ODD therapy for kids, teens, & young adults
Specialized therapy that addresses the root causes of oppositional behavior.
Support for persistent defiance, emotional outbursts, and family conflict.
Insurance accepted. Appointments often available within days.
teens, & families
ODD, at a glance
ODD, at a glance
3.3%
About 3.3% of children and adolescents are diagnosed with ODD.
Often co-occurs
Many children with ODD also meet criteria for ADHD, anxiety, or depression.
Highly treatable
Children who receive evidence-based treatment show significant symptom reduction.
Understanding ODD
What ODD looks like and how it affects daily life.
More than defiance
ODD reflects real difficulty with emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and frustration tolerance.
Breaking the cycle
Therapy interrupts negative conflict cycles between parent and child, building cooperation instead.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder involves persistent patterns of angry mood, argumentative behavior, and defiance that significantly exceed what is typical for a child's age.
ODD is driven by genuine difficulty with emotional regulation and frustration tolerance, not willful misbehavior. A clinician evaluates patterns and considers co-occurring conditions.
Family-centered care
Parent training is essential. We equip families with strategies that reduce conflict and rebuild connection.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder involves persistent patterns of angry mood, argumentative behavior, and defiance that significantly exceed what is typical for a child's age.
ODD is driven by genuine difficulty with emotional regulation and frustration tolerance, not willful misbehavior. A clinician evaluates patterns and considers co-occurring conditions.
Common signs of ODD by age
Symptoms look different at every stage of development.
Young Children (4-7)
Frequent tantrums
Refuses to follow rules
Deliberately annoys others
Blames others for mistakes
School-Age (8-12)
Argues with adults constantly
Defies authority at school
Easily frustrated
Vindictive behavior
Teens (13-17)
Hostile toward authority
Refuses household responsibilities
Angry outbursts
Peer and school conflict
Young Adults (18-25)
Workplace authority conflicts
Relationship difficulties
Chronic irritability
Difficulty accepting feedback
How ODD therapy helps
Evidence-based strategies for emotional regulation, cooperation, and family harmony.
- Builds emotional regulation skills
- Teaches conflict resolution strategies
- Reduces oppositional and defiant behaviors
- Strengthens parent-child relationship
- Improves school and social functioning
Why families choose Emora
Specialized pediatric ODD care vs. general providers.
Other providers
Licensed pediatric and young adult clinicians
Generalist providers
Evidence-based parent management training
Programs not tailored to behavioral disorders
Parent-inclusive model
Limited parent involvement
Addresses co-occurring ADHD and anxiety
Co-occurring conditions often missed
Insurance accepted
Insurance not always accepted
Virtual sessions reduce power struggles
In-office visits can escalate behaviors
Get started in minutes
Three simple steps to connect with the right clinician.
- 1
Share what’s going on
Answer a few questions about symptoms and goals.
- 2
Verify coverage
See insurance estimates and available times.
- 3
Start sessions
Meet your clinician and begin building skills.
Frequently asked questions
What parents and young adults ask most about ODD therapy.
All children push boundaries — it's part of growing up. ODD is different because the defiance is persistent (lasting 6 months or more), significantly more intense than what's typical for your child's age, and interferes with daily life at home, school, or with peers.
No. You don't need a formal ODD diagnosis to get started. Our specialists can evaluate your child's behavior patterns during the initial sessions and recommend the best treatment approach.
Most families see meaningful improvement within 12–16 sessions, especially when parent training is part of the plan. The timeline depends on your child's specific needs and how consistently strategies are practiced at home.
Yes — parent involvement is one of the most important factors in treating ODD. You'll participate in parent training sessions, receive regular updates, and learn strategies that make a real difference at home.
Yes, we accept most major insurance plans. We verify your coverage before your first appointment, and most families pay between $0 and $30 per session.
About 50% of children with ODD also have ADHD. Our therapists are experienced in treating both conditions together, creating integrated treatment plans that address attention, impulse control, and behavioral challenges simultaneously.
Yes. Research shows that 67% of children with ODD improve significantly with evidence-based treatment. The key is addressing the underlying emotional and skill deficits — not just the surface behavior.
Real stories of growth
Every session is rated by parents. Our therapists maintain a 4.9+ average, because results matter.
Jennifer was very patient and understanding with me.
