Rant about Gabor Maté's Book: Scattered Minds
Yes, I've Read Scattered Minds and Here is Why It Makes Me Furious
At least once a week, sometimes more, a parent calls me or sits across from me in my office, wide-eyed, hopeful, and says:
"Have you read Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté? It changed my life."
And I take a deep breath. Because what I want to say is: Yes. I’ve read it. And it makes me furious!
Let me explain.
The Truth About ADHD is that it is in the Genes
Maté’s entire argument rests on his claim that ADHD is caused by early childhood stress, disconnection, or trauma.
But we know from decades of rigorous research that ADHD is highly genetic. It’s one of the most heritable psychiatric conditions we know of, it is more heritable than height. If a child has ADHD, there is a 70–80% chance that one or both of their biological parents do too.
These statistics are backed by research, with one of the largest studies on the genetics of ADHD including a total sample size of over 225’000 participants. As far as I am aware, there are NO studies that confirm Maté's claim that trauma or parental stress causes ADHD. His claims are based on his own clinical observations and personal reflections.
This matters. Because when someone like Maté tells a compelling story that ignores or dismisses the genetics, it shifts the blame directly onto the shoulders of the parent, usually the mother.
And I work with too many mothers who are already carrying the weight of the world and the guilt of feeling like they aren’t doing enough, don’t know enough or can’t give enough. They’re exhausted. They're overwhelmed. They're trying their best to hold everything together. And then they’re handed a book that says…
"Maybe your child has ADHD because you were too stressed when they were a baby. Maybe it's your fault."
That’s not just wrong. That’s cruel.
ADHD Is Not a Trauma Response
Of course trauma impacts the brain. Of course emotional safety matters. But Maté doesn’t just say that trauma influences ADHD and the symptoms, he claims trauma causes it. That is a massive overreach.
What he's describing is not ADHD. It's something else, maybe trauma, maybe anxiety, maybe emotional dysregulation. But ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a response to an unsafe environment.
Children with ADHD show consistent functional differences in the brain. These differences appear before trauma ever enters the picture. And you can’t “un-trauma” your way out of ADHD any more than you can meditate your way out of diabetes.
So yes, address trauma. It’s important (and I respect much of Maté’s work within the trauma space). But don’t expect trauma work alone to cure ADHD. It won’t.
Maté Dismisses Evidence-Based Treatment
Maté is skeptical of medication, especially stimulants. But here’s the truth, for children with ADHD, stimulant medication is the single most effective treatment we have.
When used properly, medication is effective in 70–80% of children, allowing them to concentrate, regulate their emotions, and succeed in school. For many kids, it can be life-changing, and even life-saving.
See my blog post on this topic here: The Hidden Struggles of ADHD: How Early Intervention Can Save Your Child’s Life
Maté’s narrative suggests that medicating a child is a way of avoiding the "real" work. But I see it differently.
Medication doesn’t suppress a child’s personality. It allows them to access it. I believe medication is the key that can open the door to allow them to learn, to behaviour change and be more confident in social interactions.
His Perspective Is One-Dimensional
Trauma work is Maté’s lens. And in that space, he has done important work.
But when you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. And when you believe trauma is the root of all dysfunction, you end up misdiagnosing ADHD, invalidating neurodivergent experiences, and misleading families who are desperate for clarity.
The result?
Parents delay seeking proper diagnosis and treatment.
Children continue to struggle unnecessarily.
Families are left feeling like failures.
(I wrote about this in my blog post on the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.)
Why This Hurts
If you’ve read Scattered Minds and felt both seen and blamed, you are not the only one. It has been talked about in the ADHD community for years and I personally hear about it regularly in my practice.
If you felt hopeful at first but then overwhelmed with guilt, you’re not wrong.
If you’ve tried to parent your child’s ADHD away through connection, co-regulation, and compassion, and it still isn’t working, it’s not because you failed and it isn’t because these aspects are wrong or not important, they are!
And if you’ve come to the point of thinking, “maybe it’s not just me, maybe there is something more here” you are on the right track.
ADHD is real. It’s not a parenting style. It’s not a spiritual wound. It’s not just an unhealed trauma response.
It is a brain that works differently. A brain that isn’t getting the dopamine it needs to function as expected.
And our job as parents, educators, and professionals is not to fix the brain, but to understand it, support it, and give our children the tools they need to thrive.
Where Do You Go From Here?
Start by letting go of guilt. Let go of the belief that you caused this.
Instead, lean into understanding how ADHD really works. Learn about the brain. Learn about the tools that help, and the three approaches to managing ADHD that include:
✔ Medication
✔ Coaching and behavioral support
✔ Lifestyle changes (sleep, nutrition, and exercise)
If you’ve been caught between Maté’s poetry and your child’s reality, it’s okay to say:
This book helped me feel seen, but it didn’t tell the whole truth and it didn’t give me the tools to help my child thrive.
Your child needs more than a theory. They need real support.
And so do you.
If you’re not sure where to start, I invite you to book a free support call to talk through your experiences and make a plan to get you and your child on the right track.
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