153. Shamrocks, Rainbows, and Gold: St. Patrick’s Day SEL That Actually Works March in an elementary school often comes with a little extra magic. Leprechaun footprints. Construction paper rainbows. Gold coins hidden in classrooms. But seasonal fun doesn’t have to mean fluffy lessons. In this episode, I’m sharing creative ways to turn St. Patrick’s Day…
Behavior concerns often land squarely on the school counselor’s shoulders, leaving counselors feeling overwhelmed, reactive, and stretched thin. In this episode of Counselor Chat, I’m breaking down MTSS for Behavior (MTSSB) in a clear, practical way that centers teamwork, intentional decision-making, and counselor sustainability. This conversation moves away from compliance and paperwork and toward systems…
Episode 151: The Words Matter: Small Language Shifts That Make a Big Difference The words we use as school counselors matter more than we sometimes realize. In this practical episode, I talk about everyday phrases we often say automatically and how small shifts in language can create more safety, validation, and trust for students, parents,…
Episode 150: Not Every Week Is a Highlight Reel Not every National School Counseling Week looks like a highlight reel, and that’s okay. In this reflective episode, I share a personal experience from my own school where carefully made plans for National School Counseling Week were replaced by grief, crisis response, and the need to…
Episode 148: Lives Worth Living with Steve Sharp and Perri Rosen In this episode, I’m joined by Steve Sharp (a middle school counselor in Pennsylvania) and Dr. Perri Rosen (a nationally certified school psychologist and former special educator) to talk about their new book, Lives Worth Living: Applying the Zero Suicide Approach in Schools. We…
In this episode of Counselor Chat, I celebrate the powerful connection between National School Counseling Week and World Read Aloud Day, and why stories play such a meaningful role in student success. I share how read-alouds create emotional safety, help students name their feelings, and open doors for conversations that might otherwise feel too hard…
January has a way of sneaking up on me—and usually bringing one big question with it: How’s your data looking? In this episode, I’m sharing a realistic, no-pressure approach to doing a midyear data check, without the guilt, the overwhelm, or the unrealistic expectation of having “perfect” charts and reports. This conversation is all about…
January is often when attendance challenges start to feel impossible (for students and for counselors). In this episode, I break down why attendance dips during the winter months, how to reframe attendance as a support issue rather than a compliance issue, and what counselors can realistically do to help students re-engage with school. This episode…
January can feel especially tough in schools. Big emotions, increased anxiety, mood changes, and shutdown behaviors often show up as students transition back from break. In this episode, I’m breaking down why January feels so hard, and what school counselors can do to support students in ways that are compassionate, practical, and sustainable. In this…
January has a way of making counselors feel like they should start over with new systems, new routines, new everything. But what if that pressure is actually working against your effectiveness? In this episode of Counselor Chat, I’m offering a grounded reframe for the new year: you don’t need to become a brand-new counselor just…
