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Dr. David J Carey, Consulting Psychologist is a psychologist with 25 years experience in both clinical and educational settings. He has worked with children, adolescents and adults having a variety of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

David is the author of The Essential Guide to Special Education in Ireland. He is currently completing a guide to the education of children with autistic spectrum disorders in mainstream schools. He has published extensively in Ireland and in the US on various mental health topics and special education issues.

For more details on Dr. Carey click here.

Some Recent Questions:

Q. My 7 year old has a very bad attitude towards his parents especially his father. He does not like any form of discipline and reacts very defensively and abusively.  He is dis-respectful and always seems to be moody and grumpy. Is this just his age?

A. You sound frustrated and annoyed with your child and I certainly understand. It is difficulty for parents when a child seems to be angry all the time and resists reasonable authority. I wonder if your son has always had this sort of “attitude” or is it a new development. If it is new there is most likely something bothering him that he cannot communicate without anger. If he has always been like this then his temperament may be on the irritable side and this can cause him to act the way he does.
 
It’s not always easy to understand children’s behaviour and it is hard to translate their actions into any sort of sense we can make of it. I think it might be best for you to sit down with your son and tell the truth. Say, simple and without anger, “We aren’t getting on very well lately. It seems as though you are always angry with dad. How can we help you?”
 
Sometimes a calm and reasonable intervention, one which highlights the problem without blaming anyone, is the best course of action.
 
Try this out and let me know what happens. It may well be the first step on the road to a better relationship with you son.