Family/Parenting Problems

Challenge

• Is your child particularly difficult or defiant?
• Have you tried lots of parenting methods without success?
• Do you find yourself continually “giving in” to prevent conflict?
• Do arguments between parent and child just seem to escalate out of control and become shouting matches that escalate?

For parents at their wits’ end, learning better behavioural techniques in managing their children and themselves can provide a roadmap to a calmer, concise, more consistent method of managing problem behaviours. Most importantly, this will offer a chance to help children develop and gain the developmental skills they need to regulate their own behaviours.

Option

Though managing children with troubling behaviours or strong emotions can be tough, it’s important to know that there is hope. There are evidence-based and effective treatments for dealing with difficult behaviours in children. There is a lot that can be done to guide, support and assist you in improving your child’s and your own ability to cope, and better manage these problems. This can include developing strategies and creating plans for how to deal with your child when they get into a challenging state. Therapies for your child may include age appropriate mindfulness, relaxation, home exercises, psychoeducation, ACT and CBT. Family therapy is also a good way of dealing with situations as a group, rather than as individuals. Congratulations in taking the first step, and don’t be afraid to take the next one!