The Executive Functions are a collection of higher order brain functions. Nevertheless, there exists much confusion on what they are and how they function. This dissertation explores the history, theory, and application of the Executive Functions as they apply to school psychologists. Topics such as the current leading theories of the Executive…

The relationship between school psychologists and teachers is one that has yet to be fully examined to see what the perceptions and attitudes that school psychologists hold about teachers and teaching, how having teaching experience may impact those perceptions, and whether or not the field of school psychology may benefit from incorporating…

This dissertation explores school psychologists' evolving roles and responsibilities, examining how their practices align with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) domains. This study utilized an online survey distributed via the snowball method; data was collected from 97 school psychologists across multiple states. The study…

This dissertation is prepared to explain the research conducted to study the extent of instruction that school psychology graduate students are receiving on strengths-based assessment in their training programs. Strengths-based assessment is the process of intentionally measuring strengths rather than solely measuring deficits. The positive…

Special education assessment has a significant impact on the lives of children with disabilities and their families. However, traditional assessment practices have been critiqued as being deficit-based, overly focused on "labeling" students, and failing to provide a holistic understanding of the student. Assessment models such as…

Although extensive research has investigated the role of the supervisory relationship during internship within different fields of psychology, little is known about the nature of the supervisory relationship during the yearlong school psychology internship. The current study investigated the nature of the supervisory relationship in a group of 295…

As the demographic makeup of public school children continues to increase cultural and linguistic diversity, school psychologists are required to demonstrate competence in all aspects of school psychological service delivery, including consultation. Practitioners working in diverse school settings often require multicultural skills in order to…

Previous research identifies numerous effects that a student's motivation has on their educational experience. Studies have shown that the lack of motivation is connected to poorer academic performance and attendance rates and increased behavioral concerns and dropout rates. Therefore, understanding what factors influence students' motivation is…

School psychologists are equipped with a dynamic skill set and an ethical and moral responsibility to support the diverse needs of all youth. While juvenile justice-involved youth may not be a primary subpopulation served by all school psychologists, they are a high-needs group that requires special consideration and attention. As a professional…

The shortage of school psychologists nationally is problematic for myriad reasons and has been well documented in literature (Castillo et al., 2016; Castillo et al., 2017; Eklund et al., 2017; Eklund et al., 2020; Merrell, Ervin, & Peacock, 2012; National Association of School Psychologists, 2021). Due to such shortages, consultations are more…

School psychologists and their interns were required to adapt their practices and the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With an already existing gap in the literature regarding supervision in school psychology, an even larger gap exists due to COVID-19. The present study aimed to promote…

Childhood trauma is a significant public health issue in the United States. The experiencing of traumatic events can result in deficiencies in developmental, social, emotional, and behavioral self-regulation, impairing academic progress. The functional core aspects or primary domains of impairment (academics, relationships, self-regulation, and…

The state of Texas is currently under a federal mandate of corrective action from the United States Department of Education (USED). Many students who were denied referral to special education services in the past are being referred in record numbers across the state. Given the historical shortage of special education assessment personnel, the…

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders in children and adolescents. Anxiety is associated with impairment and interferences across a myriad of domains, including social and emotional functioning, academic achievement, and peer and adult relationships. It is important to consider and understand how anxiety manifests…

The role of school psychologists in Italy is undefined and insufficiently integrated into their inclusive education system. Unlike in countries like the United States, where school psychology is a well-established profession, Italian school psychologists receive limited training and primarily engage in direct interventions, such as interviews and…