Educational psychologist

Educational psychologists are psychologists employed by educational institutions to provide psychological and emotional support to students in need. They are specialised in the provision of direct support and interventions to students, conducting psychological testing and assessment, and consulting with families, teachers and other school-based student support professionals, such as school social workers and educational counsellors, about the students. They may also work with the school administration to improve practical support strategies in order to improve the students’ well-being.

The following job titles also refer to educational psychologist:

educational psychology specialist
practitioner in school psychology
school psychologist
psychologist in education institution
students’ psychology assistant
specialist in educational psychology
educational psychology practitioner
practitioner of educational psychology
students psychologist
students psycology specialist
practitioner in educational psychology
school psychology practitioner
psychologist, educational

Doctoral or equivalent level is generally required to work as educational psychologist. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Educational psychologist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to educational psychologist.

learning mentor
educational counsellor
academic support officer
special educational needs itinerant teacher
academic advisor

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of educational psychologist. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of educational psychologist with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of educational psychologist.

Psychological counselling methods: The various psychological counselling, training and coaching methods for persons of all ages, groups and organizations considering medical aspects.
School psychology: The study of human behaviour and performance with respect to various school processes, the learning needs of young individuals, and the psychological tests accompanying this field of study.
Developmental psychology: The study of human behaviour, performance, and psychological development from infancy to adolescence.
Crisis intervention: Coping strategies in crisis cases which allow individuals to overcome their problems or fears and avoid psychological distress and breakdown.
Adolescent psychological development: Understand the developments and the development needs of children and young persons, observing the behaviour and the attachment relationships in order to detect developmental delay.
Psychology: The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.

These skills are necessary for the role of educational psychologist.

Consult student’s support system: Communicate with multiple parties, including teachers and the family of the student, to discuss the student’s behaviour or academic performance.
Monitor student’s behaviour: Supervise the student’s social behaviour to discover anything unusual. Help solve any issues if necessary.
Liaise with educational support staff: Communicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team such as the teaching assistant, school counsellor or academic advisor on issues relating the students’ well-being.
Apply crisis intervention: Respond methodologically to a disruption or breakdown in the normal or usual function of a person, family, group or community.
Test for emotional patterns: Discern patterns in the emotions of individuals by using various tests in order to understand the causes of these emotions.
Perform educational testing: Carry out psychological and educational tests on the personal interests, personality, cognitive capabilities, or language or mathematic skills of a student.
Diagnose education problems: Identify the nature of school-related problems, such as fears, concentration problems, or weaknesses in writing or reading.
Test for behavioural patterns: Discern patterns in the behaviour of individuals by using various tests in order to understand the causes of their behaviour.
Interpret psychological tests: Interpret psychological tests in order to obtain information on your patient`s intelligence, achievements, interests, and personality.
Listen actively: Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
Monitor therapeutic progress: Monitor therapeutic progress and modify treatment according to each patient’s condition.
Communicate with youth: Use verbal and non-verbal communication and communicate through writing, electronic means, or drawing. Adapt your communication to children and young people`s age, needs, characteristics, abilities, preferences, and culture.
Liaise with educational staff: Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students’ well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.
Counsel students: Provide assistance to students with educational, career-related or personal issues such as course selection, school adjustment en social integration, career exploration and planning, and family problems.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of educational psychologist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Learning needs analysis: The process of analysing a student’s learning needs through observation and testing, potentially followed by the diagnosis of a learning disorder and a plan for additional support.
Assessment processes: Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self- assessment are used for varying purposes.
Consultation: The theories, methods and concepts related to consultation and communication with clients.
Psychiatric disorders: The characteristics, causes and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Education law: The area of law and legislation that concerns education policies and the people working in the sector in an (inter)national context, such as teachers, students, and administrators.
Learning difficulties: The learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.
Behavioural disorders: The often emotionally disruptive types of behaviour a child or adult can show, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
Communication disorders: The malfunction in a person’s ability to comprehend, process and share concepts in various forms, such as verbal, non verbal or graphical during language, hearing, and speech communication processes.
Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of educational psychologist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Assist in the organisation of school events: Provide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school’s open house day, a sports game or a talent show.
Write research proposals: Synthetise and write proposals aiming to solve research problems. Draft the proposal baseline and objectives, the estimated budget, risks and impact. Document the advances and new developments on the relevant subject and field of study.
Guarantee students’ safety: Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.
Conduct psychological research: Plan, supervise and undertake psychological research, writing papers to describe the research results.
Communicate on the youth’s well-being: Communicate on the youth’s behaviour and welfare with parents, schools and other people in charge of the youth’s upbringing and education.
Show consideration for student’s situation: Take students’ personal backgrounds into consideration when teaching, showing empathy and respect.
Keep up to date with subject knowledge: Gather the latest information on the know-how which is related to the subject of the training process.
Publish academic research: Conduct academic research, at a university or college or on a personal account, publish it in books or academic journals with the aim of contributing to a field of expertise and achieving personal academic accreditation.
Support children’s wellbeing: Provide an environment that supports and values children and helps them to manage their own feelings and relationships with others.
Secondary school procedures: The inner workings of a secondary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.
Oversee extra-curricular activities: Supervise and potentially organise educational or recreational activities for the students outside of mandatory classes.

2634 – Psychologists

 

 

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References

1. Educational psychologist – ESCO