Tantrums, Aggression, & Disruptive Behavior Treatment for Children and Caregivers in Portland, OR

Understanding Challenging Behaviors

All children have moments when they become upset, refuse directions, or struggle to manage big emotions. However, when tantrums, aggression, or disruptive behaviors occur frequently, are intense, or interfere with family life, school, friendships, or daily functioning, additional support may be helpful.

Challenging behaviors can include tantrums, hitting, biting, kicking, yelling, arguing, frequent noncompliance, emotional outbursts, or difficulty following directions. These behaviors are often signs that a child is struggling with skills such as emotional regulation, communication, flexibility, frustration tolerance, or coping with stress. Rather than viewing challenging behavior as a character flaw, I work to understand the factors contributing to the behavior and help families identify effective solutions.

Evidence-Based Treatment for Challenging Behaviors

As a child psychologist in Portland, OR, I provide evidence-based treatment for children experiencing behavioral challenges and for the caregivers supporting them.

For younger children, treatment often focuses primarily on working with parents and caregivers. Research consistently shows that helping caregivers change the way they respond to challenging behaviors is one of the most effective ways to create lasting improvements in a child's behavior and emotional development.

I use evidence-based approaches including:

• Parent Management Training (PMT)

• Behavioral Parent Training (BPT)

• Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Family-based interventions

Treatment focuses on strengthening skills, improving relationships, and creating patterns that support positive behavior, rather than relying on punishment alone.

What to Expect During Treatment

Therapy begins with understanding your child's strengths, temperament, developmental needs, relationships, and the situations in which challenging behaviors occur.

Together, we may work on:

• Reducing tantrums and emotional outbursts

• Managing aggression, hitting, biting, or kicking

• Increasing cooperation and following directions

• Improving emotional regulation

• Reducing power struggles

• Building frustration tolerance

• Strengthening parent-child relationships

• Creating effective routines and structure

• Improving communication within the family

• Teaching problem-solving skills

For older children, treatment may include direct work with the child in addition to caregiver involvement. Therapy helps children learn skills for recognizing emotions, communicating needs, managing frustration, and responding more effectively to difficult situations.

Parent Coaching and Family Support

Parents and caregivers play a central role in treatment. Rather than placing responsibility solely on the child, I view challenging behaviors as occurring within relationships and environments. Parent coaching helps caregivers develop practical tools for responding consistently, setting effective limits, reinforcing positive behaviors, and reducing conflict.

The goal is not perfect behavior. The goal is to help children develop the skills they need to succeed while helping families create a calmer, more connected home environment.

Common Concerns Addressed

• Tantrums and meltdowns

• Aggression

• Hitting

• Biting

• Kicking

• Defiance and oppositional behavior

• Difficulty following directions

• Frequent arguing

• Emotional outbursts

• ADHD-related behavior concerns

• Behavioral challenges in autism

• Sibling conflict

• Family conflict

• Trouble with routines and transitions

• Frustration intolerance