A Practical Guide to Building Professional Competencies in School Psychology

Designed as a research-based yet matter-of-fact guide for beginning and future scientist-practitioners, A Practical Guide to Building Professional Competencies in School Psychology skillfully augments the reader’s training, supervision, and experience by providing a framework for honing essential skills in the field. This reader-friendly, evidence-based text encourages the continuing development of expertise in communication and collaborative skills, diversity awareness, technical knowledge, and other domains critical to building and maintaining an ethical, meaningful practice.

Each chapter in this must-have volume examines a core area of expertise in depth, and provides checklists (linked to competencies set out in NASP’s Blueprint III) and the Development and Enhancement of Competencies Assessment Form are included to enable readers to gain a more complete understanding of their professional strengths and needs.

The skill sets covered include:

• Developing cross-cultural competencies.
• Evaluating students with emotional and behavioral problems.
• Assessing student skills using a variety of approaches.
• Preventing and intervening in crisis situations.
• Consulting with families, colleagues, and the community.
• Facilitating mental health services in the school setting.

A Practical Guide to Building Professional Competencies in School Psychology provides an invaluable set of professional development tools for new practitioners and graduate students in school psychology.

Timothy M. Lionetti, Ph.D., is a full time faculty and the Coordinator of the School Psychology program at Walden University. Dr. Lionetti currently holds school psychology certification in Pennsylvania, and is a Licensed Psychologist in the same state. Dr. Lionetti earned his Doctorate degree in School Psychology from Lehigh University. He has contributed to the fields of psychology and education through multiple presentations and writings. Dr. Lionetti has presented at the national and state levels on a variety of topics, including improving student reading fluency, promoting physical activity in the schools and health promotion, and on recruiting school psychologists. Similarly, he has been published in scholarly journals on the same topics. His clinical and research interests include improving student reading, health promotion, effects of age on academic success, behavioral disorders, and the linking of the mental health and school systems. Lastly, Dr. Lionetti continues to work with children, schools, and families within the school and mental health systems and private practice using both direct and consultative services.

Edward P. Snyder, Ph.D., is Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Educational Psychology Program at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a certified school psychologist. Dr. Snyder earned his master's degree and school psychology certification from Bucknell University and his Ph.D. in School Psychology from Lehigh University. He has experience as a school psychologist in rural and urban settings. In addition, Dr. Snyder has worked as a school psychologist in residential programs for children and adolescents with dual diagnoses, and he worked in an approved private school for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. He has published research articles related to involving students, who receive special education services, in leading their own Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Dr. Snyder has presented at national and state conferences. His research interests include assessment and treatment of students with behavior disorders, self-advocacy for student receiving special education services, and school violence prevention programs.

Ray W. Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, is Director of Cognitive Health Solutions, LLC in Hanover, Pennsylvania, where he provides psychological services to children, adolescents, families, and schools. He is also the consulting psychologist for the South Middleton School District, and he is a core faculty member at Walden University. Dr. Christner holds school psychology certifications from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the National School Psychology Certification Board. He further maintains licensure in Pennsylvania as a Licensed Psychologist and a Licensed Professional Counselor. Dr. Christner earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from PCOM, as well as a Masters of Science degree and certification in School Psychology from California University of Pennsylvania. He has contributed to the fields of psychology and education through multiple presentations and writings. Dr. Christner has presented in the United States and England on cognitive-behavior therapy, school-based crisis intervention, and school-based mental health. He is a coeditor of three books entitled, Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions for Educational Settings: A Handbook for Practice (with Drs. Rosemary Mennuti and Arthur Freeman), Handbook of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Groups with Children and Adolescents: Specific Settings and Presenting Problems (with Drs. Jessica Stewart and Arthur Freeman), and School-Based Mental Health: A Practitioner’s Guide to Comparative Practice (with Dr. Rosemary Mennuti).. He was the founding editor of School Psychology Forum: Research in Practice, a peer-reviewed journal published by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Dr. Christner’s clinical and research interests include cognitive-behavioral interventions and treatments for various disorders and issues, process-oriented assessment, crisis intervention, school-based mental health services, and the training of psychologists and mental health professionals.