If you don't like him, Dr Gabor Mate, being interviewed
by tRT- he is a well known Psychologist- you may read
or listen to him all over the net
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabor_Maté
Gabor Maté CM (born January 6, 1944) is a Canadian
physician. He has a background in family practice and a
special interest in childhood development, trauma[1]
and potential lifelong impacts on physical and mental
health including autoimmune disease, cancer, attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),[2] addictions
and a wide range of other conditions.
Maté's approach to addiction focuses on the trauma his
patients have suffered and looks to address this in
their recovery.[3] In his book In the Realm of Hungry
Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, Maté discusses
the types of trauma suffered by persons with substance
use disorders and how this affects their decision
making in later life.
He has authored five books exploring topics including
ADHD, stress, developmental psychology, and addiction.
He is a regular columnist for the Vancouver Sun and The
Globe and Mail.
Life and career
Maté was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1944 to a Jewish
family.[4][5] His maternal grandparents, Josef Lövi and
Hannah Lövi, who came from the town of Košice in
eastern Slovakia, were killed in Auschwitz when he was
five months old.[5] His aunt disappeared during the
war, and his father endured forced labour at the hands
of the Nazi Party.[6] When he was one, Maté's mother
put him in the care of a stranger for over five weeks
to save his life. Upon their reunion, the infant Maté
was so hurt that he avoided looking at his mother for
several days. He claims this trauma of "abandonment,
rage, and despair" continues to manifest in his adult
life, leading to similar altercations when he perceives
a threat of abandonment, especially from his wife.[7]
In 1956, Maté immigrated to Canada.[5] He was a student
during the Vietnam War era in the late 1960s[8] and
graduated with a B.A. from the University of British
Columbia in Vancouver.
In 1969, Maté married artist and fellow UBC graduate
Rae Maté; together they have three children including
writer and journalist for The Grayzone, Aaron Maté.[9]
After working as a high school English and literature
teacher for several years, he returned to the
University of British Columbia to obtain his M.D. in
general family practice in 1977.
Maté ran a private family practice in East Vancouver
for over 20 years. He was the medical coordinator of
the Palliative Care Unit at Vancouver Hospital for
seven years. For 12 years, he was the staff physician
at Portland Hotel, a residence and resource centre
located in downtown Vancouver. Many of his patients had
co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns,
in addition to chronic health concerns, such as HIV. He
worked in harm reduction clinics in Vancouver's
Downtown Eastside.[10] He has written about his
experiences working with persons with substance use
disorders in In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. [11]
In 2008, Maté made national headlines in defence of the
physicians working at Insite (a legally supervised safe
injection site) after the federal Minister of Health,
Tony Clement, attacked them as unethical.[12]
In 2010, Maté became interested in the traditional
Amazonian plant medicine ayahuasca and its potential
for treating addictions. He partnered with a Peruvian
Shipibo ayahuasquero (traditional shamanic healer) and
began leading multi-day retreats for addiction
treatment, including ones in a Coast Salish First
Nations community that were the subject of an
observational study by health researchers from the
University of Victoria and the University of British
Columbia. Although preliminary and limited by the
observational study design, the research results showed
that participants had significant improvements in some
psychological measures and reductions in problematic
substance use, suggesting that Maté's claims of
therapeutic efficacy may be well-founded.[13] However,
when the Canadian federal government learned about
Maté's work with ayahuasca in 2011, Health Canada
threatened to refer the matter to the RCMP if he did
not immediately stop his activities with an illegal
drug.[14]
Writings and views
Medicine
In his books and lectures, Maté emphasizes the role of
biopsychosocial aspects of pathology and the role of
psychological trauma and stress. He underlines the
importance of relations and social attachment for
learning and health. His ideas are consistent with a
trauma-informed care framework.[15][16]
Maté defines addiction as any behaviour or substance
that a person uses to relieve pain in the short term,
but which leads to negative consequences in the long
term. Without addressing the root cause of the pain, a
person may try to stop but will ultimately crave
further relief and be prone to relapse. By this
definition, many things in modern culture have the
potential to become addictive such as gambling, sex,
food, work, social media, and drugs.[4] He argues the
"war on drugs" actually punishes people for having been
abused and entrenches addiction more deeply, as studies
show that stress is the biggest driver of addictive
relapse and behaviour.[11] He says a system that
marginalizes, ostracizes, and institutionalizes people
in facilities with no care and easy access to drugs,
only worsens the problem.[11][17]
Palestine
In July 2014, Maté wrote an opinion piece titled,
"Beautiful Dream of Israel has become a Nightmare", he
described how the policies imposed by Israel were not
compatible with a just peace, and described how "There
is no understanding Gaza out of context".[18] Maté drew
direct comparisons between Gaza and the Warsaw Ghetto
and commented on the severe power imbalance stating,
"Unlike Israel, Palestinians lack Apache helicopters,
guided drones, jet fighters with bombs, laser-guided
artillery."[18]
In November 2023, Maté was interviewed by Piers Morgan
in which he described how he cried every day for two
weeks after visiting Gaza. He also called for an end to
the occupation and persecution of Palestinians, as well
as a return of Palestinian land occupied since 1967.
