Oppositional Defiant Disorder Treatment Center

Learn more about oppositional defiant disorder treatment at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

Characterized by frequent temper tantrums, a refusal to follow the rules, and spiteful, vindictive behavior, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a mental illness that is often found in childhood and leads to significant disruptions in one’s daily life. The frequent and consistent uncooperative and hostile behaviors associated with ODD can render serious problems that will eventually affect a child’s social, family, and academic life. Most often, the symptoms of ODD are apparent in all settings but tend to be most noticeable at school or at home. San Juan Capestrano Hospital understands how disruptive ODD can be for a child and his or her family, which is why we provide many beneficial care options for this type of disorder. While oppositional defiant disorder can cause a significant amount of distress in a child’s life, with proper treatment and support the disturbing symptoms of ODD can be managed and a child can learn to excel in all areas of his or her life. Let San Juan Capestrano Hospital be your provider of choice in helping your child achieve improved behavior and relationships.

Since its inception in 1988, San Juan Capestrano Hospital, a 172-bed short-stay hospital, has been the foremost provider of mental health treatment on the main island of Puerto Rico. With services available for the care of several mental health conditions and chemical dependency concerns, adolescents, adults, and senior adults can receive superior treatment for these issues in a safe environment that is conducive to true healing and recovery. Our caring and compassionate staff, comprised of numerous qualified mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and experienced medical personnel, facilitates services within each program with the understanding that each patient has unique needs and strengths. We pride ourselves on being able to offer the highest quality of individualized care that allows each patient to return to his or her respective community with an improved sense of emotional and physical wellbeing. If you have a child who is struggling with symptoms synonymous with a mental illness, such as oppositional defiant disorder, look no further that San Juan Capestrano Hospital. Our comprehensive and invaluable treatment is the solution to even the most troubling mental health concerns.

Helping a loved one get treatment for oppositional defiant disorder

Having a child with oppositional defiant disorder can be extremely difficult, especially if you are unsure what you can do to manage your child’s inappropriate behavior. If you suspect that your child may have oppositional defiant disorder, you should consider taking him or her to have an evaluation conducted by a qualified mental health professional. In addition to getting your child the professional help he or she needs, there are some things you can do to help. This can include:

• Give your child praise and positive reinforcement when he or she acts appropriately and is being cooperative
• Pick your battles with your child; try to avoid power struggles
• Establish reasonable, age appropriate limits with consequences that should be consistently implemented when the child surpasses those established limits
• Model the behavior you want your child to display
• Develop a daily schedule for your child
• Manage your own stress and try to get support from other adults so that your child does not take up all of your time and energy

Why consider treatment for oppositional definat disorder at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

It is extremely important that a child with oppositional defiant disorder gets treatment as soon as possible because, the longer it is left untreated, the more difficult it can become for the parents and the more frustrating it can be for the child. These youth will most often have trouble at school with their teachers and will usually receive multiple disciplinary actions for not abiding by the rules. They may also have an extremely difficult time making and keeping friends. Furthermore, many children with untreated ODD are at a risk for the development of more severe problems, such as conduct disorder or substance use disorders.

When children are struggling with the severe symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder, and are experiencing disruption in all areas of their lives, an inpatient treatment program can be the answer they need. This type of treatment program can provide your child with several types of therapeutic techniques in a safe, supported environment that is conducive to healing. Mental health professionals, including psychiatrists who can prescribe and monitor medications, are available 24 hours a day to help your child develop better social skills and frustration tolerance, as well as how to more effectively manage his or her anger. Furthermore, most inpatient programs will help parents learn how to more effectively interact with their child, improving the overall parent-child relationship. While there are outpatient treatment options available, inpatient care can help a patient quickly gain some control over his or her disorder as he or she starts down the path towards recovery.

Types of oppositional defiant disorder treatment offered at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

At San Juan Capestrano Hospital, we wholeheartedly ascribe to the notion that each patient should have individualized treatment that meets his or her every need. Because of this belief, we afford each patient who entrusts us with his or her care with individually tailored plans for treatment that are distinct to the adolescents, adults, and senior adults who come to San Juan Capestrano Hospital for mental health services. These plans detail the specific courses of treatment that patients will engage in and include aftercare recommendations, as formulated by our staff, so that every patient experiences a full continuum of care. The planning of treatment begins during the time of assessment and can be altered should additional concerns arise during the course of treatment at our hospital.

