In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, join Miranda, a licensed clinical social worker, alongside Letisha and Gina, as they candidly discuss Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).

The discussion covers the DSM-5 criteria for ODD, its symptoms, and the stigma associated with the diagnosis. They explore alternative diagnoses, underlying issues like trauma, ADHD, and autism, and talk about effective treatment strategies including parent management training and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

The conversation also emphasizes the importance of seeing each child through a fresh and unbiased lens.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellie Mental Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps:

02:32 Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria of ODD

05:02 Challenges and Controversies in Diagnosing ODD

06:01 Personal Experiences and Case Studies

08:49 The Impact of Labels and Diagnoses on Children

21:59 Differential Diagnoses and Overlapping Conditions

23:42 Understanding ODD and ADHD Differences

24:09 Trauma and Its Impact on ODD

25:15 Foster Care and ODD Diagnoses

28:49 Mood Disorders and Autism in Relation to ODD

31:19 The Unique Aspect of Vindictiveness in ODD

34:06 Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating ODD

38:02 Effective Strategies for Managing ODD

44:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts