Educational psychologists' use of therapeutic interventions: issues arising from two exploratory case studies

Abstract

This article considers the evolving role of the educational psychologist (EP) in providing therapeutic support to children and young people. Through two small-scale research studies, EPs' use of therapeutic interventions and issues in delivering them are explored. Findings reveal use of a range of therapeutic interventions in different contexts with schools and multi-agency partners. Issues relate to opportunities to practise therapeutic interventions due to competing pressures, access to supervision and perceptions of the EP role. Themes emerging from the studies are explored systematically using a SWOT framework to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to EPs' use of therapeutic interventions. It is hoped that a forthcoming UK-wide study into EPs' use of therapy will provide a more sophisticated picture about some of the issues raised in this article.