articles By The Author

Lessons On Trauma Care From Humpty Dumpty

A trauma victim and life coach speaks out: how a nursery rhyme inspired a sense of agency and self-care that sparked trauma recovery, personal transformation, and even post-traumatic growth.

The Gratitude Rx

A trauma victim, survivor, and life coach discusses how gratitude saved his life and has the power to greatly improve yours.

Experiencing Life Without Drugs or Alcohol

A trauma victim, survivor, and life coach reveals the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of abstinence, recovery, and renewal, without drugs or alcohol.

Does the Coronavirus Pandemic Have a Silver Lining? Tragedy’s Secret Gifts Revealed?

A trauma victim, survivor, and life coach reveals personal lessons learned in the midst of tragic life experiences.

Open Sesame? Caution: Our Impatience Could Kill Us!

The coronavirus pandemic is crazy-making. But we can’t afford to make crazy decisions. Here’s how wellness practices can help.

In the Midst of Coronavirus Pandemic, Ask Yourself: “Love Me, Love Me Not?”

A trauma victim, survivor, and life coach reveals the power of self-love and self-care for self-preservation.

Coronavirus Will Cause PTSD Crisis in Wake of Tragedy?

A trauma survivor and life coach shares PTSD’s warning signs and lessons learned on his journey from PTSD to trauma recovery & personal transformation.

PTSD Prevention Amidst COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach

A trauma victim, survivor, and life coach presents evidence-based practices to protect ourselves against life’s unwelcome surprises.

Caution: Avoidance Behavior May Be Hazardous To Your Health

A trauma survivor and life coach shares a simple mental health tool for coping with avoidance and improving your wellbeing.

Balanced Living. Creating Your Own Wheel of Fortune.

A life coach reveals how to achieve a zen-like harmony by balancing your mind, body, and spirit.

Stressed Out? It’s Not About What Happens To You. It’s About How You Respond.

To read these or other articles by the author, visit:thriveglobal.com/authors/Burton-Fischlercoachburton.com/blog

Wearables

We can’t heal trauma until we BUST SHAME!
Grab your t-shirt today to help heal our selves, communities, and world.

Tree of life – the tree’s connections

A symbol of connection, unity, growth, and rebirth, the tree’ strength and resilience come from its roots. Hence, it is a reminder of the importance of being grounded.

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The Gift: Trauma to triumph

A symbol of transformation, rebirth, hope, and new beginnings, the butterfly is a metaphor for personal growth and change.

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Unalome – obstacles, twists, and turns.

A symbol representing the path to enlightenment, the unalome is a visual metaphor for life’s journey, often full of obstacles twists, and turns.

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Lotus flower – I’m transforming

A symbol of enlightenment, purity, and wisdom, Thich Nhat Hahn reminds us, “no mud, no lotus.” Suffering and adversity are necessary for growth and enlightenment. We must emerge from muddy water to discover beauty.

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Phoenix – I survived

A symbol of renewal, hope, and resurrection, the Phoenix’s ability to rise from the ashes represents the possibility of a fresh start and better things to come.

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Ouroboros – Victim to victor

A symbol of continuous renewal, the Ouroboros represents the natural cycle of creation and destruction, with the potential for positive transformation through self-reflection and regeneration.

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    a better life awaits you⚬