Paul J. Donahue, Ph.D. is a nationally-recognized clinical psychologist and leading consultant and expert in the field of parenting and child and adolescent mental health.
Dr. Donahue is the founder and director of Child Development Associates, a clinical practice based in Scarsdale, NY, that provides psychological assessment and treatment for children and families, and adolescents and young adults, along with parent education, professional development, and school consultation.
He is the author of Parenting Without Fear: Letting Go of Worry and Focusing on What Really Matters (St. Martin’s Press) and co-author of Mental Health Consultation in Early Childhood (Brookes Publishing), along with a number of professional articles and book chapters.
In addition to his practice, Dr. Donahue is an accomplished speaker, traveling throughout the country lecturing to parents, teachers and mental health professionals about managing stress and coping with trauma, developing resilience in children and adolescents, becoming a more confident parent, balancing work/life responsibilities, and embracing fatherhood.
Paul has been a guest on the CBS Early Show and his work has been profiled on two occasions in the The New York Times. He frequently appears in the national press, in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, WebMD, Parents Magazine, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, and numerous other publications.
Dr. Donahue has served as a consultant to the Columbia University School for Public Health, the American Psychological Association, the Georgetown Center for Child and Human Development, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, and the National Head Start Association. He was also a founding member and the first Executive Director of New York Cares, the largest volunteer organization in New York City.
A native of Boston, Paul received his B.A. in psychology from Brown University. He received his Doctorate in clinical psychology from the City University of New York, where he was awarded the Harold Proshansky Presidential Fellowship for his research on the coping methods of homeless children.
Paul and his wife and colleague, Jennifer Warren, live in Westchester County, NY. They have three young adult children, and continue to experience the joys and challenges of parenthood
Testimonals
“Dr. Paul Donahue has provided exceptional training in early childhood mental health to national audiences and helped us develop a training guide on this subject. Over the years I have recommended Dr. Donahue as an expert consultant to several states that needed help in developing programs to address the mental health needs of young children, their families, and caregivers, with very positive results.”
When it comes to parenting advice, Dr. Donahue is our go-to expert. He has a warm, accessible and clear style of communicating psychological concepts and how to apply them to everyday encounters. Parents can relate to his real-life observations and stories that are based on his extensive work with adolescents and teenagers. We are lucky to have him as a resource in our community!
Dr. Paul Donahue is an asset and parenting inspiration to so many families at Rye Presbyterian Nursery School. The strategies and suggestions he provides for parents and students are individualized and effective for the struggles in early childhood development. He values parent partnerships and brings extensive experience to our school. Paul’s calm and optimistic approach provides a connection that is filled with trust, warmth, and positive change.