New School Psychologist Support: How To Avoid Crashing and Burning Your First Year.

The transition from being a graduate student to a school psychologist is a complex task. Most school districts do not provide much support to new psychologists. The goal of the California Association of School Psychologists' New School Psychologist Support (NSPS) initiative is to direct resources targeted at new psychologists to facilitate a smooth transition into their careers. This article summarizes a panel presentation by a group of experienced psychologists addressing survival issues for first year psychologists, one of the first activities of the NSPS. The topics included: "Making Connections for Professional Development"; "Fitting into the School's Culture"; "Building Credibility and Developing Confidence"; and "Time Management." Common themes among the presentations were the importance of being active and not being afraid of making a mistake, consulting with others, and taking care of personal needs. (JDM)