When it comes to psychological trauma, the researchers and media have asserted a consensus that the science is settled. They claim that trauma permanently damages brains and causes scores of serious physical illnesses. In reality, this extraordinary assertion is not true. Trauma does cause emotional and behavioral problems in many victims, but this does not include changes in brain structure or re-wiring of brains.
Clearly-written and accessible for non-scientists, this book methodically analyzes 122 claims about neuroscience, treatments, and related issues.
Michael S. Scheeringa, MD is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who has been the principal investigator on 15 research studies on posttraumatic stress disorder and the author of over 90 papers and four books on the subject.
Dr. Scheeringa launched a YouTube channel (click here) to share insights about trauma and PTSD.
The latest confusions clarified, myths demystified, and ideologies imperiled.
Get the true facts, not the false facts.
What is Trauma?
What is PTSD?
PTSD in Very Young Children Explained
Unreported Truths About Toxic Stress Theory
Unreported Truths about Complex PTSD
The Toxic Stress Playbook: The New Battlegrounds to Expand Government Social Programs
My Psychology Blog Was Censored: Who Does That?
The latest confusions clarified, myths demystified, and ideologies imperiled.
Get the true facts, not the false facts.
What is Trauma?
What is PTSD?
PTSD in Very Young Children Explained
Unreported Truths About Toxic Stress Theory
Unreported Truths about Complex PTSD
The Toxic Stress Playbook: The New Battlegrounds to Expand Government Social Programs
My Psychology Blog Was Censored: Who Does That?
Follow him on X @m_scheeringa
Podcast Appearances
2026 5 18 Revealing the Origin of Adolescent Depression. Positive World, Positive People (Sadie Sonneborn Malecki) on Apple or Spotify.
2026 5 12 Complex PTSD and Other Fictions. The Resiliency Podcast (Mission 22) on Apple or Spotify.
2026 3 25 Does Everyone Have Trauma? Two Therapists At A Bar on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
2025 9 18 The Body Does NOT Keep the Score. Two Therapists At A Bar on Apple podcasts (one of their most popular episodes).
2023 7 24 Counterpoint with Amanda Vanstone (Australia). Discussed expansion of the use of "trauma." Why it happened and the negative consequences.
2022 2 15 What's the Story with Kim Berns (Rye Record podcast)
2022 2 9 Trauma Isn't Permanent. The Brewmance Podcast
2022 1 12 The Trouble With Trauma. The Kathryn Zox Show
2022 1 6 The Truth About PTSD. The Lucas Rockwood Show
Print Interviews
2025 9 27 How trauma became big business (and a £900 conference ticket), by Alexandra Jones, The Sunday Times (London).
2022 1 25 How Trauma Became the Word of the Decade, by Lexi Pandell, Vox.
2026 5 18 Revealing the Origin of Adolescent Depression. Positive World, Positive People (Sadie Sonneborn Malecki) on Apple or Spotify.
2026 5 12 Complex PTSD and Other Fictions. The Resiliency Podcast (Mission 22) on Apple or Spotify.
2026 3 25 Does Everyone Have Trauma? Two Therapists At A Bar on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
2025 9 18 The Body Does NOT Keep the Score. Two Therapists At A Bar on Apple podcasts (one of their most popular episodes).
2023 7 24 Counterpoint with Amanda Vanstone (Australia). Discussed expansion of the use of "trauma." Why it happened and the negative consequences.
2022 2 15 What's the Story with Kim Berns (Rye Record podcast)
2022 2 9 Trauma Isn't Permanent. The Brewmance Podcast
2022 1 12 The Trouble With Trauma. The Kathryn Zox Show
2022 1 6 The Truth About PTSD. The Lucas Rockwood Show
Print Interviews
2025 9 27 How trauma became big business (and a £900 conference ticket), by Alexandra Jones, The Sunday Times (London).
2022 1 25 How Trauma Became the Word of the Decade, by Lexi Pandell, Vox.
