Psychology & Therapy Services

At Western Buckeye Educational Service Center, our school psychologists play a vital role in supporting the academic, social, and emotional well-being of students. They provide direct services and interventions for students, collaborate with families and educators to promote student success, and partner with school administrators to strengthen schoolwide practices and policies. Our psychologists work closely with community agencies to coordinate comprehensive services that meet the diverse needs of students across Paulding and Van Wert Counties.  Our School Psychologists:

• Conduct psychological and academic assessments to guide student support.
• Support individualized instruction, interventions, and progress monitoring for students.
• Promote positive behavior, motivation, and engagement in the classroom.
• Provide counseling and interventions that build communication, social, and emotional skills.
• Collaborate with families, educators, and community providers to coordinate comprehensive services.
• Assist in navigating special education processes and developing individualized education programs.
• Connect families with community resources and supports when needed.
• Implement schoolwide positive behavioral supports and restorative practices.
• Assess school climate and contribute to crisis prevention and intervention efforts.
• Use data to guide decisions and improve outcomes for students across Van Wert and Paulding Counties.

Western Buckeye ESC Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) play a vital role in supporting the communication and learning needs of students across Paulding and Van Wert  Counties. WBESC SLPs work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children. In addition to direct student support, they provide training and education for families, caregivers, and school personnel to strengthen communication strategies across home and school environments. WBESC SLPs also offer counseling and consultative services and collaborate closely with educators and multidisciplinary teams to design individualized supports and services that promote each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth. Our Speech-Language Pathologists:

• Bring specialized expertise in communication development and disorders to support student success.

• Use evidence-based strategies to strengthen reading, writing, speaking, listening, and learning skills.

• Collaborate with educators and families through intervention and multi-tiered support teams.

• Provide services for students ages 3–21 using direct, consultative, and collaborative models.

• Serve as a district-wide resource for administrators, teachers, and caregivers regarding communication and language-learning needs.

• Address a wide range of communication disorders, including speech sound, language, social communication, fluency, and voice disorders.

• Adapt support to meet the changing communication demands of students as they progress through school and transition to the community.

At Western Buckeye, our occupational therapy services are designed to support children's ability to participate fully in daily activities and learning. We focus on developing the fine motor and sensory skills children need for success at home, in the classroom, and during play.

Areas of Focus

Our occupational therapy services address a wide range of developmental needs, including:

• Fine Motor Strength and Coordination
  Supporting skills used in grasping, manipulating toys, dressing, and other self-care activities.

• Visual Motor Integration
  Helping children coordinate their visual perception with motor output, important for activities like writing, drawing, and cutting.

• Written Output Accommodations
  Recommending tools or strategies to support students who struggle with handwriting or written tasks.

• Access to Materials and Seating
  Ensuring students can interact comfortably and effectively with their learning environment.

• Sensory Accommodations
  Addressing sensory regulation, environmental sensitivities, and stress responses to promote focus and participation in the classroom.

Each child receives an individualized plan of care developed by a licensed occupational therapist. Our goal is to promote independence and help each child reach their full potential through meaningful participation in everyday activities.

At Western Buckeye, our physical therapy services support the development of gross motor skills—the large muscle movements children use for everyday activities such as sitting, standing, walking, running, and playing. We help children improve physical function and mobility to enhance participation at home, in school, and in the community.

Areas of Focus

Our physical therapists work with children on:

• Balance and Coordination
  Supporting stability and smooth, controlled movements.

• Strength and Endurance
  Building muscle strength and stamina for daily activities.

• Range of Motion and Flexibility
  Promoting joint mobility for ease of movement.

• Hand-Eye and Bilateral Coordination
  Enhancing coordination for tasks that involve both sides of the body.

• Functional Mobility
  Developing skills such as walking, stair climbing, and navigating playgrounds.

• Use of Assistive Devices
  Recommending and supporting the use of mobility aids when needed.

Each child receives a customized plan of care developed by our licensed physical therapist. Our mission is to promote independence and help each child reach their fullest physical potential.