Social-Cognitive Therapy, Oppositional Defiance: Improving Academic Outcomes

For children who develop neuropsychological complications, the first signs and symptoms often occur during late grade school and into middle school. For many children, the behavioral complication may be associated with Oppositional Defiant disorder, ODD, or simply an aggression complication known as Conduct Disorder, CD.

As the parent of a child who has exhibited complications of aggression, Conduct Disorder or ODD, you have most likely experienced hostility, negative attitude, defiant and may have even experienced or witnessed your child's aggression or anger toward family, friends and animals. Theft, deceit and destruction of property may also be quite common experiences.

While we all desire that our children succeed academically, for children who suffer from ODD or CD, there may be serious deficits in academic progress. While it is unfortunate, children who exhibit this behavior are often deemed a burden by their peers and even their teachers; only further compounding their lack of progress in school. To treat these types of disorders in children, there must be a very proactive approach by both parents and counselors as, without treatment, many children with ODD and CD complications often become adults who are involved in crime and violence.

In many psychiatric settings, children who exhibit symptoms of Oppositional Defiant disorder or Conduct disorder, are often medicated with stimulants or anti-depressants so as to alleviate the impulsivity of their condition. However, medication for these mental health complications is simply not enough. In children who experience ODD and CD, it is often quite difficult to establish social connections with peers. For this reason, many parents are opting to pursue social-cognitive therapy in an effort to improve social skills of their child.