82. School Counselor Scaries

Carol: You're listening to the counselor chat podcast, a show for school counselors looking for easy to implement strategies, how to tips, collaboration, and a little spark of joy. I'm Carol Miller, your host. I'm a full time school counselor and the face behind counseling essentials. I'm all about creating simplified systems, data driven practices, and using creative approaches to engage students. If you're looking for a little inspiration to help you make a big impact on student growth and success, you're in the right place because we're better together. Ready to chat? Let's dive in.

Carol: Hi counselors. Carol here. Welcome back to another episode of Counselor Chat. Thank you for joining me today. Although it's a little early, I thought we would do something fun for Halloween. Today's episode, we are going to be talking all about the school counselor scariest. You know those things that keep us up at night? They're lurking in the shadows of our minds as we try to manage everything that comes with the job. Well, I recently asked one of the counselor groups on Facebook what scares you the most as a school counselor? And boy, did I get some responses. There were some of the serious fears, like an active school shooter or student suicide. Two funnier ones like Monday mornings or school politics. But regardless, we are covering it all today. So, my friends, grab your pumpkin spice latte, settle in, and let's tackle those school counselor fears together. Now, we all know that being a school counselor comes with some pretty heavy responsibilities. But some of the biggest fears shared by counselors reflect just how serious this work can be. I think the one thing, I mean, I had hundreds of responses and I think the one that popped up the most was an active school shooter. This seriously was by far the most mentioned fear. The thought of an active shooter is something no school staff really wants to face, but it's a reality that we prepare for. Remember, you are not alone in the sphere, and schools across the country are really, hopefully, they're taking steps to ensure safety. So connect with your team, lean on your resources, and always have a plan in place. And while it's scary, preparation hopefully can give you some peace of mind. But I think the other thing that really popped up a lot, it was probably equal with the active school shooter was missing key information that a student tells us or maybe doesn't share with us, and the student then completes suicide. I think that is one of the scariest feelings that what if I miss something? Whether it's a sign of a student in crisis or one thinking about suicide, I think this fear really weighs heavily. But you are skilled in spotting red flags. If you trust your instincts, you utilize your support system. You're really doing, my friends, all that you can remember, you are part of a team and it's never just on your shoulders. And then there were some of the day to day worries that were shared. Some of these fears are just part of the daily grind and they can feel overwhelming. But remember, these are just anxieties that imposter syndrome. I mean, how many of us have felt from time to time, or sometimes maybe even all the time, that we're just winging it? Or maybe someone's going to find out that we really don't know what we're doing. Imposter syndrome is real, but the truth is, if you care enough to worry about doing your job right, you're probably doing a better job than you think. Trust your training, trust your experiences, and know that every counselor feels this way sometimes. There's also. And if you're a high school counselor, you'll understand this one. Missing credits and graduation anxiety. I have been in this situation too as a high school when I was a high school counselor. It's that gut wrenching moment when you realize that maybe you missed a credit check and now a student might not graduate. Yeah, that's a common fear. But remember, we're all human. Mistakes happen and they don't define us as professionals. Just make sure that you establish checks and balances in your processes and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You also have to realize that sometimes kids, they need to take some accountability for their graduation as well, and they have to be an active part of the process. So don't feel like it's all on your shoulders. Other things that people expressed were toxic work environments. I mean, does that shock you or unsupportive administrators? So people were worried about working in an environment where the culture is toxic or the administration. They just don't understand the counselor's role. Now, I know this is a really tough one, and advocating for yourself and your program is important, but it's also essential to protect your own wellness, engage in professional networks, and don't hesitate to set boundaries where needed. If you are working in a toxic work environment, you have to find your marigolds. You have to find, you have to find the cinnamon, the pumpkin spice, the whatever it is that makes your day in this time of year, the person that brings that pumpkin latte, maybe to your, to you when you're having a good bad day. But you have to find these people that you can go to and use a support. And if you're having a moment where you're feeling like this toxicity is really getting to me, that they hopefully can pull you out of the slump. And it's also okay to really seek professional help. I mean, it's okay for counselors to have counselors. And if you have an unsupportive admin, make sure you join your union. Make sure that you get involved and advocate for what you need. In the little question that I asked, I also had some really fun fears as well. So let's go to the little lighter side of things, because sometimes it's nice to laugh at all the little scaries that we deal with, too. And school politics came up a couple times because, let's face it, navigating school politics can really feel like walking through a haunted house. It's full of twists and turns and unexpected jumps. But just like in those haunted houses, you make it out in one piece. So stay grounded and avoid the drama when you can. I remember that school politics are not unique to any one building. The other is Monday mornings or Fridays before break. Oh, yes, those dreaded Monday mornings. The oh, my gosh, I gotta start the week off. Or how about the chaos of the Friday before a long break? I mean, come on. It's like the monster under the bed for school counselors. Because at 03:00 on Friday before a big break, something's gonna happen. So approach these days with a sense of humor. Maybe prepare that you're going to have to stay late those days and lean in for a little chaos. Remember, you're not alone and counting down the minutes on those Fridays. My friends, we are all in this together. I think one of the best things about being a school counselor is that we're part of the community. You might feel isolated at times, but remember that every counselor has faced these fears in some form or another. Don't go it alone. Whether it's a heavy fear, like handling a crisis, or a funny one, like avoiding the staff meeting after a long break, talking it out with a fellow counselor can really be therapeutic. Don't be afraid to vent, to share your fears, and to laugh with each other about the things that drive you nuts. Uplift yourself and your colleagues. We, I think, spend so much time supporting others, we often forget to lift ourselves up. So take a moment this week to remind yourself of all the positive impacts that you've made on your students and your school. You are doing amazing work. I know I've been saying this every week, but you are you're doing amazing work, even if it doesn't always feel like it. I think as school counselors, we do. We face some pretty big fears, but we also share them. From the serious things like the active shooters and student mental health to the lighter worries of the Friday madness, we are all in this together. So the next time you feel the school counselor scaries creeping up on you, remember, you're not alone. You're doing your best, and your work truly makes a difference. Well, thank you, my friends, for tuning into this fun and hopefully reassuring Halloween edition of Counselor chat. If you've got your own school counselor scaries to share or want to chat more about how to handle them, reach out. You are not alone. And if you want the links to these Facebook groups because they are really a great way to feel like there's other people in this with you, I will drop all those links in the show notes. So until next time, take care of yourself. Remember, you've got this no matter what spook comes your way. So have a great week. Bye for now.

Carol: Thanks for listening to today's episode of Counselor chat. All of the links I talked about can be found in the show notes and@counselingessentials.org podcast be sure to hit, follow, or subscribe on your favorite podcast player. And if you would be so kind to leave a review, I'd really appreciate it. Want to connect? Send me a DM on Facebook or instagramounselingessentials until next time. Can't wait till we chat.

Carol: Bye for now.