School psychologist services

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I am working toward getting my daughter an IEP and special education services, but I'm not sure exactly what help a school psychologist can provide. I'd love to hear how other families have successfully utilized the school psychologists. Thanks.

Right now, the school psychologist is sort of overseeing my son's case in terms of his emotional needs. He's very anxious, and the psychologist is doing a good job of just providing a safe place for him to go and be comfortable. We feel pretty lucky that things worked out this way - but it isn't an "official" relationship - my son can take breaks, but it isn't in his IEP that he goes to the psychologist for them.

I think usually the school reserves psychologists for diagnosing issues/reviewing existing diagnoses - any therapies or social skills classes my son had were either with the social worker or with the speech therapist. There may or may not be a need to include the psychologist in the IEP once the diagnosis has been made.

There is a very good stickied thread on IEPs on the top of the board.

Our situation is similar to momsparky's. DS does not get specific services from the school psych. She is however on our IEP team and she consults with the other members of the team whenever issues come up. She has been the one to write social stories and help brainstorm about solutions to some of the behavior challenges that we face.

My daughter's school psychologist runs her social skills program. He also comes to the classroom if there are intense issues going on (for example, a meltdown or if she gets "stuck" on something and the teacher cannot unstick her). Also, if my daughter is overwhelmed or overstimulated, she goes to his office and he works with her on self-relaxation techniques. He also runs the chess club, which is nice, because he works with her on sportsmanship there, even though that isn't what chess club is for.

Mostly, I think he is just another safe adult in her school who never judges her and always tries to help her. I think the more "faces" like that a kid has in school, the better.