Do you feel like you're running an 'unwinnable race' this time of the school year? In this episode, Steph provides an excerpt of her recent keynote speech for the Lone Star State School Counselor Association Rural Route School Counselors Conference to highlight the importance of self-care, setting achievable goals, and the profound impact counselors have on their students' lives.

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Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fi...

This is such a fun episode! Getting started on a new career path can often be a leap of faith, and this story is a shining example of where such a leap can land you. Meet Katie—a former teacher and current grad student who has discovered her true calling in the school counselors' office. Led to develop a meaningful and student-centered school counseling program amidst multiple natural disasters and a global pandemic, Katie speaks from the heart about her journey, her challenges, her triumphs, an...

Today's episode considers the legendary "spring fever" in schools, where escalating tensions and stress impact both students and teachers. We unpack the collaborative problem-solving approach credited to Ross Green that seeks to strengthen students' abilities in areas often overlooked – from emotion regulation to social skills – rather than pointing fingers at motivation levels or parenting styles. And we're here to shine a light on the five pathways that can make or break a student's ability to...

In this episode, I'm joined by by friend Jessica Neitsch who talks about her simple yet effective strategy for maintaining our feeling of purpose and satisfaction in our work, how to approach emotional management for educators and students alike, and the need to celebrate the small victories that, moment by moment, build a fulfilling career in school counseling. If the spring semester is feeling long and challenging, this is the encouragement you've been needing: listen in for some of the best s...

When life throws you curveballs, it's the ones who knock them out of the park that inspire us the most. Lydia Larimore did just that, turning a disheartening remark from her own school counselor into a fire that fueled her rise as an innovative educator and a Virginia Department of Education Difference Maker. On our show, host Steph Johnson takes a deep dive into Lydia’s transformative journey, from leveraging her logistics and MBA background to revolutionize attendance at a Title I school, to i...

So many of you feel like you are being used as firemen right now, running from one fire to the next, trying to put out the biggest flames. This week, I share the four critical questions that I ask any teacher who flags me down for behavior assistance, why these four questions are so important, and how to facilitate these conversations without causing a rift in your professional relationships.

If you're overwhelmed with behavior response right now, this could be a game-changer for you.

Mentione...

Ever found yourself in the middle of behavioral chaos, wondering where it all went wrong? In this episode, we create a "cheat sheet" for initial behavior intervention with strategies to support students without pulling them away from the classroom prematurely.

Mentioned in this episode:
ChildMind Institute's Hierarchy of Behavioral Techniques

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Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, a...

How can we effectively educate kids with mental health or basic well-being concerns? Carissa, a former teacher, current school counselor and mental health therapist, says it's not realistic. Students can't learn if they aren't regulated and works to be her best self for her students by remembering her goal of helping rather than "fixing"- guiding her students toward resilience and self-reliance.

Carissa shares her strategies that keep her grounded and effective while balancing a demanding workl...

Imagine a career where every interaction is an opportunity for growth, understanding, and connection. That's the vision I'm casting in this episode, as we talk through the "what-to-do's" of social emotional leadership in the world of school counseling. I'm unpacking the art of leading by example, drawing upon the wisdom of Bowers, Lemberger-Truelove, & Brigman (2017) to showcase how you can put social-emotional leadership into place through affiliative, visionary and democratic behaviors to crea...

Discover how to elevate your influence on campus as we explore a leadership framework for school counselors proposed by Bowers, Lemberger-Truelove, & Brigman (2017). We'll look at the leadership dispositions that can transform school counselors into agents of change, promoting an environment where both students and staff can thrive.

Reference:
Bowers, H., Lemberger-Truelove, M. E., & Brigman, G. (2017). A social-emotional leadership framework for school counselors. Professional School Counselin...

Navigating ethical pitfalls and maintaining professionalism isn't just a part of our job - it's at the heart of our mission as school counselors.

This episode takes a hard look at the delicate dance between best, ethical practices and the pressures that tempt us to bend or overstep our boundaries.

This is the stuff few people talk about: the emotional complexities that come with truly investing in our students' lives. You'll hear firsthand how to balance empathy with professionalism, personal ...

Faster isn't always better, and "more" doesn't always hit the mark. That's what we're talking about in this episode, where the art of patience isn't just a personal virtue, it's also a very smart professional strategy.

If it feels like it's taking forever to get your campus on the right track, it might help to know that embracing the slow and steady approach in building your school counseling program, despite the world's push for quick fixes, can lead to a more authentic and impactful developme...

