Case Presentation: Child with Violent Behaviors

Background Information:
Child is a 5 year old male receiving treatment through an intensive home-based therapy program for incidences of violence against his mother, other children and the family pet. The behavior first occurred when the child was in headstart, he is now in Kindergarten.  This is a very new client, so the therapist is still in the phase of gathering information and deciding the best course of action for the presenting challenges and behaviors. The child was separated from his mother when he was 11 month old and the two have recently reunited. Lastly, there is a section of his head that is flat. The therapist is wondering if that indicated any neglect or has affected his cognitive functioning. The reason for this is currently unknown.

Presenting Problem:
The patient's mother and school are very concerned about his behavior. Currently, the school wants to place him in a specific school for children with emotional challenges, however, the necessary steps and paper work for the transfer have not been completed. The major concerns with the client is his violent behavior towards other children at school. Additionally, he recently had an incident where he seriously injured/beat the family cat. The motivation for these behaviors is currently unknown.

Class recommendations:
-Investigate client's motivations for behaviors
-Extensive and comprehensive testing
-Gather more information regarding separation from mother and head shape
-Advocate for an IEP at current school