Meet the Child Behaviour Analyst who gives hope to parents with struggling children

For many parents, it can be hard to find resources on who to turn to or go for support when they find it hard to help their children through behavioural struggles.

Though there are very few options out there to help them with this, Behaviour Analyst Roisín Doherty of The Child Behaviour Consultancy provides her services to parents of children experiencing behavioural problems and offers them direction.

It was when Roisín was completing her Masters at Queen's University that she recognised a growing need for support for parents in terms of dealing with difficult child behaviour not just locally, but across the country too.

In response to this, in 2017, she set up the Child Behaviour Consultancy.

"The main things that parents who use the service generally are looking to address is their child not doing as asked, difficulty accepting no, having tantrums and displaying general negative behaviour.

"It tends to be a relief to parents when they realise that there is help and support out there that can help them in their situation and in turn make day to day life much easier."

Roisín consults with parents of children aged between three and twelve years old and helps them to better address their child's
behaviour.

The service is carried out through appointments where parents can consult one-to-one online or in person with Roisín herself to find out why their child’s behaviour is happening and most importantly how they can support their children and turn things around.

Roisín Doherty originally hails from Buncrana, she graduated with an honours degree in Psychology from the University of Ulster before going on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Behaviour in NUI Galway and a Masters in Behaviour in Queen's University.

"While studying as a student, I originally started off volunteering with ICARE - a respite day centre for children and young people with Autism and then I got a paid post there.

"Alongside working at ICARE, I also spent a year subbing as a Special Needs Assistant in Scoil Íosagáin. Through my time working in both ICARE and Scoil Íosagáin, I gained a lot of knowledge and experience working with children, that has been very beneficial in the work that I am currently doing."