A Behavioral Assessment helps get to the root of the behavioral concerns in a young person that worry you. The assessment also leads to evidence based interventions to address these concerns, and . explores a broad range of psychological issues in the young person.
These might include difficulties learning and paying attention in school. They may also centre on low self-esteem, or symptoms of anxiety, or withdrawal behaviors or extreme shyness. Or various depressive symptoms, or difficulties with behavioral and emotional regulation and other executive control functions.
The Behavioral Assessment may also explore learning, social and emotional problems, as well as behavior problems. Some children externalize their problems and show poor impulse control. They may act out in an angry, aggressive manner. Children who exhibit internalizing problems may appear withdrawn or passive and anxious and depressed.Remember "Understanding the Problem is the Key to Solving It."
Dr. O'Connor's Psychological Assessments and School Neuropsychological Evaluations are designed to meet the individual needs of each young person. A behavioral assessment becomes a strong focus of Dr. O'Connor's psychological testing services when behavioral problems are of particular issue for a young person.
A behavioral assessment can increase your understanding of behavior problems in a child or adolescent and lead to evidence based interventions to address them.
A Behavioral Assessment can help uncover what is contributing to and maintaining a behavioral problem in a young person. Although many people are quick to blame parents for problem behaviors in young people, multiple factors often interact to contribute to and maintain the behavioral concerns in the child or adolescent. .
The young person's behavior, for example, can influence how others feel about him and how they behave toward him. A parent, for example, may find it hard to interact in a positive manner with a difficult child. Problem behaviors in children can also negatively affect the mood and the parenting behaviors of the parent.
In addition, problem behaviors contribute to significant stress in parents, teachers and others who are involved with the young person. The behavior of problem children can also precipitate negative events, which contribute further to the child or adolescent's problems.
Although ineffective parenting can contribute to child behavior problems, so too can a host of other interacting factors. These include the child's temperament, family problems and stress, as well as genetics.
We need to move beyond the view that parents are to blame for all their child's problems. Similarly, we need to realize that genes are not the only important factor either. The child's environment, including the parents' attachment and parenting style, can interact with genetic factors to contribute to child problems.
Children with behavior problems are a product of both nature and nurture. A complex interaction between the child and his environment shapes his behavior and how he perceives his world and the threats and challenges he encounters. The environment not only influences the child's behavior, and the brain development behind it, but the way his/her brain develops as a result of social, and other environmental factors. This, in turn, can influence his/her behavior, and how others react to him/her. Children will often adopt unhealthy coping or defensive behaviors to deal with the stressors in their lives, which, in turn, can contribute to behavior problems.
A behavior problem in children is of concern to parents, and others who work with the child. They want to know if the child will outgrow the problem and what they can do to help.
Research suggests that some behavior problems in children do persist beyond childhood. In one study of children with behavioral and emotional problems, for example, approximately 40 % of the children had problems in adulthood. However, the good news is-60 % did not (Hofstra, Vander Ende, & Verhulst). Consequenlty, a behavior problem in childhood does not doom most children to a life of problematic and difficult behaviors.
Problems are likely to persist into adulthood for children who have severe behavior problems and receive little or no help to address them. On the other hand, children who receive support and exhibit other protective factors are more likely to overcome child behavior problems.
Hofstra, M.B., Van der Ende, J. & Verhuulst, F.C. (2000). Continuity and change of psychopathology from chidlhood into adulthood. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 850-858.