Many educational psychologists are experiencing high levels of occupational stress and burnout, a new survey shows.
Poor levels of wellbeing and mental health may be contributing to educational psychologists leaving local authorities to work elsewhere, the research warns.
A shortage of specialist teachers, long waiting times for assessment for children with special educational needs and inadequate funding to provide SEND support in schools are adding to pressures on educational psychologists, the study says.
Relentless workload, insufficient staffing, a lack of connection with others, reduced autonomy, and lack of resources also cause stress.
Among the 327 educational psychologists in England who completed the online survey, 72 per cent reported moderate or high levels of burnout; and 73 per cent reported moderate or high levels of secondary traumatic stress. Almost all had relatively poor self-reported wellbeing.
Follow-up interviews with 12 educational psychologists revealed they had a risk of burnout and faced workforce retention challenges. They also reported feeling a loss of autonomy and helplessness since the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive aspects of their job included connection with colleagues, recognition, shared values, and meaningful impact opportunities.
A total of 74 per cent of those who completed the survey said they felt they get satisfaction from being able to help people and 70 per cent felt happy they had chosen to be an educational psychologist. But 67 per cent said they rarely or only sometimes had thoughts that they are a success in the post.
Almost 60 per cent of those who took part said they felt worn out due to their work as an educational psychologist and 68 per cent said they felt overwhelmed by their seemingly endless workload.
A total of 73 per cent of participants scored within the moderate or high range on a secondary traumatic stress scale subscale and a third said they often found it difficult to separate their personal life from their work.
A total of 81 per cent reported they felt relaxed only rarely or some of the time.
The research, by Dr Carolyn Watson from the University of Exeter, is published in the journal Educational Psychology in Practice.
Dr Watson said: "Our research shows how many educational psychologists feel helpless and frustrated at working within the system, particularly because of issues with the SEND system. They described a growing sense of futility with regard to the type of work they are required to do.
"We hope our work will contribute to a better understanding of educational psychologists' occupational stress, and how wider systems have contributed to this. It is having a significant impact on their mental and physical health and is contributing to the high vacancy rates and increasing retention challenges
"There is a need to urgently address the stressors facing educational psychologists which were already present before the pandemic and have been exacerbated since. Open and honest consultations need to be held with EPs to increase confidence that their expertise is valued, and that they are being listened to."
One educational psychologist who took part in the study said: "Frankly, I don't see how things are going to change because the level of statutory demand is not decreasing and because the same amount or more is still coming in, we're never going to catch up with ourselves … there is that sense of it's just the way it is, and we can't do anything about it. Almost a sense of helplessness at the moment."
A total of 92 per cent of participants reported that they felt "bogged down" by the system, whilst just under 90 per cent reported feelings of being overwhelmed due to a workload that seems endless.
Educational psychologists also reported being worried about the cost of living, high fuel costs in the course of carrying out their work, and additional travel time incurred over expanding geographical patches of schools.
The research won the 2025 British Psychological Society's Division of Educational and Child Psychology Doctoral Dissertation Award, which recognises the excellent research that is produced each year by trainee educational psychologists and those on CPD doctorate courses as part of their thesis projects.
The University of Exeter is part of a national consortium of universities who hold a contract with the Department for Education to provide funded doctoral training places for trainee educational psychologists. The university has trained educational psychologists for over 50 years.
Dr Will Shield and Dr Lata Ramoutar, who jointly lead the University of Exeter's Doctorate in Educational, Child and Community Psychology course, said: "Carolyn's work is an example of the high-quality research being carried out by our trainee educational psychologists in Exeter. This work is gaining national recognition and has been discussed by leaders of educational psychology services across the region.
