School Psychologist

2 Pages 533 Words

School Psychologist
School psychologists have specialized training in both psychology and education. The training requirements to become a school psychologist are a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours including a year-long internship. This training emphasizes preparation in mental health, child development, school organization, learning, behavior and motivation. To work as a school psychologist, one must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which services are provided. School psychologists also may be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB).
School psychologists use their training and skills to team with educators, parents, and other mental health professionals to ensure that every child learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. They understand school systems, effective teaching and successful learning. They work to help with the particular needs of each child and each situation. Some of their important duties include:
• Giving healthy and effective alternatives to teachers, parents, and administrators about problems in learning and behavior.
• Strengthen working relationships between educators, parents and community services.
• Use a wide variety of techniques at an individual, group, and systems level to evaluate academic skills, learning aptitudes, personality and emotional development and social skills.
• Work face-to-face with children and families to help solve conflicts and problems in learning and adjustment.
• Provide psychological counseling for children and families and social skills training, behavior management, and other strategies.
• Help promote tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of the diversity in the school community.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs, behavior management systems, and other services.
• Work with children and families to provide integrated community services focusing on psychosocial wellne...