How to be a Wonderful Counselor

Has your daughter ever looked in the mirror and said, “I’m too fat”? You’ve told her she’s a child of God, and she believed you for about seventeen seconds. Logic alone can’t win this battle. In this episode of How to Be a Wonderful Counselor, licensed counselor Dr. Tracy Hogan McMillan shares 30 years of clinical experience in five simple steps any parent can learn: CALM + WHY. Through the story...

Has your daughter ever looked in the mirror and said, “I’m too fat”? You’ve told her she’s a child of God, and she believed you for about seventeen seconds. Logic alone can’t win this battle. In this episode of How to Be a Wonderful Counselor, licensed counselor Dr. Tracy Hogan McMillan shares 30 years of clinical experience in five simple steps any parent can learn: CALM + WHY. Through the story...

Your child says, "I have no idea what to study in college." Here's how to help them find the career God gifted them for. Hi, I'm Dr. Tracy Hogan McMillan. In this episode, I walk through a real career-counseling session with a returned missionary. You'll see a simple method you can use at your own kitchen table.

What if the thing that finally reaches your struggling teenager isn’t a powerful lecture—but one simple conversation repeated every week? Greyson was sixteen when gaming took over his life. His parents tried restrictions, counseling, activities, prayers, and priesthood blessings. Nothing seemed to work. He lost his friends, his scholarship, and his place at BYU. But one small and simple habit neve...

When someone loses everything — like Job did — what do you actually say? Most well-meaning comfort accidentally lands as criticism: "At least they're with God now." "Everything happens for a reason." "Cheer up." In this video, we walk through the Old Testament story of Job and use the CALM method to show what compassionate care really sounds like: C – Ask a Compa...

What do you do when you simply don’t feel strong enough for what you’re facing? In this episode, I share how financial stress, rental-property problems, and a very opinionated Norwegian inner critic led me back to Alma 31:31–38 and Alma’s prayer for strength. Using the C-A-L-M Method , we’ll look at how faith, wise thinking, and one inspired next step can help us face problems we cannot immediatel...

Struggling with a child who's always on a screen? You don't need a Counseling degree — you need C.A.L.M. In this video, we dive into Words of Mormon 1:18 and pull out a simple, scripture-rooted framework any parent can use when gaming or social media has taken over their child's life. After 30 years of clinical counseling experience, I've distilled it down to four steps: C – Co...

You don't need a master's degree in counseling psychology to comfort, guide, and inspire. In this series, I share the best of my 30 years of professional counseling experience, distilled into simple steps you can actually use. You'll learn how to listen with compassion, use AI carefully as a research assistant, and find one powerful scripture that can become a lifeline for someone y...

Send us Fan Mail What do you say when your child comes home hurt, embarrassed, and worn down from being picked on? In this episode of Comfort and Counsel , we step inside a father-and-son pickup truck conversation with a 13-year-old boy who is being bullied because he is short. Using Helaman 5:12 , we explore how parents, counselors, and leaders can help a child feel understood, find wisdom that a...

Send us Fan Mail When your child comes to you carrying heartbreak and pain, it can be hard to know what to say. Using AI as a thoughtful research assistant to help answer the question, “What would God say?” this podcast which is about a middle school teacher in rural Texas. It teaches you how to combine the best counseling psychology strategies I developed over 30 years of clinical experience with...

Send us Fan Mail How do you bridle your natural man or woman?  How do you reign in yourself from thoughts and behaviors that are taking you down a destructive path?  I'm hoping to illustrate how Mosiah 3:19, which I used to think of as a prickly scripture, is a real gem to help yourself or those you love.

Send us Fan Mail A Father who's 14 year old is so depressed that she thinks about taking her life, finds peace and strength in the Savior.  These two scriptures are good for anyone facing a tough challenge.

Send us Fan Mail What are some great scriptures to help someone who is being bullied or emotionally abused?  Actually todays scripture, Alma 7:11-12 can help with a myriad of problems.  Listen to see an example of how to use it most effectively.

Send us Fan Mail What do you say when you or someone you love is saying and thinking,  I'm worthless. I'm not good enough. I'm not important. I can't compete. In this episode I teach you to use the 4W's  Worries, Wisdom, Word and Why with Peyton a 15 year old who struggles with her worth and the volleyball team and social media.

Send us Fan Mail One of the most difficult and painful things a parent has to face is when a child choses not to follow the Savior.   It's so hard to know if what you are doing is the right thing to do. This week's episode is the 4W's to help a parent who is grieving.

Send us Fan Mail What do you say when all that criticism, all those negative things the kids say to your child at school is really getting her down?  One of my parents tells the story of using the 4W's to help her hurting daughter.  If you'd had success with CLTS, I encourage you to share it with me!   dr.tracyhogan@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail When someone you love is discouraged should you try to cheer them up?  Be positive and encourage emotional resilience?  In this episode we talk about how sometimes that's not the most effective thing to do.   If a child does not feel listened to, they are not ready to hear your wisdom.

Send us Fan Mail You might ask yourself, If I believe the scriptures are the words of God, why can't I use them when I'm trying to counsel someone I love.  In this podcast we'll discuss how to use the scriptures to help people in perhaps ways you've never used before.

Send us Fan Mail Hey Parents or anyone who'd like to Counsel Like the Savior.  Here's a podcast to help you bring comfort, hope and real change to those you care about. For about 25 years I tried counseling without using the scriptures.  Then I found someone I couldn't help without using them. To help you become a better listener and develop compassion, I will introduce you to the 4...