Has Your Child Been Traumatized?

A Parent's Guide to Recognizing, Understanding, and Healing After Trauma

When something difficult happens to a child, the adults around them often feel helpless. What do I say? What do I avoid? How do I know if they need professional help — or if they just need time?

Has Your Child Been Traumatized? was written to answer those questions.

This book walks parents and caregivers through the science of childhood trauma in plain language — what's happening in the nervous system, why some children recover quickly while others don't, and what you can do at home to support healing.

It is not a clinical manual. It is a practical guide for the people who matter most in a child's recovery: the adults who love them.

What the Book Covers

How trauma affects the developing brain and nervous system

Why avoidance — the most common parental instinct — often makes things worse

How to talk to your child about what happened (without making it worse)

The signs that professional help is needed — and what to look for in a therapist

How to rebuild safety, routine, and connection after a disrupting event

Practical strategies you can use at home, starting today

Who This Book Is For

Parents and caregivers navigating the aftermath of a difficult experience — whether it's a single event, an ongoing situation, or something their child witnessed.

Therapists and school counselors who want a resource to recommend to families.

Anyone who works with children and wants to better understand how trauma shows up — and what actually helps.

What People Are Saying

"Mintz's no-judgement style book is well written and a fantastic resource for any caregiver. It is the type of book that a parent can continue to refer to through all stages of their child's development and is far better than many of the guilt-inducing books that paint a picture of negativity when a parent is not perfect. This book is one for the collection, and one to pass along when the time comes."
— Rebecca Wu, Book Reviewer with Glam Adelaide

"If you were drawn in by the title of this book, you have come to the right place. Reading this book, you will see that you are not alone, and you can benefit from Dr. Goldberg Mintz's experience and abundant examples of parents' struggles and successes."
— Jon G. Allen, PhD, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine

"In this era of exposure to violence of all types, this book represents a critical step forward in equipping parents to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma. It also guides parents to develop a step-by-step approach for helping their child recover. A welcome, important contribution for parents worldwide."
— Terence M. Keane, PhD, Professor and Assistant Dean for Research, Boston University School of Medicine

"Speaking from the heart, Dr. Goldberg-Mintz uses her years of training, experience, and clinical wisdom to teach you how to support your child's healing process after a stressful or traumatic experience. Her concrete examples and recommendations provide skills you can use right away. This is a book that will soon have many dog-eared pages!"
— Jennifer B. Hughes, PhD, author of PTSD Recovery Workbook

"This book empowers you to recognize changes in your child after a traumatic experience, help them handle strong feelings, and be an advocate for their mental health. Dr. Goldberg Mintz gives you concrete suggestions for what to do and say. Learn how your unique bond with your child can promote healing, and if needed, how you can partner effectively with a therapist. A tremendous tool for parents."
— Mollie Gordon, MD, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine

"An experienced, effective therapist explains the 'what' and 'why' of how children deal with potentially traumatic events — and how you can help your own child cope. What sets this book apart from others is how Dr. Goldberg Mintz writes in an extraordinarily accessible way without sacrificing the science."
— Ron Acierno, PhD, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Available Now

Has Your Child Been Traumatized? is available wherever books are sold.

Currently available in English, Dutch, German, Polish, and Greek — with translations to Chinese, Ukrainian, Arabic, and Japanese in development.