“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

                                                                                     ~ Mahatma Gandhi  

Children who act out in an oppositional manner, are frequently drawing upon an internal struggle to oppose or reject something in their lives.  Oppositional children are often blamed for their defiant behaviors, but are not always offered a listening ear, to hear why they are acting out in a disobedient and uncooperative way.

It is important to recognize that not all children who are acting out or behaving in an oppositional manner, should be diagnosed.  In fact, it is of extreme importance that children who act out in negative ways be given an opportunity to discuss the problems that plague their young lives.  Moreover, as a good clinician, we should be looking at the entire scope of the child’s life, including the psychosocial and economic perspective.  Unfortunately, in some egregious cases, children are reacting rather than simply acting out.  Therefore, as a clinician we must offer our best detective skills when looking at the life of a child. 

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