Freak, Loser, Bipolar, ADD, Queer How labels affect childrens identity

Course overview

To understand behaviors, use insurance services or facilitate individualized treatment plans, it is not uncommon to categorize children and adolescents with diagnoses or informal tags. Labels affect the sense of self in young adults, alienate them, and affect their relationship with power figures, especially when the child identifies with the label. Moreover, if the therapist is unfamiliar with the cultural context, children from minority groups are more likely than their peers to be labeled as having a behavioral disorder, making them more vulnerable to further alienation and discrimination. Counselors need to be increasingly aware of the potential negative effects of categorizing childrens behavior and focus on the emotional needs and context that explain symptoms and behaviors. With a better understanding of mindsets, identifications, emotional needs, and purpose of the behavior, counselors could better assist their young clients and their caretakers, offering more effective interventions, taking into account whether a child is labeled as odd, mad, bad, or sad may determine what kind of overall support they receive.