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What
Happened to My Child?
When
Did the Teen Behavior Begin?
Parents
Feel Guilty
Teen
Behavior Problems Diagnosed
Oppositional
Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Conduct
Disorder
Behavior
Treatment Program
Inspirations For Youth And Families, LLC aka Inspirations
Teen Rehab, provides a residential treatment program
for teenagers who are creating chaos and disorder
in their families and personal lives. Teen Behavior Problems
are obvious when a teen demonstrates a pattern of negative,
defiant and disobedient behavior, also known as Oppositional
Defiant Disorder (ODD). Teens will also demonstrate repeated
and persistent refusal to adhere to rules and respect the
rights of others, without concern or empathy, also known as
Conduct Disorder.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CHILD? The parent’s dilemma.
What happened to my child? This is the question most often
asked, when parents call Inspirations Teen Rehab seeking help
for their teenage child. When parents call our center for help,
their conversations quickly recount a time when their teenager
was once a small child, and their world was happy, their child
was obedient, warm, welcoming, and loving. Then, the conversation
turns to the current situation of the struggle between the parent
and the child, in which the parent is traumatized, baffled,
and in a state of complete despair and desperation, needing
the assistance of anyone, preferably a professional, to help
understand and mend the alarming and chaotic behaviors of the
teenager and the repair of the destruction of the family unit.
Most parents are either heartbroken or angry or both. Their
dream for their child, which began when their child was placed
in their arms upon birth, now appears shattered.
Many parents are fearful of their teenager’s future,
as teen behaviors often jeopardize their college opportunities
and many times, put them at risk for incarceration. Incarceration
or involvement in the juvenile justice program can quickly
become a reality, as teens use or abuse drugs, become violent
and cause dangerous domestic situations, or demonstrate aggressive
or volatile behavior in public or while driving a vehicle.
WHEN DID THE TEEN BEHAVIOR PROBLEM BEGIN?
Parents, family members, teachers, coaches, and other people
involved in a teenagers life, often ask this question: When
did the teen behavior problem begin? This is a question that
is not easily answered. For teenagers who experienced a traumatic
event, the trauma is often the catalyst for behavioral problems.
For those teenagers who have a history of stable behavior
and age appropriate behavior, it is difficult to identify
the exact moment or incident (if one exists) at which the
teen changed course. Mental health professionals have identified
consistent behaviors, situations, or actions, commonly found
in teens and families who are struggling with teen behavior
problems.
• Given a sense of immediate gratification or quickly
satisfied
• Over-indulged, spoiled, or given money and objects
without earning them
• Lack of consistent home rules and curfews
• Lack of consistent home responsibilities (chores)
• Lack of definitive expectations and goals
• Lack of Consequences
• Lack of physical or emotional safety (home or school)
• Lack of quality time shared between parents and children
• Severe dysfunction in the home, including violence,
addiction, or mental health issues
PARENTS FEEL GUILTY
The above behaviors are characteristic of struggling teens,
but not limited to every teen. There are always exceptions,
behaviors and experiences not mentioned, but relevant to teen
behavioral issues. Parents often blame themselves for trying
to give a child more than the parent received as a child.
Sometimes, this behavior is known as spoiling a child or over-indulging
a child. Some parents and professionals believe that providing
a child with luxuries, a parent was unable to have as a child,
might be damaging or contributing to poor teen behaviors.
Some people believe that if items or money are given freely,
without behavioral or academic expectations or without earning
the objects or money in a goal oriented way, the chances of
the teen acting out or becoming difficult significantly increases.
There is no evidence to support these beliefs.
Parents are often innocently attempting to love a child, provide
a safe, nurturing home, and typically want more for a child
such as modern day comforts or luxuries, without malice. For
those parents who raised a child with such intent (with goals,
structure, rewards and consequences), do not feel guilty. However,
take a stand and seek out the assistance of professionals to
help redirect and therapeutically intervene upon the problematic
situation. Inspirations Teen Rehab can assist
you and your teen, in healing and recovering from family chaos
and teen problem behaviors.
Parents or caregivers who are aware of physical abuse, emotional
abuse, sexual abuse, school bullying and abuse, and other
traumatic and abusive experiences (including the death of
a loved one, divorce, abandonment, family violence, and extreme
financial devastation) need to focus on solutions and healing.
Identifying or diagnosing behaviors is only the beginning
of the healing process. Inspirations Teen Rehab, along with
solution oriented therapy and our therapeutic residential
treatment program, assists and guides the teen in rebuilding
and healing from the abuse and/or trauma, engaging the parents
and family members at the appropriate time.
TEEN BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS DIAGNOSED
For most parents and professionals, it is comforting to have
a point at which teen problematic behavior can be identified
or diagnosed. For most people, this denotes the beginning of
the search to find a solution and an understanding of the behavior.
For insurance companies and subsequently, mental health professionals
and medical doctors, a diagnosis is necessary to establish a
basis for which insurance payment for treatment or therapeutic
services can be granted. Oppositional Defiant Disorder
(ODD) and Conduct Disorder, are commonly diagnosed
disorders for teenage behavioral problems.
There are other disorders associated with behavioral issues
such as Adjustment Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).
*A diagnosis is not the only source or beginning point for which
teens, parents, and professionals begin to work toward a solution.
Therapeutic approaches such as Solution
Focused Therapy, Brief
Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychotherapy,
and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (to name a few), are also the
first steps towards solutions and healing for everyone involved.
OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER (ODD) - Diagnostic Features
The DSMIV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
identifies Oppositional Defiant Disorder as
“a recurrent pattern of negative, defiant, disobedient,
and hostile behavior toward authority figures that persists
for at least 6 months and is characterized by frequent occurrence
of at least four of the following behaviors: losing temper,
arguing with adults, defying or refusing to comply with the
requests or rules of adults, deliberately doing things that
will annoy other people, blaming others for his or her own mistakes
or misbehavior, being sensitive or easily annoyed by others,
being angry and resentful, or being spiteful or vindictive.
Negativistic and defiant behaviors are expressed by persistent
stubbornness, resistance to directions, and unwillingness
to compromise, give in, or negotiate with adults or peers.
Defiance may also include deliberate or persistent testing
of limits usually by ignoring orders, arguing, and failing
to accept blame for misdeeds. Hostility can be directed at
adults or peers and is shown by deliberately annoying others
or by verbal aggression. ” p. 100
CONDUCT DISORDER
The DSMIV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
identifies Conduct Disorder as “a repetitive and persistent
pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or
major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated.
There are four main groupings of these behaviors: aggressive
conduct that causes or threatens physical harm to other people
or animals, non aggressive conduct that causes property loss
or damage, deceitfulness or theft; and serious violations
of rules.” p.94
Children who are diagnosed with Conduct Disorder
are typically aggressive, initiating aggressive behaviors or
reacting aggressively. Physical fighting, bullying, threatening,
or intimidating is demonstrated. “Physical violence may
also take the form of rape, assault, or homicide.”
BEHAVIOR TREATMENT PROGRAM
Inspirations Teen Rehab has created a behavioral treatment
program for teens and families. The behavior treatment program
includes therapeutic methods and skill building activities
that are effective in working with adolescents:
• Psychotherapy
• Solution-Focused
Therapy
• Trauma
Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Family
Therapy
• Recreational
Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Music
Therapy
• Anger Management Skills
• Stress Management Skills
• Coping Skills
• Decision Making Skills
• Motivational Skills
• Communication Skills
• Team Building Skills
• Life Skills
• Physical Exercise Program
• Therapeutic High School Academic Program
Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone
call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you
need immediate attention you may contact us:
Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com
or e-mail
us.
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