ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses considerations specific to early career school psychologists (ECSPs) in order to help supervisors and mentors provide the kind of strategic support that the individuals may need. Mentoring "involves structured support from a senior staff psychologist to a junior colleague who is early in his or her career or new to a particular assignment or setting". However, supervision is recommended as best practice for school psychologists at all levels of experience and during the early career years it is particularly important. Postgraduate Professional Support is an umbrella term that could refer to either supervision or mentoring; it's any kind of support or oversight that a credentialed school psychologist might receive to guide their practice. It is clear that the novice professional phase is marked by significant confusion, disillusionment, and stress. Some professional transitions occur by choice, such as when an ECSP opts to leave one job to pursue a more desirable opportunity.
