When a child is struggling, knowing where to turn can be difficult.
Perhaps they are finding school increasingly overwhelming, experiencing big emotions, struggling with friendships or becoming anxious about everyday situations.
Perhaps their behaviour has changed, family life feels harder than it used it, or you have a sense that something is not quite right, but you cannot put your finger on what.
You might have spoken to school, contacted your GP or found yourself on a waiting list for another service.
You may have received advice that does not seem to fit your child, or you might still be trying to work out what kind of help they need.
You do not need to know exactly what the problem is, what the solution could be, or which professional you need, before seeking support.
An Educational Psychologist can help you make sense of what your child is experiencing, understand what might be contributing to their difficulties and identify ways to support them at home, at school and in everyday life.
What does an Educational Psychologist do?
Educational Psychologists are trained to understand how children and young people develop, learn, feel and interact with the world around them.
Our work brings together psychological knowledge, child development and an understanding of the environments in which children grow up.
Although the word educational can suggest that the role is limited to schoolwork, Educational Psychologists look at much more than academic progress.
A child’s emotional wellbeing, relationships, experiences, communication, sensory needs and learning environment can all influence how they feel and behave. Difficulties in one area can affect many others.
At Perceptive Educational Psychology Service, we aim to understand the whole child, including their strengths, needs and experiences, rather than focusing on a particular behaviour or difficulty in isolation.
This means we look beyond what is happening on the surface to explore what might be contributing to it and what could help.
When might an Educational Psychologist be able to help?
There is no single reason families seek support. Sometimes there is a clear concern; at other times, it is a combination of difficulties that has gradually become harder to manage.
You might consider contacting an Educational Psychologist if your child:
Is experiencing difficulties with emotions or mental health. They may be struggling with anxious feelings, low confidence, emotional overwhelm, distressing experiences or difficulties managing everyday demands.
Finds behaviour difficult to manage. Perhaps there are frequent meltdowns, intense emotional reactions, conflict at home or behaviour that seems disproportionate to what has happened. Understanding what sits behind these responses can help identify more effective ways of supporting your child.
Is finding school difficult. This might include difficulties with learning, attendance, transitions, friendships, confidence or feeling safe and settled in the school environment.
Has additional support needs or neurodevelopmental differences. You may have questions about autism, ADHD, communication, sensory differences or how your child experiences and responds to their environment. Support can focus on understanding their needs and identifying helpful adjustments, whether or not they have a formal diagnosis.
Has experienced something distressing. Significant life changes, loss, frightening experiences or other forms of adversity can affect a child’s emotional wellbeing, behaviour and sense of safety.
Is struggling with sleep, relationships or everyday family life. Difficulties rarely exist in isolation. Sleep, emotional wellbeing, family relationships and experiences at school can influence one another.
You do not need to recognise your child in every example. Sometimes the most useful starting point is simply knowing that things feel difficult and wanting to understand why, and how to help.
How can an Educational Psychologist actually help?
Knowing that a child is struggling is one thing. Working out what might help them is another.
An Educational Psychologist can work with families to explore the difficulties they are experiencing, consider the factors that may be contributing to them and develop a clearer understanding of the child’s needs.
Depending on the situation, support might involve:
Consultation: talking through your concerns, exploring what you have noticed and considering possible next steps.
Assessment and psychological formulation: bringing together information about your child’s development, experiences, strengths and difficulties to build a more detailed understanding of their needs.
Practical recommendations: identifying adjustments, strategies and approaches that can be used at home or in school.
Therapeutic support: where appropriate, offering psychological intervention to help children and young people work through emotional difficulties or distressing experiences.
Working together with other adults: helping parents, carers and educational professionals develop a shared understanding of the child and respond in ways that are consistent and supportive.
The right approach depends on the child and the circumstances. Sometimes a consultation and a clearer plan are enough to identify a useful way forward.
In other situations, more detailed assessment, ongoing support or collaboration with other professionals may be helpful.
Where does an Educational Psychologist fit alongside other professionals?
Families can find themselves navigating a confusing landscape of services.
Teachers, GPs, paediatricians, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, mental health professionals and other specialists may all have important roles to play.
An Educational Psychologists offers a psychological perspective that considers how a child’s development, learning, emotions, relationships and environment interact.
This can be particularly useful when difficulties overlap, when the reasons for a child’s behaviour are unclear or when existing strategies do not seem to be helpful.
Our work helps families understand their child’s needs and identify practical ways forward.
Do I need a referral or diagnosis?
You do not necessarily need to wait for a diagnosis before seeking help with difficulties that are already affecting your child’s everyday life.
You can access Perceptive Educational Psychology Service by booking an initial consultation directly rather than waiting for a referral through another service.
The initial consultation offers an opportunity to discuss your concerns, explore what you hope to understand or change and consider whether Educational Psychology support is the right fit.
You do not need to arrive with all the answers. You might have a clear idea of the difficulties you want help with, or you might simply know what your child is finding things hard.
If another professional or service would be better placed to help with a particular concern, then we would discuss this and signpost where possible.
Understanding your child is a starting point for change.
When a child is struggling, it is easy for family life to become centred around the difficulties: the challenging mornings, the bedtime battles, the school concerns or the emotional reactions that everyone is trying to manage.
These experiences matter, but they are only one part of the picture.
Understanding what a child is communicating through their behaviour, what makes certain situations harder and what helps them feel more secure can open up new possibilities.
It can help adults respond with greater confidence, make more informed decisions and recognise the strengths that may have been overshadowed by the difficulties.
You do not have to wait until things reach a crisis point to ask for support.
If you are wondering whether an Educational Psychologist could help your child, follow the link below to book an initial consultation to discuss your concerns and explore the options available.
About the author
Dr Jemma Anderson is a Doctor in Educational and Child Psychology, HCPC Registered Educational Psychologist and Founder of Perceptive Educational Psychology Service, based in Dumfries.