Specialty Areas: ADHD, Anxiety, Organizational Skills, Parenting

Dr. Gallagher is a child and adolescent psychologist and nationally-recognized expert in the treatment of children with Selective Mutism and with deficits in organizational skills. He is Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine Dr. Gallagher is also Director of the Parenting Institute. He has designed and evaluated numerous parent education programs, including Thriving Teens – a program to help prevent smoking and substance abuse in young teens.

Dr. Gallagher earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University. He completed Post-Doctoral studies in Neuropsychology and Neuropsychological Assessment at Teachers College, Columbia University. He also served an NIMH Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Human Development and Personality Institute of the Educational Testing Service. Dr. Gallagher is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, and the New York Neuropsychology Group.

In the News

Treatment of Selective Mutism
Richard Gallagher, Ph.D., appeared on the Today Show to discuss selective mutism. Dr. Gallgher discussed the difficulties faced by children who suffer from the disorder and how treatment can lead to gradual improvement. (February 11, 2008)

Birth Order's Effect on IQ
Dr. Richard Gallagher appeared on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric to discuss a new study that shows that the eldest children in families tend to develop higher IQs than their younger siblings. (June 22, 2007)

Grade-School Girls, Grown-Up Gossip
Dr. Richard Gallagher spoke to The New York Times about the impact of celebrity gossip on tweens. He advises that the gossip culture may be harmful, and that there may be a delayed effect on tweens' behavior. Dr. Gallagher suggests that parents discuss celebrity misbehavior with their children in order to help kids digest the information more effectively. (May 27, 2007)

Parent-Child Relationships
Dr. Richard Gallager, Child and Adolescent Psychologist at the NYU Child Study Center, appeared in a taped interview on WABC's Eyewitness News to discuss the psychological implications of a parent voicing discontent in a disparaging way with his/her child. (April 20, 2007)

Report Finds 1 in 3 Students Binge Drink
Dr. Richard Gallagher spoke to the Washington Square News about underage teenage drinking, emphasizing that parents are the biggest influence on their children. (April 19, 2007)

How to Turn Kids Into Fans
Dr. Richard Gallagher spoke to the New York Post about positive ways parents can encourage their kids to root for their favorite sports team. (March 29, 2007)

Those Rats Also Known As Teenagers
Dr. Richard Gallagher spoke to the New York Sun about a new study showing that during puberty, the brain actually reacts differently to stress. Dr. Gallagher said that teenagers tend to become more reasonable about many things around 16, and early adolescence is when teenagers are likely to be highly emotional. (March 16, 2007)

Influence Female Celebrities Have on Young Girls
Dr. Richard Gallagher appeared on WNBC's News 4 You to talk about the impact the antics of female celebrities can have on young girls. Dr. Gallagher said that parents should encourage girls to look to someone they know as a role model, such as a parent, teacher, or family friend. (March 14, 2007)

Disciplining Other People's Kids: Scolding Your Own Children is One Thing, But What if the Little Brats Aren't Yours?
Dr. Richard Gallagher spoke to Newsday about the social taboos of disciplining other people's children. Dr. Gallagher said what many people don't realize is that it is actually helpful for kids. It helps them to recognize community standards and that they are not independent of other people around them. (March 4, 2007)

The BlackBerry Generation
Dr. Richard Gallagher, Ph.D., appeared on WNBC's Live at 5:00 to discuss the BlackBerry generation and the effect of parents' constant use of a BlackBerry on their children. (February 22, 2007)

Tantrums on a Plane: Dealing With A Wild Child
Dr. Richard Gallagher appeared on CNN Headline News Primetime (Windows Media file) to discuss a recent news story about a family being thrown off of an airplane because their three-year-old child had a severe tantrum. Dr. Gallagher offered tips to parents for dealing with similar situations. (January 25, 2007)

Barons Before Bedtime
Dr. Richard Gallagher was quoted by the New York Times in an article on entrepreneurial teens. Dr. Gallagher said that while being financially savvy can have positive value for kids, parents should stay involved in the decision of what this new "luxury" money goes toward. (January 25, 2007)

Parental Action Limits Teen Drinking
In response to a new report from the CDC showing that a high percentage of teenagers report binge drinking (having more than 5 or more alcoholic drinks in a row), Dr. Richard Gallagher said that parents remain the greatest influence over their children's behavior. Dr Gallagher provided parents with tips for using that influence to reduce the likelihood that their child will engage in binge drinking, as reported by United Press International (UPI). (January 5, 2007)

Study Reveals Guidelines for Preventing, Treating Homesickness
Dr. Richard Gallagher was quoted by the Associated Press on a new study in the journal Pediatrics that offers tips to physicians for recognizing homesickness in patients who are away from home for the first time. Dr. Gallagher said that the study offered a "sound plan" for physicians and parents who want to help their children develop coping strategies. (January 2, 2007)

Making Art for the Little Ones
Dr. Richard Gallagher commented on the therapeutic value of coloring books in a New York Sun article about response to "Between the Lines", a coloring book from the non-profit RxArt featuring drawings by contemporary artists. (December 8, 2006)

Underage Drinking
Dr. Richard Gallagher appeared on WNBC’s Live at Five to offer advice for parents to help curb underage drinking, such as setting firm rules and reinforcing expectations. (November 21, 2006)

Inner-City Montessori School Creates Model Citizens
Dr. Richard Gallagher speaks to HealthDay about a new study on the differences between inner-city children who attended Montessori schools and those who attended public schools. (September 28, 2006)

Road Trips With Kids, Without Gizmos
Dr. Richard Gallagher advises parents that road trips without electronics can be beneficial for children's social development on the CBS Early Show. (July 31, 2006)

Risky Behaviors
Dr. Richard Gallagher helps to raise awareness about the consequences of risky behaviors among teens on this White House podcast. (March 6, 2006)

The Impact of Violent Videogames
Dr. Richard Gallagher answers questions about the effect violent video games might have on children's behavior in an interview with IGN.com, an Internet media provider focused on videogames. (March 1, 2006)

Rules and Routines: Are We Over-Programming Our Children?
Dr. Richard Gallagher advises parents on Babyzone that keeping kids in too strict of a routine can lead to poor problem-solving skills. (November 2004)