What exactly does a school psychologist do all day? Good question. It’s somewhere between crisis management, detective work, and occasionally moonlighting as a magician. Think of it as being the Swiss Army knife of a school staff—if Swiss Army knives also had coffee stains and stacks of paperwork.
So, buckle up for a tour of a typical day in the life of a school psychologist. (Spoiler: It’s not all mind games. Okay, maybe some mind games.)
7:45 AM – The Calm Before the Storm
Ah, the early hours. The school is quiet, and I actually have five glorious minutes to sip my coffee. Little do I know, this calm is merely a prelude to chaos. My inbox is already buzzing with requests:
“Can you test this kid ASAP?”
“What’s the deal with Sarah’s IEP?”
“Can you talk to Timmy? He’s eating paste again.”
This is where I strategize like a general preparing for battle.
8:15 AM – Morning Meetings: A Game of Psychological Tetris
Time to juggle priorities in a meeting where everyone has competing agendas. Teachers want interventions, administrators want results, and I want…another coffee.
The goal? Advocate for the kids while also pretending I’ve read every single policy memo sent this week. (I haven’t.)
9:00 AM – Testing Time! (Or, How to Wrangle a Wiggly 8-Year-Old)
Cue the testing kits. My task: assess little Jimmy’s cognitive and academic abilities while also making sure he doesn’t turn my WISC-V into confetti.
Pro tip: When in doubt, throw in some humor. “No, Jimmy, this isn’t a game. Okay, fine, it’s kind of like a game. Let’s see how fast you can beat the clock!”
11:00 AM – Crisis Mode Activated
Every school psychologist knows this moment: when the walkie-talkie crackles, and you hear, “We need you in the cafeteria. NOW.”
Why? Could be a meltdown. Could be a fight. Could be a kid insisting they’re a velociraptor and chasing their peers. Whatever it is, I’m on it, armed with deep breathing techniques, a kind smile, and sheer willpower.
12:30 PM – Lunch? What’s Lunch?
I’m not sure why my calendar says “Lunch Break,” because it’s actually:
Catching up on emails
Calling a parent who “just doesn’t understand why Johnny has to sit still”
Explaining for the 27th time that ADHD isn’t caused by too much sugar
At some point, I inhale a granola bar and call it self-care.
1:30 PM – Individual Counseling: Mini Therapy Sessions for Big Emotions
Next up: one-on-one time with students.
One kid is navigating friendship drama, another is managing test anxiety, and a third just really, really wants to talk about Minecraft. Each session is like a puzzle, and I’m here to help them piece it together.
3:00 PM – Paperwork: The Never-Ending Story
Ah, paperwork. The bane of my existence. Evaluations, IEPs, progress notes—it’s all in a day’s work.
Fun fact: School psychologists don’t just “analyze behavior.” We also analyze our ability to survive under mountains of administrative tasks without crying into our keyboard.
4:00 PM – Wrapping Up (or Attempting To)
The school is quieting down, but my brain isn’t. I spend the last hour trying to organize tomorrow’s chaos:
Reviewing data
Prepping for meetings
Wondering why I chose a career where I carry three tote bags home every night
The Takeaway: It’s Exhausting, Rewarding, and Slightly Bonkers
A day in the life of a school psychologist is a whirlwind of emotions, problem-solving, and caffeine-fueled heroics. Sure, it’s exhausting, but it’s also deeply rewarding.
Every small success—a student learning a new coping strategy, a family feeling heard, or even a meltdown that ends in laughter—reminds me why I love this job.
If you’re navigating your own mental health journey (or your child’s), know this: you’re not alone. There are people like me—coffee-fueled and slightly overworked—ready to help.
Call or text 614-470-4466, email admin@achievepsychology.org, or visit www.achievepsychology.org to learn more.
Works Cited:
"The Role of School Psychologists," National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
"School Psychology: A Career That Makes a Difference," American Psychological Association (APA)
Comments