Friday, May 6, 2011

School Psychologist vs. School Counselor

The roles of a school psychologist and a school counselor sometimes overlap. Many do not realize that the tasks of a school psychologist are much more complexed and in depth than those of a school counselor. To become a school psychologists one must have at least three years of graduate school training and a 1200-hour internships, while school counselors only need two years of full-time study and 600 hours of internship.
School psychologists have training in child psychology, development, and education, and specifically empathizes on special education. School counselors typically deal with social and family issues. School counselors have tasks that range from academic problems, family issues, to crisis intervention and drug prevention. A school psychologists deals more with students that have identified learning disabilities and are at risk of academic failure. Within children that have learning disabilities, the roles of a school psychologists include "assessment (comprehensive evaluations of disability and risk), consultation regarding instructional and behavioral interventions, and direct interventions including crisis prevention/intervention, individual and group counseling and skill training." 
The roles of a school psychologists over lap with those of counselors and social workers and often these professions work together. "School psychologists are more likely to have training in behavioral analysis, mental health screening and diagnosis, research methods (and application of research to classroom practices), and specific disability areas."
There are many types of psychologists. Out of the psychologists that deal with children, school psychologists are more experienced with scientific matters that aid in helping disabled children.
The link below obtains facts and questions by the National Association of School Psychologists. This information was found under the link "what is the difference between a school psychologists and a school counselor".

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