When the Labels Don't Fit

June 2, 2008
Probst, a clinical social worker and educator, argues that our society has become too quick to diagnose and label children who think or act outside the box as having a psychiatric disorder or disease. Although there are times when a diagnosis and medication are called for, Probst believes that the “diagnosis explosion” is over the top (adding up the medical statistics, she concludes that “44 percent of all American children are pathologically depressed, anxious, defiant or hyperactive”). Probst presents fresh tactics for dealing with difficult children, using temperament as a basis for understanding and intervention. Guiding parents through a temperament questionnaire, she maps 11 core traits, including energy source, attention and sensory sensitivity. She then offers practical strategies and tools parents can use when a child’s social or physical environment clashes with his temperament (for instance, a simple timer can help a child who has problems with transitions; discussing a “backup plan” may help a child who has trouble adapting to unexpected situations.) The author encourages parents to “reframe” their own thinking and focus on their child’s strengths (i.e., a label such as “antisocial” can be seen as “self-sufficient,” or “hyper” as “lively”). Readers seeking innovative ways to handle a challenging child will be drawn to Probst’s bright and benevolent approach.