They'll Never Be the Same: A Parent's Guide to PTSD in Youth

by Michael S. Scheeringa

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Author: Michael S. Scheeringa

Publisher: Central Recovery Press

Paperback:
ISBN 10: 1942094612
ISBN 13: 978-1942094616

A compassionate and accessible guide for parents whose children have experienced traumatic or life-threatening events written by one of the foremost authorities on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. Dr. Scheeringa understands the desperation many parents feel and explains the impact of trauma, simplifies the science into layman’s terms, debunks the myths, and provides direction on navigating the confusing maze of the mental health world to find appropriate care.

Review

Publishers Weekly

They’ll Never Be the Same: A Parent’s Guide to PTSD in YouthMichael S. Scheeringa. Central Recovery, $17.95 trade paper (290p) ISBN 978-1-942094-61-6

Scheeringa, a psychiatrist and professor at Tulane University School of Medicine, brings more than 20 years of clinical practice and research in the field of post-traumatic stress disorder to this informative if somewhat acerbic guide. He clarifies the symptoms for parents while pointing a finger at clinicians who fail to diagnose or properly treat the disorder. According to Scheeringa, PTSD is a chronic disorder from which most never fully recover, even with treatment (thus, the ominous title). The author lays out how PTSD is diagnosed, and emphasizes the importance of its updated inclusion in the DSM-III. (This particular information may be less relevant to parents than to clinicians who require a reliable definition.) Scheeringa clearly explains how PTSD differs from stress, observing that the disorder is unique in that it occurs suddenly, following a life-threatening event. He urges parents to wait no more than one month before seeking professional help for their child, preferably from a clinician who offers cognitive behavioral therapy. The FAQ chapter should be particularly useful for parents, as should an appendix that addresses talking with children who have experienced trauma. As a whole, the text offers parents valuable guidance on finding help promptly and wisely. (Apr.) Reviewed on 03/02/2018

Review

“I believe it is important that parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals become informed about the psychological impact of trauma on young and, especially, very young children. They'll Never Be the Same, by one of the key figures in the field, helps to do this.”―Justin Kenardy, PhD, University of Queensland, Australia

“Dr. Mike Scheeringa lays out for parents what they need to know about trauma, PTSD, and effective treatments. It is based on solid scientific research―his own and that of other experts. At the same time, he is grounded in the true-life experiences of traumatized children and illustrates this with vivid clinical examples from his own clinic. He is speaking directly to parents so that they are empowered to act as educated consumers in getting the best care for their children. Clinicians seeking to help traumatized children would do well to read this book so they, too, understand the science of trauma and PTSD and are prepared to deliver treatments that work.”―Lucy Berliner, MSW, Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress

“Children do recover from PTSD; Dr. Scheeringa’s book provides parents with a wealth of information about this disorder and practical guidance for finding effective treatment.”―Judith Cohen, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Allegheny Health Network, Temple University School of Medicine

“Few child mental health professionals have made as important a contribution to the understanding of posttraumatic stress disorder in children as Professor Michael Scheeringa. In They’ll Never Be The Same, Dr. Scheeringa has distilled years of clinical and research experience into key messages for parents who are confronted by PTSD and its effects in children. Rather than bombard the reader with his own opinions and reflections, he has brilliantly summarized the evidence as we currently understand it, making clear what we do know and, sadly, what we don’t yet know. He does not shy away from the hard topics and gives a ‘warts and all’ account of what PTSD is and the best ways of treating it in children and teenagers. If you want to get a much better and fuller understanding of what children with PTSD are going through and how to help them, then this is the book to read.”―Richard Meiser-Stedman, PhD, Reader in Clinical Psychology, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom

“Dr. Scheeringa provides parents with information about what to expect after a child has experienced a traumatic event(s) based on research and his years of experience. The stories of children who have experienced trauma and the straightforward summary of the research are designed to help parents gain a better understanding of their child’s experience. Scheeringa provides compassion, hope, and ways to navigate effective evidence-based mental health treatment so that children can get better after trauma and get back on track.”―Alison Salloum, PhD, Associate Professor

School of Social Work, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida

“Perhaps my highest endorsement of They’ll Never Be the Same is that despite having studied pediatric PTSD for over twenty years, I still learned from reading it (e.g., the history of the controversy surrounding Lenore Terr’s initial work). While researchers will continue to debate many of the ideas presented in this book, it is an excellent resource for the public to become educated about PTSD in children and youth. Moreover, there is no one better suited to present this information than Dr. Michael Scheeringa, one of the preeminent leaders in this field. From the case examples to the technical details of what symptoms to look out for, Dr. Scheeringa’s explanations are accessible to a wide range of readers.”―Carl Weems, PhD, Professor and Chair, Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University

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They'll Never Be the Same: A Parent's Guide to PTSD in Youth