Emotional Disturbance

Emotional Disturbance is defined as a condition exhibiting one or more specific characteristics over a long period and to a marked degree that adversely affects a person’s performance. According to the criteria often utilized by the American Counseling Association (ACA) and aligned with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), these characteristics include an inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual or health factors, an inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships, inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances, a general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression, or a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems. Counselors view this not as a single diagnosis, but as a broad category that encompasses various mental health challenges, requiring specialized, evidence-based interventions to support the individual’s social and emotional growth.