Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder (2023) Gabor Maté, MD
Gabor Maté reviews the topic of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) in an effort to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the condition from his lived experience integrated with a synthesis of research that integrates bio-psycho-social/cultural components. This book is written for parents of children with ADD/ADHD, adults who may have recently been diagnosed or are eligible for a diagnosis, teachers that work with children with ADD/ADHD, and clinicians who may be working with adults or children with ADD/ADHD. The book aims to encourage looking at the person-in-environment to identify the myriad of factors that may contribute to the development of this neurological disorder–factors that may include genetic predispositions, as well as environmental factors that may have affected the development of the brain/nervous system structures. And from this same vein, encouraging that treatment and/or healing options do not lie in prescription medications alone.
How was this book recommended to me? A (non-therapist) friend of mine told me about reading this book.
Would I recommend this to my colleagues? Yes
Would I recommend this to my clients? Yes
How do I apply this content to my work: I do not specialize in treatment of ADD/ADHD and I am clear with my clients/potential clients about this. However, this book appears to reinforce that many of the contributing factors in the development of ADD/ADHD may relate to hyper-sensitivities (as in the case of the empath or HSP), insecure attachments/relational trauma, and other forms of neuro-divergence that are often co-occurring with trauma-related and/or SUD diagnoses and/or are highly correlated with my approach to the treatment of trauma and addiction. Though never expressly stated, Maté reviewed contributing factors that overlap with Polyvagal Theory and Attachment Theory that I often integrate into my work with clients, especially in that the healing can come with increased sense of safety and capacity for self-regulation via co-regulation and rapport that is cultivated in my relationships with clients as a foundation for our healing work together.
If you live in WA state and feel like learning to self-regulate and cultivating secure attachments may help to treat your symptoms of ADD/ADHD, contact me. Let’s schedule a free 15-minute consultation and see if we might be a good fit to work together.
