Boundaries and consistency are key when supporting young people who are affected by oppositional defiance disorder.

When he arrived to at Wood Grove, Kyle* struggled with different aspects of his life due to his ODD. He couldn’t cope with the word ‘no’, was not attending school, challenged those around him with defiance and other behaviour and generally life was challenging for him.

Previously supported in foster care, foster families struggled to maintain boundaries and consistency with Kyle and placements broke down. Other placements were not firm in their expectations and used unhealthy foods and ‘treats’ as a way to try to regulate Kyle’s emotions and behaviours.

However, the team at Wood Grove stuck with him, maintained boundaries and were clear with Kyle on what was expected. This approach helped Kyle regulate to the point that he made significant progress.

He began attending school again and learned to acknowledge and reflect on some of the things he was doing and the consequences they had for him, and for those around him. That self-awareness and taking responsibility for his actions reflected a hugely positive change for this young person.

Another key area of focus for the team was helping Kyle rebuild his relationship with his family which had become strained. With failed placements in his past, having a stable and reliable foundation he could rely on was incredibly important both for Kyle and his wider family.