Psychological services staff provide evidence-informed, culturally responsive and identity affirming services, from a strengths-based approach with an emphasis on mattering, belonging and resiliency.
On this page, you can find information on:
What School Psychological Services professionals do
Who we are and how we are trained
How to access School Psychological Services
Consent for services
We are here to help
If you have concerns about a student’s learning achievement or mental health, contact your child’s teacher or administrator. They can help you to explore what services may be available through the school board or the community, including Psychological Services.
What we do
We provide a range of services from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 from an anti-oppressive framework. We use culturally responsive, equitable evidence-based practices to provide specialized support for students’ learning and mental health.
We deliver a range of services including:
psychological assessment
mental health support / individual or group counseling
consultation and collaboration
professional learning for school staff
advocacy, referral and resource navigation to community partners
crisis response supports
We provide support for a range of different matters including but not limited to: academic achievement, learning profile, mental health, relationships, social-emotional well-being.
We approach Psychological Services in a way that:
Uses a student-centered and anti-oppressive approach
Affirms student identities
Is strengths based
Is evidence informed
Who are we?
We are regulated health care professionals who use evidence-informed practices to provide specialized support for students’ learning and mental health. Psychological Services is comprised of a team of Registered Psychologists and Psychological Associates specializing in School Psychology and/or Clinical Psychology with the College of Psychologists in Ontario. Members have a Masters or Doctoral degree with several years of extensive post-graduate training requiring licensing examinations.
Our expertise includes, but is not limited to:
Learning processes and child development
Cognition, language, processing areas and brain development
Social-emotional development, well-being and mental health
Learn more about our services:
We work closely with school teams to support students. We honour student voice and choice to inform inclusive programming that considers the strengths, needs, interests and intersecting identities of all learners. We consider students' diversity, to address students’ unique ways of learning. We also support students to effectively manage school and life stressors.
School Psychological Services staff work closely with school teams to provide a range of services to students and schools.
Psychological services also includes:
Complex Needs Psychology staff provide a range of services with a specialty area of focus. They are an adjunct service to Community Education Centre (CEC) Interdisciplinary Teams (IDT), supporting students with complex developmental, behavioural and mental health needs. CNS Psychology Staff supports mental health and emotional well-being, social inclusion, self-awareness, self-regulation, positive behaviours and a sense of mattering and belonging. Services are provided through an asset based lens, and sensitivity to cultural backgrounds, marginalized groups and trauma.
Services include, but are not limited to:
collaboration to develop comprehensive individualized programming
coordinated and intensive intervention
individual or group counseling
further assessment when warranted
crisis management (as required)
further prevention strategies
Psychological assessments provide:
a comprehensive, culturally responsive and identify affirming understanding of a student’s learning including neurodiversity and mental health.
insight regarding the impact of learning challenges on student well-being, in addition to the impact of mental health challenges on learning.
understanding of the areas of processing that can hinder learning which allows for more intentional and responsive support of learning, achievement and well-being leading to more equitable outcomes for students.
individualized recommendations that can be incorporated in an Individual Education Plan to foster student success.
Psychological services staff provide:
A culturally responsive approach to supporting and enhancing mental health and well-being. By focusing on removing barriers to mental health services, we support access to identity specific services.
Evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy
Consultation for promoting positive mental health and well being
Psychoeducation for school staff, students and families
Support requests for assistive technology (i.e., SEA claims)
Conduct classroom observations and guide programming
Review diagnoses communicated by external practitioners for the purpose of supporting placement and programming
Attend in School-Team meetings and Interdisciplinary Team meetings to support students
Collaboration with other professionals in YRDSB and community services to support student and family success
- School Psychologist provides crisis response to the schools in partnership with staff members from Social Workers Services
- These situations may include:
- Traumatic Events Support
- Violence Threat Risk Assessment (PDF)
How to access Psychological Services
If you have concerns about your child's learning and/or mental health, contact your child’s teacher or administrator. They can help you to explore what services may be available through the school board or the community. This could include Psychological Services.
An In School Team Meeting will take place to determine appropriate supports based on the student's unique profile.
Working with a School Psychological Services Professional
Psychological services staff elevate student voice to support achievement and well-being. We acknowledge students' diversity by supporting school staff to provide inclusive programming that considers the unique strengths, needs, interests and intersecting identities of all learners. In addition, we support families to connect with resources and advocate for their child.
Consent for services
Psychological Services staff require consent from parents/caregiver(s) and/or students to access services.
Psychological Services staff seek consent from students and families up to the age of 18 (with the exception of students who are 16 and 17 years old who have withdrawn from parental control).
In rare circumstances where the student does not feel emotionally or physically safe or comfortable to seek their parent/guardian consent to participate in only mental health (psychotherapy) services and can demonstrate an understanding of the risks and benefits of seeking Psychological Services, we would seek a bypass of parental consent in consultation with the Coordinator.