All children and youth have outbursts from time to time, however some do have much difficulty in their ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors even when adverse consequences may occur. This lack of self-control can cause significant distress or impairment in a child’s or youth’s life. A number of different diagnoses are unified by impulsive and disruptive behaviors including oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and impulse control disorder (ICD). In this workshop you will learn more about the disorders defined in the chapter on disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), what treatments are available, and what parents/caregivers can do to better respond to impulsive and disruptive behavior.

The G.E.A.R. Parent Network, a program of Crisis & Counseling Centers, is the place where Gaining Empowerment Allows Results. G.E.A.R. is run by parents for parents providing services for parents of children with emotional and behavioral health concerns.

Through parent-to-parent sharing of experiences and knowledge, G.E.A.R. Parent Network empowers parents of children with behavioral health needs to build on their family’s strengths and to advocate for their family’s needs.