[19]
Awards
2009: Hubert Evans Prize for Literary Non-Fiction for
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with
Addiction
2011: the Civic Merit Award of the City of Vancouver
"for his extensive work on addiction treatment and his
contributions to understanding mental health and youth
related to addiction, stress and childhood development"
[20]
2018: member of the Order of Canada[21]
2023: Vine Awards for Canadian Jewish Literature for
the book The Myth of Normal which he co-authored with
his son Daniel. The citation for the award said "The
book covers topics from brain chemistry to rethinking
what is deemed 'normal.' It's beautifully written and
changes the modern-day discussion on health and
healing".[22]
Criticism
Stanton Peele, psychologist and psychotherapist,
disagrees with Maté's notion of "trac[ing] every case
of addiction back to childhood trauma, stating that
"most addicts weren't traumatized as kids; most
traumatized people don't become addicts." Peele writes
that Maté, whom he still admires for his work with
Insite where he also had worked, offers "a reductionist
vision of addiction" that does not "account for
people's natural tendency to overcome abuse and
addictive experiences," and ignores the "strong
tendency that has been revealed, time and again, for
people with addictions to naturally remediate."[23]
Peele, in general, disagrees with the theory adopted
decades ago by modern physicians, mental health
professionals, research scientists, and others, that
addiction is a disease[24][25][26] and opposes all
twelve-step drug and alcohol treatment programs.[27]
Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the University
of Pennsylvania James Coyne claimed that Maté, by
"piling bonkers claims on bonkers claims," "urges us to
abandon what has evolved to be evidence-based solutions
to health and social problem," though he concedes that
"overspecialization in research and clinical practice
is an important issue, especially for the management of
difficult-to-diagnosis [sic], multiple comorbidities
with multiple medications."[28]
In a high-profile, live-streamed interview with Prince
Harry in March 2023, Maté diagnosed the prince publicly
with PTSD, ADHD, anxiety, and depression, based on his
conversation with him and reading his autobiography
Spare. During the chat, Maté told Prince Harry that he
had diagnosed him with ADD after reading through his
book and hearing about his life experiences.[29][30]
[31] His decision to do so was described as unorthodox
and reckless by some critics.[32]
Books
Scattered Minds: A New Look at the Origins and Healing
of Attention Deficit Disorder. Toronto: A.A. Knopf,
1999. ISBN 978-0676971453.
Scattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates
and What You Can Do About It. United States.
When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress.
Toronto: A.A. Knopf, 2003. ISBN 9781785042225.
When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease
Connection. United States.
Hold on to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More
Than Peers. Co-authored with Gordon Neufeld. Toronto:
A.A. Knopf, 2004. ISBN 9780307361967.[9]
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with
Addiction. Toronto: A.A. Knopf, 2008. ISBN
9781785042201.
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a
Toxic Culture, Co-authored with Daniel Maté, Toronto,
Canada, A.A. Knopf Canada, 2022 ISBN 9780593083895
Films and videos
The Power of Connection. Video. Wholehearted, 2020.
A Masterclass for Healers. Video. Wholehearted, 2020.
Healing Trauma & Addiction. Video. Wholehearted, 2020.
Wisdom of Trauma. Film. Science & Nonduality, 2021. By
Maurizio and Zaya Benazzo.
Zeitgeist: Moving Forward, 2011. By Peter Joseph.
Joe Rogan Experience #1869, 2022 (2 hr. 24 min. video
interview)
Drunk on Too Much Life.[33] Documentary, 2021.
Why do some people become addicts and not others?
Interview. BBC Ideas, 2022.
This Is Why You Feel LOST & UNHAPPY In Life! (Change
Everything) | Gabor Matč Interview/Podcast. Impact
Theory, Tom Bilyeu, 2022.
The Power of Connection & The Myth of Normal Video
Special. Wholehearted, 2022.
References
"'How we cope with this has a lot to do with our
past'". Irish Independent. January 31, 2021. Retrieved
July 12, 2021.
"Care to incarceration: what happens to those without
a fair start in life". The Independent. September 25,
2015. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
"Addiction is a Response to Childhood Suffering: In
Depth with Gabor Maté - ICPPD". ICPPD. March 2, 2016.
Retrieved November 29, 2016.
"How dealing with past trauma may be the key to
breaking addiction". The Guardian. November 24, 2018.
Retrieved July 12, 2021.