In order to meet the varying needs of people suffering from mental health disorders and/or substance use concerns, San Juan Capestrano Hospital is pleased to provide different levels of care and specialized programming options. Our hospital features separate adolescent and adult inpatient programs that treat a myriad of mental health conditions, such as oppositional defiant disorder, as well as chemical dependency concerns and adult substance abuse services that are designed to care for even the most serious and long-standing of addictions. The level of care most appropriate for a patient is decided upon during the initial psychiatric evaluation, wherein a patient’s needs are assessed, a physical examination is conducted, and a mental status assessment is administered in order to determine which program will produce the most favorable treatment outcomes for a given patient.

Once admitted to one of our programs, patients have the ability to partake in a number of treatment methods. These methods are rooted in evidence-based principles and techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and the 12-step model. The following methods for care are the ones primarily used at San Juan Capestrano Hospital and are implemented so that patients can find relief from concerns, such as those that can result from the presence of oppositional defiant disorder:

Medical detoxification: For those that are battling a chemical dependency problem or polysubstance use concerns in addition to oppositional defiant disorder, San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers medically supervised detoxification services that are aimed to help adults, ages 18 and older, withdraw from substances in the most effective and safest manner possible. These services are monitored by medical professionals who have experience in making withdrawal comfortable so that patients can partake in therapeutic interventions with addiction specialists who can help springboard them towards lasting healing and recovery from addiction.

Medication management: For some individuals, psychotropic medications can be of great assistance in alleviating the symptoms of many mental illnesses, such as oppositional defiant disorder. When this is the case, our qualified psychiatrists determine each patient’s need for medication, can prescribe medication(s), and will monitor any pharmaceutical interventions that become part of a patient’s treatment plan. These services are in place so that every patient has the ability to receive medication if it is deemed necessary for a patient’s care.

Individual therapy: All patients who take part in our inpatient programming engage in individual therapy sessions four times per week. Individual therapy is a treatment method used so that a patient can process emotions and thoughts on a one-to-one basis with a member of our staff. For example, children with oppositional defiant disorder may use this time to learn to manage their anger and better express their feelings in a healthier way.

Group therapy: San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers a number of group therapy opportunities that allow patients to find support in one another and hone skills that have been learned. Such sessions can be especially beneficial for children with oppositional defiant disorder because it can provide them with a sense of comfort knowing that they are not alone in their struggles, while also working on improving their social skills. Some of the topics covered in these groups include techniques for managing stress, improving communication, learning and adapting healthy coping methods, bettering self-esteem, dealing with grief and loss, and persevering through trauma. These groups are offered several times per week to maximize the benefits of treatment offered in a group setting.    

Family therapy: Family therapy is offered as a method of treatment during inpatient programming so that our patients can receive ample support from the people who care for them most. During family therapy sessions, patients and their loved ones can work through conflicts and improve communication so as to heal and better familial relationships through the implementation of skills that can serve a family unit well for a lifetime.

We also include a number of other therapeutic interventions as a way to wholly treat the individuals who come to our hospital for care. These additional interventions may include:

• Canine therapy
• Anger management
• Relaxation techniques
• Psychoeducation
• Recreational therapy
• Medical issues management
• Crisis management
• Pilates
• Marijuana Anonymous
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Occupational therapy
• Infection control

Continuing care and levels of treatment for oppositional defiant disorder

We strive to provide the most comprehensive services that embody the highest quality of care possible. To fulfill this goal, we begin discharge planning at the time of admissions and feature a number of continuing care options at varying levels of treatment so that each and every one of our patient’s needs can be treated once a higher level of care is no longer required.

San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers partial hospitalization programs for both adolescents and adults. The adolescent program is catered to youth between the ages of 13 and 17 years old who are struggling with mental health concerns, such as oppositional defiant disorder. While in this program, young people partake in a number of therapies and are able to return home at the end of the day to be with their loved ones. The adult program is similarly structured and also treats a myriad of mental health conditions with group therapy being the primary method for care.

Our hospital also features an adult substance abuse intensive outpatient program for those aged 18 and older. This program is designed to continue the recovery process and help patients maintain sobriety after completing inpatient services. The groups available in this program are facilitated in stages so that patients can then practice the tools and skills learned in this program while living in their respective communities.

Lastly, San Juan Capestrano Hospital provides outpatient services at eleven different locations on the island, including San Juan, Hatillo, Mayagüez, Caguas, Humanao, Manatí, Condado, Carolina, Ponce, Bayamón, and Guaynabo. Outpatient care allows patients to process feelings and thoughts with a mental health professional on a weekly basis.

Whatever your child’s mental healthcare needs may be, the staff at San Juan Capestrano Hospital is devoted to helping them overcome any mental health issues or substance abuse concerns. We will put forth every effort to ensure that healing and lasting recovery from oppositional defiant disorder are achievable for each person who comes to us for care.