Educational Psychologists Association of Nigeria (ePAN)

·         What do Educational Psychologists do?

o   With Students

o   With Students and Families

o   With Teachers

o   With Administrators

o   With Community Providers

·         Where Educational Psychologists Work

·         Examples of how Educational Psychologists make a difference.

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What do Educational Psychologists do?

Educational Psychologists Work With Students to:

Provide counselling, instruction, and mentoring for those struggling with social, emotional, and behavioural problems

Increase achievement by assessing barriers to learning and determining the best instructional strategies to improve learning

Promote wellness and resilience by reinforcing communication and social skills, problem solving, anger management, self-regulation, self-determination, and optimism

Enhance understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and backgrounds

Educational Psychologists Work With Students and Their Families to:

Identify and address learning and behaviour problems that interfere with school success

Evaluate eligibility for special education services (within a multidisciplinary team)

Support students' social, emotional, and behavioural health

Teach parenting skills and enhance home–school collaboration

Make referrals and help coordinate community support services

Educational Psychologists Work With Teachers to:

Identify and resolve academic barriers to learning

Design and implement student progress monitoring systems

Design and implement academic and behavioural interventions

Support effective individualized instruction

Create positive classroom environments

Motivate all students to engage in learning

Educational Psychologists Work With Administrators to:

Collect and analyze data related to school improvement, student outcomes, and accountability requirements

Implement school-wide prevention programs that help maintain positive school climates conducive to learning

Promote school policies and practices that ensure the safety of all students by reducing school violence, bullying, and harassment

Respond to crises by providing leadership, direct services, and coordination with needed community services

Design, implement, and garner support for comprehensive school mental health programming

Educational Psychologists Work With Community Providers to:

Coordinate the delivery of services to students and their families in and outside of school

Help students transition to and from school and community learning environments, such as residential treatment or juvenile justice programs

Where Educational Psychologists Work

The majority of Educational Psychologists work in schools. However, they can practice in a variety of settings including:

·         Public and private schools

·         Universities

·         School-based health and mental health centres

·         Community-based day-treatment or residential clinics and hospitals

·         Juvenile justice centres

·         Private practice

·         How do Educational Psychologists make a difference in schools?

·         All children and adolescents face problems from time to time. They may:

·         Feel afraid to go to school

·         Have difficulty organizing their time efficiently

·         Lack effective study skills

·         Fall behind in their school work

·         Lack self-discipline

·         Worry about family matters such as divorce and death

·         Feel depressed or anxious

·         Experiment with drugs and alcohol

·         Think about suicide

·         Worry about their sexuality

·         Face difficult situations, such as applying to college, getting a job, or quitting school

·         Question their aptitudes and abilities

·         Educational Psychologists help children, parents, teachers, and members of the community understand and resolve these concerns.

Following are examples of how Educational Psychologists make a difference.

Helping Students With Learning Problems
Dele’s parents were concerned about his difficulty reading and writing. They feared that he would fall behind and lose confidence in himself. In school the teacher noticed that Dele often struggled to understand what he was reading and often needed the help of his classmates to do related written work. After observing Dele, consulting with his teacher, and gathering specific information about his skills, the school psychologist collaborated with his parents and teachers to develop a plan to improve his reading and writing. The plan worked, and Dele's reading, writing, and confidence as a learner improved.

Helping Students Cope With Family and Life Stressors
The teacher noticed that Toyin, an able student, had stopped participating in class discussions and had difficulty paying attention. The school psychologist was asked to explore why Toyin's behaviour had changed so much. After discovering that Toyin's parents were divorcing, the school psychologist provided counselling for Toyin and gave her parent’s suggestions for this difficult time. Toyin's behaviour and emotional wellbeing improved, and she felt more secure about her relationship with her parents.

Helping Students with Behaviour Problems Learn New Ways to Respond
Uche was a high school student who often skipped class and got into fights with others. He acted out in class and had been suspended from school on various occasions. After establishing a relationship with Uche, the school psychologist taught him simple techniques to relax, recognize his needs, and to control his aggressive behaviour. Uche 's mother and his teacher worked together on a plan designed by the school psychologist to establish limits, recognize Uche 's escalating tension, and improve communication. Uche 's relationships with peers and adults improved and he began to make steady progress towards graduation.

epAN represents and supports educational psychology through leadership to enhance the mental health and educational competence of all children.

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