73 Questions to Ask a School Psychologist

You may be surprised to learn that school psychologists do more than just administer tests. In fact, they play an important role in promoting students’ emotional and academic well-being.

If you’re thinking about becoming a school psychologist, or if you’re just curious about what they do, here are some questions to ask.

73 Questions you can ask a school psychologist:

1. What is your favorite part of the job?
2. What is the most challenging part of the job?
3. How do you feel about working with children?
4. What personal qualities do you think are necessary for success in this field?
5. How do you deal with difficult situations?
6. What are your thoughts on providing therapy to children?
7. What population do you prefer working with (e.g., elementary school, middle school, high school)?
8. In what type of setting do you prefer working (e.g., public schools, private schools, hospitals)?
9. What do you think is the most important thing a school psychologist can do for a child?
10. Do you think there is such a thing as a “typical” day for a school psychologist? If so, what does it look like?
11. How do you handle students who act out in class or refuse to cooperate with testing?
12. What kind of continuing education opportunities have you taken advantage of?
13. How has your work as a school psychologist affected your personal life?
14. What would you say is your biggest professional accomplishment?
15. Do you have any funny or memorable stories from your time as a school psychologist?
16. How do you think the field of school psychology will change in the next 10-20 years?
17. What challenges do you see that need to be addressed in the field of school psychology?
18. Are there any ethical considerations that come up in your work that you didn’t expect? If so, how did you address them?
19. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a school psychologist?
20. Do you have any role models or mentors in the field that you look up to? Who are they and what impact have they had on your career?
21. What are your training and experience?
22. How do you approach problem-solving?
23. What strategies do you typically use with students?
24. What type of interventions have you found to be most effective?
25. What do you think are the root causes of my child’s difficulties?
26. What goals do you think are realistic for my child?
27. How long do you think it will take to see results?
28. What can I do at home to support my child’s progress?
29. How will we know if the intervention is working?
30. What other professionals are involved in my child’s care?
31. Who will be responsible for implementing the intervention plan?
32. How often will we meet to discuss my child’s progress?
33. What should I do if I have concerns between our meetings?
34. How involved will my child’s teacher be in this process?
35. What confidentiality protections are in place for my child’s information?
36. What are your policies regarding the release of information to other professionals or agencies?
37. Are there any fees for your services? If so, how much do they cost and how often will I be billed?
38. Do you have experience working with children with X diagnosis (e.g., ADHD, LD, anxiety)?
39. Do you have experience working with children from culturally diverse backgrounds?
40. Is there anything else I should know about you or your approach before we get started?
41. What made you decide to become a school psychologist?
42. What is the best part of your job?
43. What is the hardest part of your job?
44. How do you work best with teachers?
45. How do you work best with parents?
46. How do you work best with students?
47. What is your favorite intervention to use with students?
48. What do you think is the most important thing for a school psychologist to know?
49. How do you handle conflict in the school setting?
50. How do you deal with difficult parents?
51. How do you deal with difficult students?
52. What do you think is the most important trait of a successful school psychologist?
53. How do you stay up-to-date in your field?
54. Do you have any favorite books or resources that you would recommend to other school psychologists?
55. Do you have any advice for new school psychologists?
56. How do you manage your time effectively in the school setting?
57. What goal do you hope to achieve in your role as a school psychologist?
58. How have you seen the role of a school psychologist change over the years?
59. What challenges do school psychologists currently face that didn’t exist before?
60. What advice would you have for someone who is thinking about becoming a school psychologist?
61. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
62. How do you work with students who have special needs?
63. How do you work with administrators?
64. What role do parents play in the work you do?
65. What are some common myths about school psychology that you encounter?
66. How does your work impact students’ academic performance?
67. How does your work impact students’ social and emotional development?
68. What challenges do you see in the field of school psychology in the coming years?
69. What impact have new technologies had on your work?
70. How do you deal with students who are resistant to psychological services?
71. How do you collaborate with other professionals to support students’ well-being?
72. How do you implement evidence-based practices in your work?
73. What challenges do you face when working with diverse populations of students?

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

School psychologists play an important role in promoting the emotional and academic well-being of students. If you’re thinking about becoming a school psychologist, or if you’re just curious about what they do, these questions will give you a better understanding of this important profession.