Child Behavior Problems
Increase your understanding of child behavior, and how to build psychological resilience and well being in children, adolescents and young adults? The articles below enhance understanding of psychological concerns in young people, and how to enhance psychological competence and well-being in young people.
Young people show numerous psychological concerns, from those behaviors that signal psychological wellness, to those that suggest psychological problems that need to be addressed.
Click on the links below to find information about child behavior. Learn about the behaviors that can signal psychological well being in young people. Or learn more about the child behaviors that can point to psychological concerns in a young person.
These articles also explore the kinds of conditions that help promote positive psychological outcomes in young people, despite the psychological challenges they face.
Learn More About Child Behavior
Parents, and the helping professionals who work with young people and their families, worry about a range of child behavior
problems from the relatively benign to the more severe. Some young people
show internalizing behavior problems, such as anxiety, depression and
withdrawal behaviors. Others show externalizing behavior problems such as as
aggression, oppositional defiant behaviors and ADHD.
Click on the links
below to increase your understanding of the child behavior problems that
worry you, and how to address them. The articles below also explore those child behaviors that signal psychological resilience and well being in young people.
Externalizing Behaviors
Child behavior problems come in many guises, and fall into various categories. The articles in this section focus on externalizing problems such as ADHD, aggression, hyperactivity and oppositional defiant behaviors.
- Aggressive Behavior in Children: This article describes behaviors that characterize aggressive children. The importance of early intervention is addressed, as are the multiple interactive factors that can contribute to aggression in children. Strategies to help aggressive children are also offered.
- More About Aggressive Children: This article addresses the behavioral concerns that aggressive children show. It also discusses the psychological disorders that are associated with aggression. Aggressive children are triggered by stressors and trauma reminders, which inhibit their ability to cope successfully with everyday stressors.
Internalizing Behaviors.
The child behavior problems in this section focus on internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression. Young people with internalizing problems do not always show their internal distress. They tend to be compliant and their psychological distress may go unnoticed.
- Anxiety Disorders in Children: This article outlines the different ways that an anxiety disorder can present in children, and the increased risks they face for developing elevated levels of anxiety, when family members suffer from an anxiety disorder. It also discusses how psychological testing can help young people who are showing elevated levels of anxiety.
- Child Anxiety: This article provides a brief overview of different types of child anxiety disorders, as well as the signs and symptoms that might signal an anxiety disorder. You are also encouraged to consider whether a young person who is showing anxious behaviors might benefit from professional support.
- A Child Anxiety Disorder: This article discusses a range of anxiety disorders that can present in young people. It provides information on how child anxiety disorders are treated, and "Tips to Help the Anxious Child."
- Childhood Depression: This article provides a brief overview of childhood depression. Depression runs in families. Children are at greater risk of developing a depressive disorder, when other family members have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder. This article also addresses the symptoms of childhood depression and how a psychological assessment can help.
Neuropsychological Conditions
The child behavior problems in this section are associated with concerns that young person may show learning in school, and achieving academically. Various neuropsychological processing deficiencies may lie at the heart of these concerns. These may include sensori-motor or visual-spatial difficulties and/or memory weaknesses, or executive function concerns and poor processing speed skills
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: This article provides a brief overview of ADHD.. It discusses the problems that children with ADHD show. The symptoms of ADHD are addressed, as is the ADHD diagnosis and its various components.
- Specific Learning Disability: This article provides an overview of the signs and symptoms associated with a Specific Learning Disability. It describes what a Specific Learning Disability is and the neuropsychological processing weaknesses that are associated with this diagnosis.
PTSD & Complex Trauma
The child behavior concerns in this section are associated with a range of behaviors that are symptomatic of trauma. These include trauma symptoms associated with chronic, ongoing, complex forms of trauma or a single acute traumatic event.
Child Attachment : This article addresses the benefits of a secure child attachment. It also provides a brief overview of attachment theory.
Traumatic Stress Disorder: This article explores symptoms associated with traumatic stress disorder. These symptoms may result from a single acute trauma, like a motor vehicle accident, or more chronic ongoing forms of trauma like Complex Trauma.
Concussion & Traumatic Brain Injury
In this section we discuss the behavioral, and neuro-cognitive concerns, along with the learning problems that can be associated with a concussion or mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Milld Traumatic Brian Injury In Children, Adolescents and Young Adults: This article increases understanding of traumatic brain injury in children, especially the detrimental effects of a mild TBI and/or concussion.
Psychological Testing
Dr. O'Connor offers psychological testing services to explore child behaviors and psychological issues in young people. The articles below explore the psychological testing services that Dr. O'Connor offers to help get to the root of a range of childhood issues and concerns.
Learning Disability Assessment: This article describes what a learning disability is, how it is defined and the role that a learning disability plays in the diagnosis of a Specific Learning Disability.
Child Assessment: This resource explores how a child assessment can get to the root of the child problem that worries you. It also addresses the kinds of concerns that may be the focus of a child assessment.
A Behavioral Assessment: Learn how a behavioral assessment can help. Find out what types of problems the behavioral assessment can address. Discover what increases the odds that the child will outgrow a behavioral problem, and how to help address behavioral concerns in the child. Learn about strategies that you can use to help address behavioral problems in children.
Child Behavior Case Study: This resource provides a child behavior case study. It outlines the case of a child who was showing behavior problems. It addresses the mother's concerns and how the psychological assessment offered solutions to help address the child behavior problems at issue.
Psychological Testing Services: This article provides an overview of Dr. O'Connor's testing services.
Psychological Tests: This article provides an overview of the various categories and types of tests that Dr. O'Connor uses when conducting a psychological assessment.
Miscellaneous Child Behaviors
Enuresis in Children: This resource provides an overview child enuresis. It also provides recommendations for addressing this concern.
Child with Emotional Problems: This resource discusses child emotional problems, both internalizing and externalizing concerns. It also provides a brief overview of emotional development, and the benefits of sound emotional intelligence. Strategies to assist the child who is showing emotional problems are provided.
Sibling Fighting: This article discussed issues related to sibling fighting, and how to address this concern.
Check Lists
Child Problems Checklist: This resource provides a checklist to help you explore how serious the child problems that worry you might be.
Is It just a Child Development Stage or a More Serious Concern? This article provides an overview of the signs that can signal psychological wellness in a young person, as well as those that can point to psychological distress.
Contact Dr. O'Connor About Child Behavior Problems