Everyone knows that children misbehave at times.  Sometimes, they are tired, or hungry, or frustrated in their attempts to communicate their needs and wishes or at the requirements that adults and society place upon them.  In these instances, children require patient, understanding adults who can set limits and gently redirect their behavior in a positive direction.

Sometimes, however, children's misbehavior can be an expression of underlying emotional or developmental issues that simple disciplinary measures do not address.  In fact, attempts to discipline a child who is struggling with emotional problems can provoke even greater emotional problems and escalate misbehavior.

In either case, a careful evaluation by a trained professional can identify when a child is struggling emotionally, requiring a more intensive treatment, or when simple suggestions to parents are sufficient to promote more child-focused and developmentally-appropriate parenting strategies to assist the child coping with stresses and developmental challenges.

At Great Lakes Psychology Group, we conduct a thorough assessment to identify children's problems and choose the most appropriate treatment strategy.  Addressing children's behavior problems usually involves intensive participation of the parents, and sometimes other family members, in order to promote consistency and address any stresses within the family that may be contributing to the child's misbehavior.