POPULAR BLOG POSTS
Are You Traumatized? (May 13, 2017)
What is PTSD Exactly? (July 1, 2017)
The Myth of Trauma-Informed Care (March 27, 2018)
The Dark Pool of Psychotherapy (Dec. 25, 2018)
How Can Psychotherapy Help Me Change? (June 30, 2019)
How Fast Can Automatic Negative Thoughts Change? (Jan. 3, 2020)
THE BLOG THAT WAS CENSORED: Research Doesn't Support Toxic Stress (January 27, 2022)
What is PTSD Exactly? (July 1, 2017)
The Myth of Trauma-Informed Care (March 27, 2018)
The Dark Pool of Psychotherapy (Dec. 25, 2018)
How Can Psychotherapy Help Me Change? (June 30, 2019)
How Fast Can Automatic Negative Thoughts Change? (Jan. 3, 2020)
THE BLOG THAT WAS CENSORED: Research Doesn't Support Toxic Stress (January 27, 2022)
Radio Interviews about The Trouble With Trauma
2022 3 17 WREG Live at 9 television (Memphis)
2022 3 16 Alaska Public Radio / Your Health Connection with Prentiss Pemberton
2022 3 12 Second Saturday on WPKN, with Bob Johnson (CT)
2022 2 24 KPCW The Mountain Life, with Lynn Ware Peek (Utah)
2022 2 23 The Frankie Boyer Show
2022 2 21 The Culture Buzz with John Busbee, KFMG-FM (Des Moines, Iowa)
2022 2 16 Warren in the Morning on Kingston Radio (New York)
2022 2 15 Conversations on WYAD 94.1 FM with Cyrus Webb (Mississippi)
2022 2 15 Morning on Maine Street with Bill Maine, WDUN AM 550/ FM 102.9 (Georgia)
2022 2 10 The Jefferson Exchange/ Jefferson Public Radio (Oregon & California)
2022 2 7 Intelligence For Your Health With Connie Sellecca
2022 2 3 The Carson Schubert Morning Show/ KMA (Iowa)
2022 2 3 The Rayla Campbell Show/ WSMN (Massachusetts)
2022 1 25 The Natasha Hall Show (on CJAD 800, Montreal)
Radio Interviews About They’ll Never Be the Same: A Parent’s Guide to PTSD in Youth:
2018 6 20 Author Story with Alexander Lim. YouTube channel.
2018 6 19 The Morning Show with Randall DeWitt (KORN-AM). Sioux Falls, SD.
2018 6 6 Womens Watch with Ellen Sherman (WBZ-AM). Boston, MA.
2018 6 3 Conversations with Peter Solomon (WIP 610 AM, 94.1 FM). Philadelphia, PA.
2018 5 31 Larry Whitler Show 1370 AM & 96.3 FM). Orlando-Gainesville, FL.
2018 5 29 Mom Talk Radio with Maria Bailey. Nationally syndicated.
2018 5 29 The Dave Malarkey Show (WISR 680 AM). Pittsburgh, PA.
2018 5 29 Sunday Morning Magazine with Kate Daniels (KRWM 106.9 FM). Seattle, WA.
2018 5 24 Tom Barnard Show. Syndicated podcast on iTunes.
2018 5 24 The TKO Show with Kara Ro (CKLW 800 AM). Detroit, MI.
2018 5 22 Ethan Bearman Show. (KGO-AM 810). San Francisco, CA.
2018 5 22 Community Connection with Glenn Goodwin (WDUC-FM 93.9, WFTZ-FM 101.5). Lynchburg-Murfreesboro TN.
2018 5 22 Brainfood from the Heartland with Louie B. Free (WYCL-AM). Cleveland, OH.
2018 5 21 Morning Show with Shelley Irwin (WGVU-FM Michigan NPR). Grand Rapids, MI.
2018 5 21 South Florida’s First News with Jimmy Cefalo (WIOD-AM 610 AM). Miami, FL.
2018 5 21 Scott Sloan Show (WLW-AM 700 AM). Cincinnati, OH.
2018 5 21 Newell Normand Show (WWL-AM/FM). New Orleans, LA
2018 5 21 Answers for the Family with Allen Cardoza. Nationally syndicated.
2018 5 18 Paul Douglas Show (WCCO-AM 830 AM). Minneapolis, MN. Also, covered the Santa Fe High School, Texas school shooting.
2018 5 15 Radio Health Journal with Reed Pence. Nationally syndicated.
2018 5 15 WMT Morning Show with Doug Wagner (600 AM). Des Moines, IA.
2018 5 11 American Medicine Today with Kimberly Bermel. Nationally syndicated.
2018 5 10 Popp Off with Mary Jane Popp. KAHI-AM (950 AM). Sacramento, CA.
2018 5 8 Washington Report with Stevie Bridgewater. WJFK-AM/FM. Washington, DC.
2018 5 7 The Mike Schikman Show. WSVA-AM/FM (92.1 FM/550 AM), Harrisonbur, VA.
