Introduction
EPASSA is a democratically elected association and the largest body dedicated solely to representing educational psychologists in South Africa. Its primary mission is to promote, uphold, and safeguard the interests of both psychology and educational psychology as professions, while also ensuring that quality educational psychology services are accessible to the people of South Africa.
This document outlines EPASSA’s understanding of the roles and responsibilities of educational psychologists. This perspective is informed by academic research, extensive consultation with a wide range of organisations and colleagues, and a series of consensus-building exercises.
EPASSA’s stance on the scope of practice was supported and adapted several years back by the Educational Psychology Division of PsySSA (SEPSA) and the South African School Psychologists Association (SASPA). Additionally, EPASSA has fostered positive relationships with other organisations such as Relpag, Section 27, and the Psychoanalytic Confederation.
Scope of practice for psychologists
In 2011, a Scope of Practice for psychologists was published in the Government Gazette, as Regulation 704 (GNR 704). However, Regulation 704 of 2011 has since been declared invalid in the High Court of South Africa.
Regulation 993 of 16 September 2008 should be the regulation guiding scope decisions. Regulation 993 of 2008 stipulates that psychologists may evaluate, diagnose and treat behaviour, mental processes, emotions and personality, and may engage in the following psychological acts reserved for psychologists:
-
- The evaluation of behaviour or mental processes or personality adjustments or adjustments of individuals or of groups of persons, through the use or interpretation of any psychological test, questionnaire, instrument, apparatus, device or similar method for the determination of intellectual abilities, aptitude, interests, personality make-up or personality functioning, and the diagnosis or measurement of personality and emotional functions, neuropsychological disorders and mental functioning deficiencies according to a recognised scientific system for the classification of mental deficiencies;
-
- the use of any psychological method or practice aimed at aiding persons or groups of persons in the adjustment of personality, emotional or behavioural problems or the promotion of positive personality change, growth and development, and the identification and evaluation of personality dynamics and personality functioning according to scientific psychological methods;
-
- the evaluation of emotional, behavioural and cognitive processes or adjustment of personality of individuals or groups of persons by the usage and interpretation of psychological questionnaires, tests, projections, or other techniques or any apparatus, whether of South African origin or imported, for the determination of intellectual abilities, aptitude, personality make-up, personality functioning, psycho-physiological functioning or psychopathology;
-
- the exercising of control over prescribed psychological questionnaires or tests or prescribed techniques, apparatus or instruments for the determination of intellectual abilities, aptitude, personality make-up, personality functioning, psychophysiological functioning or psychopathology;
-
- the development of and control over the development of psychological questionnaires, tests, techniques, apparatus or instruments for the determination of intellectual abilities, aptitude, personality make-up, personality functioning, psychophysiological functioning or psychopathology;
-
- the use of any psychological questionnaire, test, prescribed techniques, instrument, apparatus, device or similar method for the determination of intellectual abilities, aptitude, personality make-up, personality functioning, temperament, psychophysiological functioning, psycho-pathology or personnel career selection;
-
- the use of hypnotherapy;
-
- the use of any psychotherapeutic method, technique or procedure to rectify, relieve or change personality, emotional, behavioural or adjustment problems or mental deficiencies of individuals or groups of people; and
-
- the use of any psychological method or psychological counselling to prevent personality, emotional, cognitive, behavioural and adjustment problems or mental illnesses of individuals or groups of people.
The activities of educational psychologists
Educational psychologists have skills in the areas of assessment, psychotherapy and research and are particularly skilled in the areas of learning and development across the lifespan.
Some areas of activity for educational psychologists, within their specialised focus on learning and development, may include (but not be limited to) the following:
-
- Interventions: psychotherapy, family therapy, group work, community interventions, parental guidance, couples counselling, marital therapy, play-therapy, parent-infant psychotherapy, learning support, case management, parent co-ordination, treating psychopathology.
-
- Assessments: psycho-educational, forensic, parental rights and responsibilities, career, vocational, examination concession and neuropsychological assessments
-
- Preventative work: promoting psychological well-being, learning and development across the life span
Educational psychologists frequently work with a wide range of conditions, including neurodevelopmental disorders, depressive and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, feeding and eating disorders, elimination disorders, sexual dysfunctions, gender dysphoria, disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, neurocognitive and personality disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Educational psychologists also address issues additional issues that may require clinical attention, such as relationship problems, abuse and neglect, educational and occupational challenges, housing and economic difficulties, social and legal issues, health-related counselling, and other psychosocial, personal, and environmental factors.
Some educational psychologists may also deal with bipolar and related disorders, dissociative disorders, somatic symptom and related disorders, sleep-wake disorders and paraphilic disorders. Less often, educational psychologists may deal (for instance via psychoeducation) with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, medication-induced movement disorders and other adverse effects of medication. It would be unusual to find an educational psychologist working with individuals with severe pathology to the extent that the individual’s behaviour is considerably influenced by delusions or hallucinations or serious impairment in communication or judgment (i.e. a Global Assessment of Functioning below 30).
Any educational psychologist must limit his or her practice to areas within the boundaries of his or her competency based on his or her formal education, training, supervised experience and/or appropriate professional experience.
___________________
Martin Strous
EPASSA Liaison
25 September 2024