How do you view your school psychologist?

This is an interview between myself and two children attending an elementary school in North Babylon, New York. This is to show a small example of how children view the school psychologist. Although this is only two views of the same school psychologist, it paints a well developed picture of how a child may view adult figures who are at the school for beneficial reasons. The names have been changed in order to keep it private.

First, I had an interview with a five year old girl attending kindergarten. Her name is Lauren, but for short she likes to be called "Lo-lo". Her parents are in the middle of a divorce, therefore, it's recommended by the school district that she visits the school psychologist at least once a week.

The interview was short but it shows what she likes and dislikes about the school psychologist that as adults we may tend to forget about.

Me: "Lo-lo, do you know who the lady's name who takes you out of class once a week is?"

Lo: "Ms. Hartman."

Me: "Does she play any games with you?"

Lo: "Ms. Hartman talks to me a lot when I play this card game. She also dresses these dolls with me. Sometimes I paint with her. I like painting. There's a lot of colors."

Me: "How does she make you feel?"

Lo: "Happy. but sometimes sad."

Me: "How does she make you feel happy?"

Lo: "She smiles a lot. She also plays with me."

Me: "How does she make you sad?"

Lo: "She asks questions about Daddy and Mommy. I don't like it. She also takes me out of class, and everyone looks at me."

Me: "Why does she take you out of class?"

Lo: " To talk about things and to play games."

Me: "Does she make you feel better about Mommy and Daddy?"

Lo: "Sometimes."

Me: "When does she make you feel good?"

Lo: "When she tells me that they love me."

Me: "Do you like Ms. Hartman?"

Lo: "Yes."

Me: "Do you like your teacher?"

Lo: "Sometimes."

Me: "Why do you like your teacher sometimes but not all the time?"

Lo: "She doesn't listen to me when I try to tell her stories. She doesn't like my stories."

Me: "Do you tell Ms. Hartman your stories?"

Lo: "Yes."

Me: "Does she like your stories?"

Lo: "Yes."

Me: "What are your stories about?"

Lo: "A monkey that's a pirate!"

... The rest of the interview consists of mostly about the pirate monkey I learned to be named Henry.

This interview shows that the close personal attention that Lo-lo has with the school psychologist is beneficial. The teacher does not have time to directly connect with each of her students, which is why a school psychologist comes in handy when dealing with a child's family problems.

Each student should have to go see the school psychologist, because it helps the child to talk about what he or she is feeling. The child develops a relationship to the school psychologist that helps the school to understand the personal life of the child.

The second interview is with Connor, a boy at the age of 7, in the second grade, who's parents have had a divorce.

Me: "Connor, is the lady who takes you out of class name is Ms. Hartman?"

Connor: "Yes."

Me: "Do you like her?"

Connor: "Yes."

Me: "Why do you like her?"

Connor: "We play cars together. I like playing cars. She also has a train that I want."

Me: "Do you talk to her?"

Connor: "Yes."

Me: "What do you talk to her about?"

Connor: "Cars, Mommy, Daddy, my Brother, Phineas and Ferb, and toys."

Me: "Do you like talking to her?"

Connor: "Yes."

Me: "How come?"

Connor: "She knows a lot about cars and Phineas and Ferb."

Me: "Do you like it when she talks about Mommy and Daddy?"

Connor: "I talk about Mommy and Daddy, she just asks me questions. Sometimes the questions are hard to answer."

Me: "Why are they hard to answer?"

Connor: "I don't like talking about my Mommy yelling at Daddy."

Me: "Do you talk to your teacher about Mommy and Daddy?"

Connor: "No."

Me: "Do you like your teacher?"

Connor: "Yes."

Me: "If you can spend the day playing games with your teacher, or Ms. Hartman, who would you play games with?"

Connor: "Ms. Hartman, she has a lot of games."

This interview shows that Connor has developed a close relationship with his school psychologist and he respects her more. Even with the uncomfortable living situation he's able to talk with her about his home life.

School psychologists have an important job in allowing kids to open up to them and understand the home life. School psychologist need to build a good relationship in order to be sure that the students are safe at school and at home.

While many people believe the teacher does a well enough job to understand each child, the school psychologist is the one-on-one a child needs during school. By building these relationships, children open up. They are able to tell the school psychologist if they do not feel safe in an environment without thinking that he or she will get in trouble.

A child's view on a psychologist is very important. If a child doesn't have a trust with the psychologist, school life can be troubling and a hard learning environment. Children need to talk about the problems that he or she is facing with someone who could help them and relieve the stress that they may be facing.