​An Honest Look at Behavioral Modification Programs for Troubled Teenagers

I have an adopted son. When we were approved, my wife and I were over the moon. This little boy, whom we had already fallen in love with, was going to be under our care and in our family for good. We couldn’t think of anything more perfect. It was only a couple of months in when we started to really grow concerned. He was angry, threw constant tantrums that would last for hours and could become violent. While his actions were manageable when he was little, we worried about what would happen as he got bigger. After recognizing that he wasn’t making progress as he got older and spent more time with us, we were unsure of what to do for him. His pediatrician was the first to diagnose him with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). ODD is common in children who are adopted, especially at a young age. ODD displays as a resistance to authority that can become a lifelong struggle. Now he is in his teens and for the most part has overcome many of the behavioral issues that are associated with the disorder. This is thanks to an early diagnosis and regular therapeutic intervention. But I have always wondered what my wife and I would have done if the interventions we took part in early had not worked, or if we had not done them at all. Behavioral Issues in Teenagers Teenagers are predisposed towards risky behaviors. As part of their development, it takes time for the brain to begin creating those mushy centers of self-control and risk assessment that we, as adults, take for granted...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens Communication Parenting Personality Students Success & Achievement Treatment Adolescence Adoption behavioral modification Delinquency Emotional Dysregulation Oppositional Defiant Disorder Self Control trouble Source Type: blogs