ODD
NorthPoint Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) counseling is designed to help in the Treatment of ODD by providing helping in ways of: parent training programs– helping to manage the child's behavior; Individual psychotherapy to develop more effective anger management; Family psychotherapy to improve communication and through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to assist problem solving and decrease negativity and Social Skills Training to increase flexibility and improve frustration tolerance with peers.
Even the best-behaved children can be difficult and challenging at times. Teens are often moody and argumentative. But if your child or teen has a persistent pattern of tantrums, arguing, and angry or disruptive behaviors toward you and other authority figures, he or she may have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
As a parent, you don't have to go it alone in trying to manage a child with oppositional defiant disorder. Doctors, counselors and child development experts can help. Treatment of ODD involves therapy, special types of training to help build positive family interactions, and possibly medications to treat related mental health conditions.
It may be tough at times to recognize the difference between a strong-willed or emotional child and one with oppositional defiant disorder. Certainly there's a range between the usual independence-seeking behavior of children and oppositional defiant disorder. It's normal to exhibit oppositional behaviors at certain stages of a child's development.
However, your child's issue may be ODD if your child's oppositional behaviors:
- Are persistent
- Have lasted at least six months
- Are clearly disruptive to the family and home or school environment
The following are behaviors associated with ODD:
- Negativity
- Defiance
- Disobedience
- Hostility directed toward authority figures
These behaviors might cause your child to regularly and consistently show these signs and symptoms:
- Temper tantrums
- Argumentativeness with adults
- Refusal to comply with adult requests or rules
- Deliberate annoyance of other people
- Blaming others for mistakes or misbehavior
- Acting touchy and easily annoyed
- Anger and resentment
- Spiteful or vindictive behavior
- Aggressiveness toward peers
- Difficulty maintaining friendships
- Academic problems
- Related mental health issues
Oppositional defiant disorder often occurs along with other behavioral or mental health problems such as:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Anxiety
Depression
The symptoms of ODD may be difficult to distinguish from those of other behavioral or mental health problems.
It's important to diagnose and treat any co-occurring illnesses because they can create or worsen irritability and defiance if left untreated. Additionally, it's important to identify and treat any related substance abuse and dependence. Substance abuse and dependence in children or adolescents is often associated with irritability and changes in the child's or adolescent's usual personality.
For yourself, counseling can provide an outlet for your own mental health concerns that could interfere with the successful treatment of your child's symptoms. If you're depressed or anxious, that could lead to disengagement from your child — and that can trigger or worsen oppositional behaviors.1
1 mayoclinic.com