Hey there! Ever thought about how your own thoughts and blind spots might be shaping how you connect with others at work? In this latest episode, we're taking a close look at some tricky stuff that can trip up even the most experienced counselors: confirmation biases.

We're exploring how confirmation biases work as sneaky blind spots in school counseling, subtly guiding decisions and interactions as counselors lean towards information that aligns with their existing beliefs.

We'll explore the ...

Right now, people are busy talking about resolutions, goals, mindset, words of the year, etc., for the New Year.

In this episode, we're not going to get into any of that! Instead, we'll walk through a very specific step by step process for making sure that you have all of the little tedious things (and the little things that jump up and bite you in the rear later on in the school year) handled. Our New Year (re)Start will help you feel confident, prepared and less stressed for the rest of your ...

Feeling overwhelmed as a school counselor? Ever get the feeling that no matter how much you've accomplished, it's never enough? I get it! (I've been there, too.)

In this episode, I talk about the taboo issue of productivity guilt, a common- yet unaddressed- concern that affects lots of hardworking educators like us. I explain just what productivity guilt is and why we often feel this way, paying particular attention to heavy caseloads, high expectations, and the ceaseless demands of our roles.
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Do you feel like a first responder, constantly reacting issues as they arise, or do you feel like you have the time and space to proactively plan for student wellness? This episode is a deep dive into the realities of reactive versus responsive school counseling. You'll be able to reflect on your daily tasks and learn why your situation, whether it's putting out fires or strategically planning, is more about your school environment than your personal capabilities, and how you can begin modifying...

Are you grappling with 80-20 expectations? Do you feel the pressure of tracking every minute of your day while managing a huge caseload?

In theory, the idea of 80-20 is good, where 80% of counseling services directly impact students, with the remaining 20% of efforts supporting these services. However, a recent 80-20 mandate shows the complexities of its real-world implementation, the hurdles encountered by counselors, and the unsettling realities that have emerged.

This episode further discus...

Are you feeling overwhelmed in your role as a school counselor, perpetually stuck in a cycle where the better your perform, the more you're given to do? You could be caught in a cycle of role dysfunction, and you're definitely not alone.

This episode is a heartfelt deep-dive discussion about these challenges, and how to tackle the emotional labor, compassion fatigue, and general misunderstandings about the function of a school counselor head on.

Mentioned in this episode:

School for School Co...

You know that self-care is not about transforming you into an eternally cheerful person and erasing all life's challenges.

It's high time we dismantle unrealistic expectations around self-care. In this episode's candid discussion, we delve into why self-care may sometimes feel like a burden rather than a blessing, particularly in our demanding profession.

We also explore our own love-hate relationship with self-care and share personal insights on what truly works for us as school counselors wi...

Ever been swayed by a viewpoint on the Internet only to discover it's not... quite right? You're not alone! In this episode, we take a critical look at how social media algorithms can channel us into echo chambers, potentially leading us astray- especially in specialized fields like school counseling. We'll share strategies on distinguishing the good from the bad, and how to make informed decisions that truly benefit your students.

We'll also get real about the idea of collaboration and safe sp...

Can you imagine waking up to a world where every school counselor felt empowered through eight collective habits? We're exploring two of those important habits in this episode (and tell you how to access the others!) to not only give you a boost of confidence and inspiration, but to also give you a taste of our live events where we get real about the trials, tribulations, and triumphs in school counseling.

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Mentioned in this episode:
School for School Counselo...

What if the secret to success as a school counselor lies not just in your professional expertise? In this episode, I'll walk you through what I- and many experts in our field- have pegged as the Most Important Thing in school counseling.

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Mentioned in this episode:
School for School Counselors Mastermind

Cholewa, B., Goodman-Scott, E., Thomas, A., & Cook, J. (2016). Teachers’ perceptions and experiences consulting with school counselors: A qualitative study. ...

Are you feeling the October pressure, school counselor? It's time to pause, breathe, and join us in a conversation that navigates all of October's school counseling stressors.

We're all battling escalating behavioral issues while watching the stress levels rise on our campuses.

But remember, heroes don't have to walk alone.

In this candid episode, we delve into the 'hero complex', the all-too-real sources of our professional anxieties, and the unique solutions that are right in front of us.

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Ever wondered how to navigate the labyrinth-like process of behavior intervention plans in a school setting? Buckle up as we unravel this intricate process - from gathering real-world data to conducting functional behavior assessments and setting crystal clear, attainable goals. Along the way, you'll gain valuable insights into the uphill task of engaging fellow educators in this journey.

But that's not all! We venture further into the heart of the matter as we address the crucial task of deplo...