Behavior Problems

Read through the Quick Assessment to the Right. There are literally hundreds of different behavior problems. The list at the right is just a few of the challenges that are common. You may recognize only one or several of these in yourself or your family. Our staff is trained to help with problematic behaviors and help with change, resulting in better days.

Behavior problems can be managed in many different ways, and it is important to find the best tools for long term change. Education may be all that’s needed, or possibly an increased understanding as to why they are occurring could be more beneficial. Addressing underlying issues that may contribute to problematic behaviors can significantly increase the likelihood of long term change. It is important to remember the things you do, or have done, does not define who you are. At times addressing these problems lead to feelings of guilt. If these challenges are with another person, your attempts to help by addressing the issue may not have been met with acceptance, and could have caused problems between you.

We work to match our experience and expertise to your problem because we know giving you the individual attention you need is what you deserve. Respect is at the foreground at Braden Counseling Center and you should expect no less. Creating a plan to implement change is critical. Nobody ever went on vacation without some sort of a plan. They also never went on vacation with only the premise of “I don’t want to drive” and “I don’t want to go where it’s cold” or “I don’t want to visit family” because that doesn’t create a goal. Life and change is the same way. Knowing where you want to be, or how you want to function, is critical to make a plan for change. If you’re struggling with where you want to be, we can help you with that too.

Change takes time, and in the beginning it is often difficult to use the new skills every time. As you continue to make changes, it gets easier to do it. At times others resist when you make change and it can be difficult to remember you have made the changes. Change is difficult for most people, so hang in there. Get support from others to continue working on it. The more consistently you work at it, the more natural it will become. It is much easier to solve a problem if you are not feeling overwhelmed or angry, so make sure to address those emotions as well.

Three things that negatively impact communication between you and someone you’re trying to help are being judgmental, giving advice, and blame. They increase distance and reduce trust. It is difficult to be open with someone when trust has been negatively impacted. Good relationships involve acceptance, empathy, and understanding. It is clear to see how these categories cannot co-exist. These categories are just as important with communication between people, not just with someone you’re trying to help.

Like most problems the earlier they are addressed the easier they can be changed. Think about a train and decide if it is easier to stop the train going 5 miles per hour, or at 60 miles per hour. This seems sort of basic, but few of us think about this when we are examining our challenges. The more quickly the challenge is addressed, the less problematic it becomes. We often have people tell us they called because the situation is almost unbearable. You don’t need to wait for anything to be that bad! There are often things we can help you will when it’s “only a little bad” that can lead to avoiding significant problems. Whether its “a little bad” or a significant challenge, we can help you learn skills to make it easier.