Oppositional Defiance Disorder Therapy

Oppositional Defiance Disorder is a mental health issue that involves the repeated and continual oppositional behavior and attitude of a child or adolescent. Oppositional Defiance Disorder, otherwise referred to as ODD, is presented when a child has repetitive tantrums, a disrespect for authority figures, an argumentative nature and a constant, defiant attitude toward regulations and rules.

Understanding ODD

• Additional symptoms associated with ODD include things like blaming other people for behaviors that the child or adolescent is responsible for, extreme sensitivity, frequent irritation, resentful or angry feelings on a repetitive basis, and vengeful or even spiteful actions without consideration to the consequences associated with such acts.

  It is important to realize that ODD differs from traditional teenage rebellion or a child's desire to assert his or her independence. ODD can have a seriously negative effect on a child or adolescent's life, and the child might find him or herself in trouble with the law or other authorities due to inappropriate behaviors and actions.

Oppositional Defiance Disorder Therapy

• Therapy for a child or adolescent suffering from ODD will not only involve the child or adolescent in question, but the entire family. Because a child or adolescent with ODD is a bit more problematic for parents than other children might be, the parents will have to learn positive ways for dealing with the continual presentation of oppositional behaviors. Family counseling is recommended so that parents can learn how to manage the everyday and repetitive power struggles that they will face with a child with ODD, and effective management strategies can be conveyed in a counseling setting.

  The child or adolescent with ODD will also require one-on-one sessions with a qualified counselor so that he or she can learn positive methods for asserting wants and desires instead of becoming oppositional. Anger management is also recommended so that the child or adolescent is armed with the knowledge on how to control his or her behavior before the behavior becomes impulsive and/or problematic.

  Usually, children with ODD are not placed on medication, because medications have been proven ineffective in treating the condition. Unless the child or adolescent has other mental health issues along with the presence of ODD, medications are not commonly offered for this mental health condition. Some children seemingly outgrow ODD and the oppositional behavior disappears. Other children might grow up to have other mental health issues as a result of unsuccessful treatment of the ODD condition as a child.

ODD and Behavioral Therapy

• A qualified counselor or therapist will work with a child or adolescent suffering from ODD, so that he or she can learn new behaviors that can replace the oppositional behaviors that the child or adolescent presents. Parents will be encouraged to develop a contract that details acceptable behaviors, which are rewarded and the negative behaviors not rewarded. The goal is for the parents to work closely with the therapist to make expectations perfectly clear to the child or adolescent with ODD. Parents are then fully guided on appropriate methods for dealing with different situations, including forms of punishment when necessary. The parent's consistency is key to getting issues with ODD under control because the child will learn, over time, that certain behaviors will always meet with negative consequences and that positive behaviors are rewarded.