Counselor Accents

As school counselors it is inevitable that we will have students who will be in CPS care each year. In this episode MJ Matthews shares ways that we can support students and families who are in foster care or who have already transitioned to the adoption process.

Grief is something that is unavoidable. It is almost guaranteed that at some point through the year you will be counseling your students through their personal grief. School counselor Jodi Fiore's mother was a huge personality, not only at home, but also in the community. In this episode Jodi shares how she processed the death of her mother as a young child, and how it has given her insight on how...

In this episode Dr. Karen Gross joins us to talk about her new book, Mending Education. Dr. Gross explains so beautifully why some of the processes and procedures are failing to work the same way they worked pre-pandemic. She shows us some of the changes that actually worked really as we educated students through the pandemic, why we should keep them in place, and how the rush to return to "normal...

No matter where you are in your school counseling journey, sometimes it is great to talk with someone who is just beginning their journey. In this episode we talk with Shae, a school counseling student, and get her perspective on the future of school counseling, what she is being prepared for as far as the uptick in behaviors, and what she wants veteran school counselors to know. This episode is a...

If you've been a school counselor for longer than 5 minutes, you have most likely used a resource from Julia Cook. In this episode she shares how she got started, why she loves school counseling, and what she has coming up next! The things she talks about in this episode will save you time, make you successful, and position you as a leader! Sign up for Cookie Bytes

Kriya Lendzion has been called "The Teen Whisperer." Once you listen to this episode, you will understand why! In this episode she shares statistics about addiction, primarily related to vaping, but she includes alcohol and even screen addiction! She also shares strategies and how school counselors can advocate for policies to help support students overcoming their addictions. This is on...

Our roving reporter, Mallory Jacobs, was on the streets of the ASCA conference, talking with YOU about all of the things you learned and loved about the conference this year. If you haven't been to an ASCA conference, we would highly recommend listening to this episode so you can start advocating now to join us next year! Take a listen- you might hear yourself, and at the very least we think y...

There are several topics that school counselors have to share each year that feel uncomfortable or difficult to talk about. Many of these topics are required, but that doesn't make it any easier! In this episode we're giving you resources and ideas on ways to cover these difficult topics that school counselors need to talk about. Here is a link to a free lesson on hygiene.

This episode is full of various ways to take your school counseling program to the next level. In this episode, School Counselor Extraordinaire, Sarah Nauman, joins her administrator, Dr.. Heather Baker, to talk about how they collaborate to find new approaches to behaviors and programs. This collaboration has led to advocacy opportunities for Sarah as well as school and community buy-in for her p...

In this episode former Missouri Teacher of the Year, Darbie Valenti Huff, recounts the story of a student named Junie. Junie had behavior issues, hygiene issues, you name it! School counselors and all educators need to hear this story about a student who seemed almost impossible to help. We all have students like Junie. Listen to find out what became of Junie and what educators can do to reach the...

Are you making the switch to another grade level? This time of year can feel like "fruit basket turnover," and can leave you wondering what to take with you to your new office, how to interact with the students in another age group, and how to run your program effectively at another school. We are tackling this topic in this episode!

If you can only listen to one episode this week, MAKE IT THIS ONE!!!  Mallory Jacobs is a force in the school counseling world.  She has been named the Kansas School Counselor of the Year, and she wears the crown well!  She exudes joy, spreads positivity, and has a gift for seeing the best in most situations.  In this episode she shares how she does that, and why, as school counselors, it is somet...

If you're like us, one of the areas we lack training in is eating disorders; however, without fail, we have students each year who struggle with this. In this episode Lauren Dorman, Mental Health Registered Dietitian, shares the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating. She gives us tips to share with parents and ways we can help our students. Click here to download Lauren&#39...

It's that time of year again! Aspiring new school counselors are venturing out to land their first job, or maybe you're listening because you are sitting in on the interviews for other positions in your school. Whatever your reason- even if only for the laughs, we believe some great leadership tips and dos and don'ts are being shared in this episode. Click here to join the Summer Couns...

In this episode we are sharing 5 tips to help you finish your school counseling year strong. These 5 tips are also a great way to ensure that you start your school counseling year by "plowing your first row straight." We talk a little about data, organization, evaluations, and some topics that we really don't even want to put in writing! 🤣 🐉 iykyk Growing Your Program for School Co...

In this episode we will be talking about our recent New York City adventure. We are also sharing the responsibility we have as school counselors to share the voice of our students, who are the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society. Some of our discussion includes training teachers to understand student voice. In our course, Growing Your Program, we share the specifics of how we train...

Sandy Austin answered the call to help victims and families on the day of the Columbine school shooting 25 years ago. In this episode she shares her story and the inspiration behind her B.I.O.N.I.C. program. Check it out and start changing your school's culture today! Click here to check out B.I.O.N.I.C.

Stress contagion may be a new term to you, but it refers to the phenomenon where individuals within a group or social network can "catch" or be influenced by the stress levels of others around them. And whether it's your first or your fifty-first year in a school, please let us remind you that 'tis the season for stress! Understanding the relationship between stress contagion and...

School counseling means sharing in rites of passage for our students. Moving to the next grade is one of those! In this episode we're sharing a few rubber meets the road things you can get started on now to make transitioning to the next grade level go smoothly for your students and teachers!

Whether you're the building test coordinator or not, this episode is full of school-wide tips that everyone can benefit from! We are sharing 7 of our best tips plus a few extra "rubber meets the road" strategies. We haven't met anyone who loves standardized testing season, but in most states it is a requirement. This episode may help bring some calm to the chaos that surrounds th...

Tis the season for so many school counseling tasks! Then again, when ISN'T the season for so many school counseling tasks?! When there are too many school counseling tasks and not enough time, we might start to feel hopelessness, anger, bitterness, frustration, and burn out. We believe we have 5 ways to avoid these pitfalls. Listen for a few strategies that just might help you avoid burn out t...

We recorded this episode on the go, literally! But with the need for behavior strategies at an all-time high, we felt like it was imperative to bring this episode to you! In this episode you'll get to hear from not one, not two, but three behavior experts! These guests will bring powerful strategies and practical applications that you can help teachers implement in the classroom. These are 3 o...

School counselors are often one of the first people contacted when a student is displaying challenging behaviors. With behaviors being a main challenge right now for a lot of counselors, Monique Young has developed her services by intentionally improving social skills through individual and small group counseling. In this episode Monique gives listeners ideas of what behavior challenges can be add...

It can be difficult to have all the answers as a school counselor while raising the tough kid at home. In this episode Carey Hughes shares ways that she managed to advocate for her own child while serving the students at her school. She has found that her experience has given her even more compassion for the families of her students. Join our Behavior Detour Conference! Book Recommendations: The H...

National School Counseling Week is such an important week for school counselors. We're sharing five (or more) ideas on ways you can spread the word and "humble brag" about your school counseling program during National School Counseling Week 2024. Just a word of caution: it's not about receiving gifts during National School Counseling Week. It's about advocating for your prog...