For every behavior disorder that a child, teen or adult has, there is usually a type of behavior modification that can be used to help cope with or solve the problem. Some behavior modification ideas are drastic, some are common sense. It is clear that the answers are not a one size fits all. Always consult with your family doctor or other medical professional before beginning any type of treatment or lifestyle change in regards to these disorders.

Here we will list a few of the methods used for behavior modification. This list is in no way comprehensive, it is just to give a general idea of what can be done.

Cutting: The first thing to do if a parent suspects that a child is cutting is to ask the child. The child may be very relieved to have someone to talk to. It is important for your child to feel that you accept them unconditionally but to know that you are concerned. It is key that the child feels the concern you have without the judgment. It is important to let the child know that you will help them in whatever possible way and that they need to see a mental health professional right away. Once the mental health professional meets with the child and gets a good idea of what the issues are they can help you come up with a family plan on how to help the child.

Lying: There are parents who may believe that children grow out of this. This can be a dangerous attitude. In this world lying is unacceptable. A child needs to know that there is zero tolerance. Privileges should be removed. This could mean that you may have to take everything away from your child, that really means everything. You may have to remove all furniture items including the bed and have the child earn these things back. Trust is a serious issue and the sooner that you take a stand the better off the child will be. If you develop a trusting individual you make their lives easier in every way including relationships and careers. As with most discipline, this can be harder for the parent than the child but it is worth it. As with all treatments you should discuss this with a mental health professional.

Stealing: As we covered in another article, the innate urge to steal is a very rare disorder. Most people do this for other reasons. Since we covered those in the Behavior Disorders article we will not go into depth here. It is key that a parent hold a child responsible. If this means that your child gets arrested, let them pay that consequence. Natural consequences are great teachers. If the stealing is done alongside other things like lying or aggression you need to speak with a mental health professional and seek the best treatment and possibly the idea of a boarding school that may help the child break the habits.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder: This hard to diagnose disorder is a tough thing for parents to conquer. It involves serious commitment and consistent follow through. The Mayo Clinic suggests the following list for improving your parenting skills to better deal with ODD. Give effective time outs, Avoid power struggles, Remain calm and unemotional in the face of opposition, Recognize and praise your child's good behaviors and positive characteristics, Offer acceptable choices to your child, giving him or her a certain amount of control, Establish a schedule for the family that includes that includes specific meals that are to be eaten at home together, and specific activities one or both parents will do with the child. Limit consequences to those can be consistently reinforced and if possible, last for a limited amount of time. Many families need family therapy to get through ODD as well as the individual therapy for the child in need.

Aggressive Behavior: A study done by the Education Resources Information Center showed that the “The most commonly used treatments were functional communication training and differential reinforcement of other behavior.” Aggressive behavior is naturally a tough disorder to deal with. Some parents have found that in addition to their discipline (quite like the discipline needed for ODD), some children respond to relaxing activities such as massage. Things such as massage can have an effect on brain waves and the chemicals that the body releases thus, changing the mood or chemical make up of the child in a natural way. Exercise has also been effective.

Treatment: Medications: Medications do not seem to widely used to treat solely behavioral issues. If the behavior presents with other problems such as excessive fears or compulsions, anxiety, or other problems medication may be prescribed. One study by Dr. Tolin, PhD with the Institute of Living shows that D-cycloserine (an antibiotic, often the treatment for tuberculosis) in conjunction with behavior therapy promotes rapid results. The patients who took the medicine and did the behavior therapy had their symptoms go from moderate to mild within weeks. The lasting effect of this outcome is unknown. Another medication that has been used in conjunction with behavior therapy is fluoxetine (an anti-depressant). Please note that only your physician or a mental health professional can know if you should use these medications.

Therapy: Parental training is the most common therapy used for overcoming most behavior disorders. Parents are re-trained on how to parent while addressing the needs of the child. Most times the parents are told that families need a routine that is predictable, rules and consequences that are consistently used, and a focus on what the child does right. The parent is also trained to not become emotional when dealing with disruptive behaviors.

Behavioral therapists work to change problematic behaviors that have been trained through years of reinforcement. A good example of behavioral therapy would be a therapist working with a client to overcome a fear of heights. The therapist would encourage the client to gradually face their fear of heights through experience. The client might first imagine standing on the roof of a tall building or riding an escalator. Next, the client would slowly expose themselves to greater and greater levels of their fear until thephobia diminishes or disappears entirely.

Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive and behavioral approaches can be highly effective when treating specific problems. Oftentimes, cognitive and behavioral approaches are combined when treating a disorder. A therapist treating a client with social anxiety may help the client form more accurate thinking patterns as well as focusing on specific behaviors, such as social avoidance.

Group Therapy: What is Group Therapy? Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where two or more clients work with one or more therapists or counselors. This methods is a popular format for support groups, where group members can learn from the experiences of others and offer advice. This method is also more cost effective than individual psychotherapy and is oftentimes more effective.

Benefits of Group Therapy: It is common for those suffering from a mental illness or problem behavior to feel alone, isolated or different. Group therapy can help clients by providing a peer group of individuals that are currently experiencing the same symptoms or who have recovered from a similar problem. Group members can also provide emotional support and a safe forum to practice new behaviors.

Outpatient/inpatient services: Depending on the needs of the child your health care professional may suggest outpatient therapy on a regular basis for the child and/or parents. If the child is having severe problems your doctor may suggest an inpatient type of treatment. This may be suggested in the form of a boarding school or any organization trained to deal with these disorders. These schools/programs are generally used only when a parent has exhausted all other resources.