O'Malley, JP (December 21, 2019). "Addictions guru
channels survival of the Holocaust into self-help
empire". The Times of Israel. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
Gutman, Abraham (November 2, 2018). "How a traumatized
America finds relief in hate". inquirer.com. Retrieved
July 12, 2021.
Dr. Gabor Maté — The Myth of Normal, Metabolizing
Anger, Processing Trauma, and More, retrieved January
31, 2023
Nov 18, Ryan Meili; Share, 2014 10 min read. "Gabor
Maté: On Storytelling, Health, and the Ruling Class".
briarpatchmagazine.com. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
Cocozza, Paula (March 23, 2019). "'If you focus on
control, you have lost the battle': how to win back
your kids". The Guardian. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
Tierney, Allison (February 7, 2017). "How the Stigma
of Drug Addiction Hurts All of Us". Vice. Retrieved
July 12, 2021.
""In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts": Dr. Gabor Maté,
Physician at Vancouver Safe-Injection Site, on the
Biological and Socio-Economic Roots of Addiction and
ADD". Democracy Now!. February 3, 2010. Retrieved
January 14, 2011.
"Doctor calls Clement's Insite comments 'repugnant'".
The Canadian Press. CTV News. August 20, 2008.
Retrieved October 18, 2008.
Thomas, Gerald; Lucas, Philippe; Capler, Rielle N.;
Tupper, Kenneth W. & Martin, Gina (2013). "Ayahuasca-
Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a
Preliminary Observational Study in Canada". Current
Drug Abuse Reviews. 6 (1): 30–42.
doi:10.2174/15733998113099990003. PMID 23627784.
Retrieved December 26, 2013.
Posner, Michael (November 9, 2011). "B.C. doctor
agrees to stop using Amazonian plant to treat
addictions". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved
December 26, 2013.
Maté, Gabor (2012). "Addiction: Childhood Trauma,
Stress and the Biology of Addiction". Journal of
Restorative Medicine. 1 (1): 56–63.
doi:10.14200/jrm.2012.1.1005.
Treisman, Karen (2021). A treasure box for creating
trauma-informed organizations : a ready-to-use resource
for trauma, adversity, and culturally informed, infused
and responsive systems. Volumes 1 and 2. London:
Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-83997-136-5.
OCLC 1255846476.
MacBride, Katie. "This 38-year-old study is still
spreading bad ideas about addiction". The Outline.
Retrieved July 12, 2021.
Maté, Gabor (July 22, 2014). "Beautiful dream of
Israel has become a nightmare". Toronto Star. Retrieved
January 29, 2024.
"Holocaust survivor Dr Gabor Mate calls for land
return to Palestine". Middle East Monitor. November 29,
2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
"Civic Merit Award". vancouver.ca. Retrieved October
16, 2021.
"Dr. Gabor Maté". The Governor General of Canada.
Retrieved October 16, 2021.
"Sheila Heti and Gabor Maté among winners of $10K Vine
Awards which recognize best Canadian Jewish books". CBC
Books. October 23, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
"The Seductive, But Dangerous, Allure of Gabor Maté".
Psychology Today. December 5, 2011. Retrieved September
8, 2023.
Matano1, Robert A.; Wanat1, Stanley F. (January 2000).
"Addiction is a treatable disease, not a moral
failing". Western Journal of Medicine. 172 (1).
National Center for Biotechnology Information: 63.
doi:10.1136/ewjm.172.1.63. PMC 1070736. PMID 10695451.
"Substance Use Disorders". ama-assn.org. American
Medical Association. October 2023. Retrieved October
24, 2023.
"What Is a Substance Use Disorder?". psychiatry.org.
American Psychiatric Association. December 2020.
Retrieved October 24, 2023.
Peele, Stanton; Bufe, Charles (2000). Resisting 12-
Step Coercion: How to Fight Forced Participation in AA,
NA, or 12-Step Treatment. See Sharp Press. ISBN 978-1-
884365-17-1. Archived from the original on April 7,
2017.
Coyne, James (July 23, 2021). "Gabor Maté's Bizarre
Ideas on Connections Between Stress and Disease".
Medika Life. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
"Trauma expert Gabor Maté diagnoses Prince Harry with
ADD but says it 'can be cured'". ok.co.uk. March 4,
2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
"'This is dangerous': How people have reacted to
Harry's conversation with Gabor Maté". yahoo news.
March 6, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
"Response to the Dr. Maté - Prince Harry Interview:
Debunking the Trauma Industry". Dr. Mario Martinez
Channel. March 5, 2023. Archived from the original on
March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
"No, Gabor Maté Did Not Actually Diagnose Prince Harry
with ADHD on Live TV". Additude Magazine Online. March
13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
"Drunk on Too Much Life (2021) - IMDb". IMDb.
Retrieved September 8, 2023.
External links
And heres another link to his work:
Trauma, Healing and The Brain: Community Learning
Event, Dr. Gabor Mate
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