Before we explain the difference between School psychologist vs School counselor let us take a look at their definitions and aims.
Educational Psychology:
Education Psychology is a science which studies the process and factors involved in the education of human beings. It is a systematic study of the changes that take place in an individual at various stages of his development.
It deals with learning processes human development and motivation, social learning classroom management, measuring and evaluating student’s development and learning and other related aspects.
Aim of Educational Psychology:
It’s an attempt to apply the knowledge of psychology to the field of education. It consists of application principles and techniques for human behavior in educational situations.
Its aim to study the experience and behavior of the learner in relation to the educational environment. In educational psychology, the main focus is on teaching process which has four interesting situations.
- The Students
- The Teachers
- The classroom strategies
- The content to be taught
Its aims to apply psychological knowledge to the field of education. It mainly emphasizes on understanding the psychological aspects that serve as the educational foundation.
counseling Psychology:
Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness education and career.
Aims of counseling
Aim or goal of counseling is to help individuals deal with the developmental tasks appropriate to their age. The goal of counseling is apt to more directed toward aiding growth, more concerned with the immediate situation and more aimed at helping the individual function in appropriate roles.
Facilitating behavior change:
The goal of the counseling is to bring about a change in behavior which will enable the client to live a more productive and satisfying life.
Enhancing Coping Skills:
Counseling is aimed at helping individuals learn to cope with new situations and new demands in an important goal of counseling.
Promoting Decision Making:
Another goal of counseling is to enable the individual to make critical decisions. Counseling help individuals obtain information and clarify and sort out personal characteristics and emotional concerns they may interfere in decision making.
Improving Relationship:
Many clients have a major problem relating to other people. Counselors work with clients to help them improve the quality of their relationships and become more effective in their interpersonal relationships.
Facilitating Client’s Potential:
Developing the client’s potential is a frequently emphasized counseling goal.
School Counselor vs School Psychologist
| School Counselor | School Psychologist |
| School Counselor helps others to assist the student client in dealing more effectively with developmental needs. The school counselor may plan group activities and consult with teachers to help children and practice the relationship skills necessary in the school setting. | The school psychologist is capable to assess and develop plans for children considered to be at risk. A school psychologist is also expected to better the lives of all children in the School. They are considered as advisors in the planning and implementation of the School curriculum |
| The school counselor can make a major contribution as a coordinator and consultant in developing a continuous, sequential and integrated program. | School psychologist focuses on improving the psychological and intellectual well-being of elementary and secondary school students. They may work in a centralized office in a School or in more Schools. |
| School counselors develop programs that seek to anticipate, intervene and prevent the development of problems of young children. | School psychologists are experts in both psychology and education. They provide many services that include the educational, emotional social and behavioral challenges that many children. |
| The school counselor can prevent the students from substance abuse, premature school leaving, and school vandalism and can promote the development of social skills self-concept and personal safety. | School psychologists provide intervention and treatment to reach goals. They assist with trauma and crisis; work with children teachers and families to deal with hurdles. |
| School counselor motivates students for academics along with the development of adequate study skills and communication and human relationship skills. | School psychologists seek assistance from community services in mental health, physical health and crises response; educate the public, parents and students. |
| Professional school counselors are a key link in the child abuse prevention network. It is their responsibility to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the proper authorities. | Crisis intervention is an integral part of school psychology. They are considered as crises intervention “experts” by school administrators. |
| By providing up-to-date information and intervention, the professional school counselor can sometimes facilitate a turning point in the life and behavior of an abusive family. | Improving the school climate is one of the greatest tasks of school psychologists. In classroom, they offer many services to teachers and students on a classroom level. |