Who Are School Psychologists?
School psychologists help children and youth succeed
academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators,
parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive
learning environments for all students that strengthen connections between home
and school. School psychologists are highly trained in both psychology
and education.
What School Psychologists Do
School psychologists work to find the best solution for each
student and situation; they use different strategies to address student needs
and to improve school and district-wide support systems.
School psychologists work with students individually and in
groups. They also develop programs to train teachers and parents about
effective teaching and learning strategies, techniques to manage behavior at
home and in the classroom, working with students with disabilities or with
special talents, addressing abuse of drugs and other substances, and preventing
and managing crises.
In addition, most school psychologists provide the following
services:
Consultation
Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to
find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems.
Help others understand child development and how it affects
learning and behavior.
Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents,
and service providers in the community.
Evaluation
Evaluate eligibility for special services.
Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning.
Determine social-emotional development and mental health
status.
Evaluate learning environments.
Intervention
Provide psychological counseling to help resolve
interpersonal or family problems that interfere with school performance.
Work directly with children and their families to help
resolve problems in adjustment and learning.
Provide training in social skills and anger management.
Help families and schools manage crises such as death,
illness, or community trauma.
Prevention
Design programs for children at risk of failing at school.
Promote tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of
diversity within the school community.
Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective
learning environments.
Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to
provide services directed at improving psychological and physical health.
Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote
healthy school environments.
Research and Planning
Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavior
management programs.
Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve
schools.
Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend
effective interventions.
All children and adolescents face problems from time to
time. They may:
Feel afraid to go to school
Have difficulty organizing their time efficiently
Lack effective study skills
Fall behind in their school work
Lack self-discipline
Worry about family matters such as divorce and death
Feel depressed or anxious
Experiment with drugs and alcohol
Think about suicide
Worry about their sexuality
Face difficult situations, such as applying to college,
getting a job, or quitting school
Question their aptitudes and abilities
School psychologists help children, parents, teachers, and
members of the community understand and resolve these concerns. The following
situations demonstrate how school psychologists may typically approach
problems.
Family Problems
The teacher noticed that Carla, an able student, had stopped
participating in class discussions and had difficulty paying attention. The
school psychologist was asked to explore why Carla's behavior had changed so
much. After discovering that Carla's parents were divorcing, the school
psychologist provided counseling for Carla and gave her parents suggestions for
this difficult time. Carla's behavior and self-esteem improved, and she felt
more secure about her relationship with her parents.
School psychologists can be trusted to help with delicate
personal and family situations that interfere with schooling.
Reading Problems
Tommy's parents were concerned about his difficulty in
reading. They feared that he would fall behind and lose confidence in himself.
In school the teacher noticed that Tommy understood what was presented in
verbal form, but that he needed the help of his classmates to do written work.
After observing Tommy and gathering information about his reading and writing
skills, the school psychologist collaborated with his parents and teachers to
develop a plan to improve his reading and writing. The plan worked, and both
Tommy's reading and his self-esteem improved.
School psychologists can help prevent future problems when
they intervene with learning problems early on.
A Potential Dropout
David was a high school student who often skipped class. He
had very poor behavior and had been suspended from school on various occasions
for fighting. After establishing a relationship with David, the school
psychologist taught him simple techniques to relax and to control his
aggressive behavior. David's mother and his teacher worked together on a plan
designed by the school psychologist to establish limits and to improve
communication.
School psychologists recognize that changes in the school
environment and at home can improve the quality of life for children and their
families.
From: http://www.nasponline.org