New Smyrna Beach · South Daytona · DeLand, FL
Conduct Disorder Treatment in New Smyrna Beach, South Daytona & DeLand, FL
If your child's behavior has become a persistent pattern of aggression, serious rule violations, or behavior that violates the rights of others — well beyond typical acting out — and it's affecting home, school, and friendships, you may be dealing with conduct disorder. It's exhausting for the whole family, and it's treatable. We provide compassionate, family-centered conduct disorder evaluation and treatment for children and teens across New Smyrna Beach, South Daytona, and DeLand, Florida.
More Than "Bad Behavior"
Conduct disorder is a real, diagnosable condition, not a parenting failure or a phase your child will simply outgrow on their own. It often develops alongside other factors — ADHD, difficult family or peer environments, or past trauma — and it responds to the right combination of psychiatric care and family-based support. Getting an accurate evaluation matters, since these behaviors can also overlap with other conditions that need a different treatment approach.
Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Aggression toward people or property
Difficulty showing empathy or remorse
Frequent lying, stealing, or deceitfulness
Escalating conflict with parents, teachers, peers
Serious rule violations beyond typical rebellion
These behaviors need to be significant and persistent enough to impair functioning at home, at school, or in relationships — not an isolated bad day or typical teenage pushback. Conduct disorder frequently overlaps with ADHD, and can develop alongside difficult family or peer environments or past trauma, which is why an accurate evaluation matters so much.
Read more on our blog:
Conduct Disorder: What Behaviors Are Involved?
A diagnosis considers patterns across these four categories, not any single incident.
Aggression toward people or animals
Destruction of property
Deceitfulness or theft
Serious violations of rules
Who We Treat
Caregivers involved throughout
Children
School and peer coordination
Teens
Conduct Disorder vs. ADHD: How can you tell? They often occur together, but they're not the same. Part of a thorough evaluation is figuring out which conditions are present so treatment addresses the right ones. See ADHD Treatment.
How Conduct Disorder is Diagnosed
A thorough evaluation, not a snap judgment about a single incident.
Behavioral history
Pattern and duration of behaviors across settings
Family & school input
Reports from parents, teachers, and other caregivers
Evaluation for co-occurring or similar conditions
Considers ADHD, trauma, and mood disorders
Clear treatment recommendation
Discussed and decided on together with the family
Our Approach to Conduct Disorder Care
Thorough evaluation
Identifies overlapping conditions like ADHD or trauma
Therapy & school coordination
Referrals for CBT, with school coordination when it helps
Family involvement
Parent management training and family-focused support
Medication management
May be considered for co-occurring conditions or specific symptoms when clinically appropriate
Conduct disorder can occur alongside conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, or trauma-related disorders. A comprehensive evaluation can help identify which concerns may be affecting your child's behavior. We currently treat children and teens for this condition.
Tell us a bit about what you're experiencing
01
Inquire
In-person appointments available, along with virtual options. A $100 deposit is required to book a self-pay/out-of-network initial evaluation, applied toward your total appointment cost.
What to Expect
Intake paperwork
Including insurance info, ahead of your first visit
02
Initial evaluation
Comprehensive in-person psychiatric evaluation
03
Treatment plan
Personalized, with close early follow-up
04
Meet Your Provider
Sandra MacSweeney, MHA, FNP-C, PMHNP-C
Holds a Master's degree in Advanced Practice Nursing with a specialization in psychiatric mental health from Nova Southeastern University. Florida board-certified to treat patients across the lifespan, with a focus on evidence-based, whole-person care.