In this episode of Our Community, host Candice Michel talks with Dr. Bethany Michel, Director of the Child, Adolescent, & Family Division of the DBT Centre of Vancouver, BC, and a sessional lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, and Diana Carter, Executive Director of Brookings CORE Response, about oppositional behavior in both children and adults. The discussion explores how early trauma, labeling, and systemic shortcomings contribute to challenging behaviors, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding. They highlight therapeutic approaches like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), the importance of parental perspective, and strategies for building trust and emotional regulation. They stress that difficult behaviors often reflect normal responses to abnormal circumstances and underscore the value of validating experiences, fostering connection, and empowering children and families to develop healthier coping skills.