2018 5 7 Perspectives on Parenting with Julia Sherwin. WCHE-AM (1520 AM), Philadelphia, PA.
2018 5 2 Brian Mudd Show. WIOD-AM (610 AM), Miami, FL.
2022 3 17 WREG Live at 9 television (Memphis)
2022 3 16 Alaska Public Radio / Your Health Connection with Prentiss Pemberton
2022 3 12 Second Saturday on WPKN, with Bob Johnson (CT)
2022 2 24 KPCW The Mountain Life, with Lynn Ware Peek (Utah)
2022 2 23 The Frankie Boyer Show
2022 2 21 The Culture Buzz with John Busbee, KFMG-FM (Des Moines, Iowa)
2022 2 16 Warren in the Morning on Kingston Radio (New York)
2022 2 15 Conversations on WYAD 94.1 FM with Cyrus Webb (Mississippi)
2022 2 15 Morning on Maine Street with Bill Maine, WDUN AM 550/ FM 102.9 (Georgia)
2022 2 10 The Jefferson Exchange/ Jefferson Public Radio (Oregon & California)
2022 2 7 Intelligence For Your Health With Connie Sellecca
2022 2 3 The Carson Schubert Morning Show/ KMA (Iowa)
2022 2 3 The Rayla Campbell Show/ WSMN (Massachusetts)
2022 1 25 The Natasha Hall Show (on CJAD 800, Montreal)
Radio Interviews About They’ll Never Be the Same: A Parent’s Guide to PTSD in Youth:
2018 6 20 Author Story with Alexander Lim. YouTube channel.
2018 6 19 The Morning Show with Randall DeWitt (KORN-AM). Sioux Falls, SD.
2018 6 6 Womens Watch with Ellen Sherman (WBZ-AM). Boston, MA.
2018 6 3 Conversations with Peter Solomon (WIP 610 AM, 94.1 FM). Philadelphia, PA.
2018 5 31 Larry Whitler Show 1370 AM & 96.3 FM). Orlando-Gainesville, FL.
2018 5 29 Mom Talk Radio with Maria Bailey. Nationally syndicated.
2018 5 29 The Dave Malarkey Show (WISR 680 AM). Pittsburgh, PA.
2018 5 29 Sunday Morning Magazine with Kate Daniels (KRWM 106.9 FM). Seattle, WA.
2018 5 24 Tom Barnard Show. Syndicated podcast on iTunes.
2018 5 24 The TKO Show with Kara Ro (CKLW 800 AM). Detroit, MI.
2018 5 22 Ethan Bearman Show. (KGO-AM 810). San Francisco, CA.
2018 5 22 Community Connection with Glenn Goodwin (WDUC-FM 93.9, WFTZ-FM 101.5). Lynchburg-Murfreesboro TN.
2018 5 22 Brainfood from the Heartland with Louie B. Free (WYCL-AM). Cleveland, OH.
2018 5 21 Morning Show with Shelley Irwin (WGVU-FM Michigan NPR). Grand Rapids, MI.
2018 5 21 South Florida’s First News with Jimmy Cefalo (WIOD-AM 610 AM). Miami, FL.
2018 5 21 Scott Sloan Show (WLW-AM 700 AM). Cincinnati, OH.
2018 5 21 Newell Normand Show (WWL-AM/FM). New Orleans, LA
2018 5 21 Answers for the Family with Allen Cardoza. Nationally syndicated.
2018 5 18 Paul Douglas Show (WCCO-AM 830 AM). Minneapolis, MN. Also, covered the Santa Fe High School, Texas school shooting.
2018 5 15 Radio Health Journal with Reed Pence. Nationally syndicated.
2018 5 15 WMT Morning Show with Doug Wagner (600 AM). Des Moines, IA.
2018 5 11 American Medicine Today with Kimberly Bermel. Nationally syndicated.
2018 5 10 Popp Off with Mary Jane Popp. KAHI-AM (950 AM). Sacramento, CA.
2018 5 8 Washington Report with Stevie Bridgewater. WJFK-AM/FM. Washington, DC.
2018 5 7 The Mike Schikman Show. WSVA-AM/FM (92.1 FM/550 AM), Harrisonbur, VA.
2018 5 7 Perspectives on Parenting with Julia Sherwin. WCHE-AM (1520 AM), Philadelphia, PA.
2018 5 2 Brian Mudd Show. WIOD-AM (610 AM), Miami, FL.