Anger, Tantrums and Acting Out
Often when children or teens are angry or acting out, there is an underlying reason. We do not consider angry children to be “bad” but rather search for the underlying cause for their distress.
Tantrums and anger in children are sometimes masking anxiety and once we reduce the anxiety, the tantrums subside. Anger in teens can be masking depression as well as anxiety.
Our psychologists can help your children and teens understand the triggers for anger and moodiness and we can help them learn how to self-soothe.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an effective therapy for children and teens to help them manage their anger.
Mindfulness meditation and relaxation help children and teens learn to respond rather than react to upsetting triggers.
Collaborative Problem-Solving
Dr. Ross Greene, who wrote the book entitled, “The Explosive Child”, designed a parenting approach entitled Collaborative Problem-Solving (now called Collaborative and Proactive Solutions) to help children who become inflexible and oppositional in the face of challenges. This approach can be used with any young person and is particularly helpful in situations where behavioural strategies, such as rewards and consequences, have not produced the desired outcome.
Parenting Skills Training
There are fundamental good parenting practices that all parents should know. In addition, it is helpful to adapt a parenting approach to meet the individual needs of each child and teen in your home while also maintaining some consistency between children. We will provide you with some guidance and concrete tips on how to parent your children whether they are angry, anxious, sad or happy. Consistent parenting improves self-confidence in children and builds resilience to future stress.