{"id":111730,"date":"2020-11-13T12:40:50","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T18:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=111730"},"modified":"2020-11-13T12:40:50","modified_gmt":"2020-11-13T18:40:50","slug":"what-does-a-school-psychologist-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/what-does-a-school-psychologist-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What does a school psychologist do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Any student looking to major in psychology should consider the field of school psychology<\/a>. Although school psychology is not as common as other branches of psychology, it has been steadily growing since the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)<\/a> was established in 1969.<\/p>\n

School psychology comes directly from functional psychology, a branch of psychology that focuses on the purpose of human behavior.<\/p>\n

This article will cover how to become a school psychologist, what a school psychologist does, school psychology degrees, and job opportunities for those in the field.<\/p>\n

What Is School Psychology?<\/h3>\n

School psychology is a field of study and professional practice focused on the development and education of children, as well as the child\u2019s psychological needs in a school setting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

School psychology is well-rooted in functional psychology, clinical psychology, child development, and special education. It goes beyond basic psychology by targeting child behavior, development, learning, and mental health.<\/p>\n

School psychology aims to help children excel in school both intellectually and emotionally. School psychologists are trained to work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to enable a safe, stable, and supportive environment for children to learn.<\/p>\n

What Does a School Psychologist Do?<\/h3>\n

School psychologists work with administrators and teachers to create the best possible learning environment for students. They identify students with behavioral problems, developmental differences, and other learning roadblocks that may cause academic difficulties. Then, school psychologists will help these students cope with and work through these learning challenges.<\/p>\n

School psychologists can work with students either individually or in groups. They are also tasked with providing solutions and guidance to parents to deal with any challenges that may affect student learning at home.<\/p>\n

The National Association of School Psychologists describes<\/a> the ten domains that school psychologists provide services in. These ten domains are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Data-based decision making and accountability<\/li>\n
  2. Consultation and collaboration<\/li>\n
  3. Instructional and intervention support to develop academic skills<\/li>\n
  4. Interventions and mental health services to develop social and life skills<\/li>\n
  5. School-wide practices to promote learning<\/li>\n
  6. Preventive and responsive services<\/li>\n
  7. Family-school collaboration services<\/li>\n
  8. Diversity in development and learning<\/li>\n
  9. Research and program evaluation<\/li>\n
  10. Legal, ethical, and professional practice<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What School Psychologist Jobs Are Available?<\/h3>\n

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, the employment of school psychologists s projected to grow 14 percent from 2016 to 2026.<\/p>\n

    School psychologists are found in a wide range of educational settings. These include:<\/p>\n