School Psychologist

Overview

The work of a school psychologist incorporates aspects of several broader disciplines within psychology, such as abnormal psychology and cognitive psychology. Many school psychologists work primarily with children, so training in child psychology is important. School psychology is related to educational psychology, though tasks and responsibilities do not completely overlap. Although an educational psychologist may create testing and evaluation methods in addition to educational curriculum development, a school psychologist spends most of their time counseling and applying psychological testing to students to understand their individual needs.

School psychologists serve students of all ages, from pre-school children to those enrolled in college. They are employed by public and private school systems, as well as colleges and universities. A school psychologist may work at a single school or at several schools within a school system; allocating time between different schools is common in rural areas or smaller systems.

The field has changed in recent years with the rise of public pre-schools that include children as young as three, and educational budget cuts that have resulted in increased workloads and changed employment conditions for many school psychologists.

Most students receive counseling for behavioral problems, interpersonal conflicts and changes in academic performance. They are trained to modify negative behavior, address personal issues, resolve conflicts and improve social and academic skills. They may also work with students on family issues or other crises affecting academic performance and emotional well-being. In recent times, school psychologists increasingly deal with special needs issues, including identification of learning disabilities and mental health problems.

They may help students cope with emotional or traumatic events, such as the death of a friend, family member or teacher, and respond to events like crimes, natural disasters, or large-scale events that can be traumatic for children.

The day-to-day responsibilities vary by age of the students served and the educational setting. However, the work typically includes counseling, evaluation, and collaboration with families and professionals.

Students are generally referred for counseling by teachers, parents or the students themselves. They may receive individual counseling or group counseling, for example to address conflicts or bullying. Counseling helps the child understand behavior and develop coping strategies.

School psychologists may evaluate students to determine eligibility for special educational programs or social services. They may perform evaluations for students who are gifted or who require additional attention due to learning disabilities. These evaluations can be conducted alone or as part of a larger assessment team. Issues such as ADHD are commonly addressed by school psychologists.

Communicating with parents and guardians is another important responsibility. Psychologists inform parents about problems arising with their child and help them develop plans to address issues. They may mediate conflicts affecting the student’s academic performance.

They work with teachers and administrators to address issues impacting more than one student, such as bullying or abuse. They may assist with school-wide programs and campaigns and prepare presentations for different classes or age groups.

They write referrals for students with serious mental problems requiring care beyond what the educational system can provide. They may help families coordinate services and are responsible for alerting authorities if abuse, neglect or criminal activity is suspected or alleged.

Training includes coursework in psychology and education to interact with students, families, teachers, administrators and other professionals. Typically, a four-year…