Parenting and Child Conduct Counseling

Let's talk about kids who seem to say "no" to everything! Maybe they frequently argue or throw tantrums that make you want to pull your hair out. If this sounds familiar, you might be wondering if your child has something called Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). This blog series will help you understand ODD and what you can do about it. Click Here to Review the Introduction: Stubbornness vs. ODD: What's the Difference? It's normal for kids to be stubborn sometimes. They might not want to clean their room, eat their vegetables, or go to bed when you tell them to. But this is usually just a temporary thing. They might get a little frustrated, but they eventually come around. ODD is different. It's when a child's defiance and arguments become a struggle almost every day for at least six months. ODD behaviors may disrupt one or more of these settings; your home, school, and peer relationships. Your child might argue constantly, even over small things. They

  Remember Part 1? We discussed the reasons behind your child's constant defiance, such as brain chemistry, genes, and even things happening around them at home or school. Now, in Part 2, let's move past understanding why they act out and find real solutions—how to help them behave better! Click Here to review Part 1: Helping Your Child Behave Better: A Guide to ODD Treatment Does your child argue, get mad quickly, and frequently appear in a bad mood? They might have Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). It's a common problem for kids, but the good news is there are ways to help them act better. Think of it like a Team Effort. In many cases, the best way to tackle ODD is to work together with multiple mental health professionals. A combination of different treatments can be beneficial and sometimes crucial when your child also suffers from depression, anxiety, ADHD, or other disorders or problems. Core Treatments Parent Boot Camp (PMT):  This unique program teaches parents

Where We've Been and Where We're Going In "Part 1: Is It Just Stubbornness? Understanding Why Your Child Says "No" So Often" and " Part 2: Powerful Treatments for Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) ," we embarked on a journey to understand Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). We explored the factors contributing to ODD and the hope offered by Parent Management Training (PMT), supplemented with other therapies. Parents of children with ODD know the frustration and strain that managing disruptive behavior can create in the parent-child relationship. But here's the good news: more than 80% of children with ODD experience significant improvement when parents consistently practice practical parenting skills, which can translate to a lasting shift in communicating and connecting with your child. The Importance of Relationship Building Part 3 takes us from understanding to action. We'll delve into practical strategies and resources to rebuild th

In previous blogs, we've discussed ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), effective treatments, the importance of a positive relationship, and how a child with ODD can make things challenging at home. But there's good news! Part 4 is all about taking action. Part 4: The Art of Getting Heard: Giving Directions Your Child with ODD Will Actually Follow . The first skill in Part 3, Rebuilding Your Parent/Child Relationship, will be connected with  the second skill, teaching your child to follow your directions.  Teaching Your Child to Follow Directions Let's face it, raising a child with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) can be challenging, especially when it comes to getting them to follow directions. But here's the good news: a strong and positive relationship with your child is the foundation for success with Parent Management Training (PMT) and navigating these challenges together. Think of it like this: if your child feels safe and trusts you, they will likely listen a

St. Charles Award Program ST. CHARLES, April 3, 2024 -- The St. Charles Award Program has selected Parenting and Child Conduct Counseling for the 2024 Best of St. Charles Award in the Counseling & Mental Health category. Each year, the St. Charles Award Program identifies companies we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These local companies enhance small businesses' positive image through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the St. Charles area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2024 St. Charles Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the St. Charles Award Program and data provided by third parties. About St. Charles Award Program The St. Charles Award Program is an annual aw

Welcome to Telementalhealth Hey there! I’m Andy, a therapist who specializes in training parents to better manage and change their children’s Disruptive Behavior Problems (Engelbrektsson et al., 2023a; Engelbrektsson et al., 2023b; Engelbrektsson et al., 2023c) , reduce Anxiety ( Lebowitz, 2020;  SPACE , n.d.) , and D epression (Eckshtain et al., 2015) . Behavioral Parent Training research into the effectiveness of  treating  ADHD has found  promising yet inconclusive positive results   ( 12 Behavioral Programs for Managing ADHD , 2018; Ciesielski et al., 2019; Hornstra et al., 2023) . My approach to child therapy, Parent Training, focuses on empowering parents to provide a home environment that enhances and treats their child’s recovery from behavioral, emotional, and social problems. And guess what? I offer counseling services exclusively through Telementalhealth or Live Online, as I call it. Why Telementalhealth? Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve shifted my private pra