Distressing parent and teacher conferences have done little to stem the tide of Jimmy's defiance, and things aren't any better at home. The deadline to register for either program is Sept. 27. Sutton is a nationally recognized educator, psychologist and author who has been studying defiant and oppositional behavior in young people since the mid-1970s. He says poor school performance, irritability, depression, blaming, arguing, spitefulness and outright noncompliance are symptoms of a behavior called Oppositional Defiant Disorder. He believes that ODD affects two to five youngsters in every classroom and is often misdiagnosed and treated as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Symptoms can be similar, but treatment and interventions are quite different.
They also teach participants how to positively redirect oppositional and defiant behaviors. The workshops are designed for parents as well as teachers, school administrators and counselors, family therapists, social workers, and guidance clinic, juvenile court and Family Independence Agency personnel. Participants will take home a professionally prepared interactive workbook. A licensed psychologist, he began his career as a classroom teacher and has earned credentials as a school psychologist, professional counselor and certified chemical dependency specialist. He has served as a consultant for public and private schools, residential treatment centers, emergency youth shelters, juvenile probation authorities, special education cooperatives and regional education service centers.