Parent of a 5 year old
Jun 1, 2026
Jennifer Guzman, LPC
Easy to talk to and my daughter looks forward to talking with her
Parent of a 6 year old
Jun 1, 2026
Lillian Tinsley, RMCHI
Excellent at guiding my son to open up to me and create goals to end disputes over electronics. Truly an engaged listener.
Parent of a 12 year old
Jun 1, 2026
Jamie Blakeman, LCPC
I already see a change in my child. She struggles with self-esteem and bullying. Elsie has been working with her and she gets so excited for her session. I'm so grateful to have a therapist I trust and is faith based. Finding a therapist that is faith based has been a difficult task for me and finding Elsie was a complete gift from God for my child.
Parent of a 9 year old
Jun 1, 2026
Elsie Pena, LPC
Yes! Elsie listens to my concerns about life and family. She is very easy to talk to. As a Christian family it is wonderful to be able to talk to someone I can relate with faith wise.
An Adult client
Jun 1, 2026
Elsie Pena, LPC
Tiffany is down-to-earth, easy to talk to, and genuinely caring. She creates a comfortable space where I feel heard and supported. I highly recommend her.
Parent of an 11 year old
Jun 1, 2026
Tiffany Ally, LCSW
She was amazingly kind and was always fun!
Parent of a 9 year old
May 31, 2026
Lesli White, LPC
Dr. Bunker was excellent with our kiddo. He was evaluated (now diagnosed!) with Autism. She was able to engage with him & get him talking & sharing. It's often difficult to find people he will click with but she was patient & spoke with him at his level, answering questions, not talking to him like he was "just a kid". She listened to our concerns as parents, asked helpful clarifying questions instead of just trying to check boxes, was conversational, warm, & genuine. Can't recommend her enough!
Parent of a 9 year old
May 31, 2026
Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD
I felt very validated and heard. Mrs. Crystal made me feel safe.
An Adult client
May 30, 2026
Crystal Ford, LPC-Associate Supervised by Virginia Elam-Manning, LPC-S, LCDC
Rachel connects so well with Kanaan
Parent of a 9 year old
May 30, 2026
Rachael Wade, LPC Associate
Amazing! April always helps me think outside the box and allows me to be transparent about what’s going on in my life.
An Adult client
May 30, 2026
April Medici, LMHC
My daughter said she felt good speaking with you. I am praying for positive change. Thank you.
Parent of a 10 year old
May 30, 2026
Rachel Webster, RMHCI
Ms. Cat is such an earth angel! She understood my daughters needs right away and helped us navigate to the right therapist that identified my daughters needs. She was even so kind to share resources for parents, and Im like OMG how did she know I have tried every avenue and that I myself could use parental therapy to be able to help my children succeed in therapy! Thank you so much Ms. Cat, we appreciate you!
Parent of an 11 year old
May 30, 2026
Catherine Campos, LCSW
Catherine was incredibly helpful during my son’s intake. She took the time to understand my concerns, listened with compassion, and helped identify the type of therapy that would best support him. She was knowledgeable, kind, and reassuring throughout the process. Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming, but Catherine made it easy and gave me confidence that my son was being matched with the right provider.
Parent of a 7 year old
May 30, 2026
Catherine Campos, LCSW
Catherine Campos was wonderful to work with. She was warm, empathetic, and truly listened to my concerns. She validated my experiences, asked thoughtful questions, and helped determine the type of therapy that would best fit my needs. I never felt rushed or dismissed. She made the process feel supportive and personalized, and I left feeling understood, hopeful, and confident in the therapist match she recommended.
An Adult client
May 30, 2026
Catherine Campos, LCSW
That the therapist opened up to me about his own struggles, and allowed me to see similarities in his own experiences with mine. That made me feel heard and seen.
An Adult client
May 30, 2026
Franklin Williams, LCMHC
I was helpful as it helped her
Parent of an 11 year old
May 30, 2026
Tahsha Hansard, LMHC
Camila really enjoyed her session. She mentioned how she got some good ideas on how to manage some of her emotions and she is excited about implementing those.
Parent of a 16 year old
May 29, 2026
Aubrey Gainey, RMHCI
ODD does not define your child
Structured, developmentally informed therapy can help build skills that last.
Not sure where to start? Book a clinical matching session.
