In this first episode of the Graded series, we put the ASCA National Model to the test. What was promised? What’s actually happening? And what grade does it really deserve? If you’ve ever felt like the model was built for someone else’s school, you are NOT alone! For over two decades, the ASCA Model has served as the gold standard in school counseling. But for most counselors, the support to make it work just isn’t there. Not in staffing. Not in scheduling. Not in the endless stream of “other du...
Jul 07, 2025•34 min•Ep. 157
You’ve got the heart. You’ve got the training. So why does it still feel like no one’s listening? This episode is about the invisible skill no one taught you, but everyone responds to. The one that separates the school counselors who get looped in… from the ones who get left out. It’s not confidence. It’s not charisma. And it’s definitely not another credential. We’re talking about the kind of presence that shifts the energy in a room. The kind of clarity that builds trust when things get tense....
Jun 30, 2025•17 min•Ep. 156
More and more school counselors are saying, “I’m getting my LPC and getting out.” But is licensure really the answer- or just a new kind of stress? In this episode, we take a candid look at what licensure changes, what it doesn’t, and why your next move deserves more than burnout logic. Plus, I’ll walk you through the hidden costs, the unexpected trade-offs, and what clinical work actually involves (spoiler: it’s not school counseling in a cozier office). We’ll talk salary. We’ll talk supervisio...
Jun 23, 2025•23 min•Ep. 155
Still feeling unsure- even with experience under your belt? This episode explains why doubt might be the best sign you’re doing the job well, not a reason to second-guess yourself. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what that uncertainty in school counseling really means. We’ll talk about the invisible labor of school counseling, what the research says about feedback-poor environments, and how self-doubt often shows up right when your skills are leveling up. You’ll learn: Why exp...
Jun 16, 2025•17 min•Ep. 154
You turned in your keys, packed up your office, and told yourself this summer would be a reset. But instead of relaxing, you feel… off. Either you can’t sit still, or you’ve completely shut down. Sound familiar? In this episode, we’re talking about what’s really going on when school counselors can’t seem to rest after the school year ends. We’ll explore the biological stress cycle, the emotional aftermath of constant crisis response, and why your body might still be on high alert... even if your...
Jun 09, 2025•18 min•Ep. 153
You followed the model. You tracked the data. You did everything “right.” So why does it still feel wrong? In this episode, we talk about how school counseling’s best intentions became a trap, and what to do when the map you were given stops working. If you’re tired of measuring your worth by minutes and metrics, this one’s for you. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 4, "Your Data Does Not Define Your Worth as a School Counselor" ********************************* ⭐️ Want support with real-world ...
Jun 02, 2025•20 min•Ep. 152
Why do some school counselors get a seat at the table while others get sidelined, no matter how qualified they are? In this episode, we’re breaking down what actually builds trust with school leaders and how to develop the on-the-fly fluency and presence that turn you into the go-to, not the afterthought. ----- Being good at your job isn’t always enough. You can have the training, the data, and a deep commitment to students... and still get left out of the decision-making process on your campus....
May 26, 2025•22 min•Ep. 151
What you forget in May will come back to bite you in August. In this episode, we cover 5 school counseling mistakes that cause chaos when the year starts- and how to avoid them while you still can. You’re running on fumes. May is chaos. And the last thing you want is another “end-of-year checklist.” But here’s the truth: what you forget now will turn into a full-on mess in August. We’re walking through 5 school counseling mistakes that seem small in May but turn into massive headaches when the n...
May 19, 2025•26 min•Ep. 150
You’ve been holding it in all year. The long hours, the invisible work, the constant pressure to stay calm while everything around you feels like it’s unraveling... And now that the school year’s winding down, one question keeps echoing louder than the rest: “Can I really do this again next year?” In this deeply personal episode, I’m not here to hand you a checklist or tell you what to do. I’m here as a fellow counselor, walking through the same hard questions- right alongside you. We’ll talk ab...
May 13, 2025•30 min•Ep. 149
You love school counseling. You believe in the mission. But right now, it just isn't feeling right. If you’ve been wondering whether you’re burned out, questioning if you can make it through another year, or feeling disconnected from the work you once loved... this episode is for you. In this episode, we talk about: Why April and May hit school counselors especially hard The difference between burnout and professional fatigue Five evidence-based strategies to protect your energy, motivation, and...
May 05, 2025•30 min•Ep. 148
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind . Come join us! ⭐️ ********************************** Ever meet another school counselor and realize halfway through the conversation… you’re not doing the same job at all? It’s not your imagination! Right now, the title "school counselor" covers very different realities- and depending on which kind you’re seen as, your future in this profession ...
Apr 28, 2025•26 min•Ep. 147
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind . Come join us! ⭐️ ********************************** Behavior charts. Consequence ladders. ABC data. They’re everywhere- and school counselors are often expected to be in the middle of it. But what happens when the behaviorist framework you're handed feels completely misaligned with your counseling instincts? What if you’re tired of being the “b...
Apr 21, 2025•29 min•Ep. 146
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind . Come join us! ⭐️ ********************************** You’ve been looped into a student’s behavior. The teacher wants it fixed. Admin wants a behavior plan. And now everyone’s looking at you. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t even know where to start,” this episode is for you. We’re walking through the full behavior intervention pr...
Apr 14, 2025•25 min•Ep. 145
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind . Come join us! ⭐️ ********************************** We’ve got to stop calling it "defiance" when it’s actually dysregulation . In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what ADHD really is- and why the strategies we often use in schools aren’t cutting it. You’ll learn: Why ADHD isn’t a behavior problem (and what it actually is) The cri...
Apr 07, 2025•21 min•Ep. 144
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be . ⭐️ ********************************** In the previous episode, we talked about what happens when a behavior referral isn’t really about the student- and how counselors can shift out of the “removal service” role and into real consultation. But what if that doesn’t feel realistic? This bonus episode tackles the pushback: What if your admin expects you to remove students, no questions as...
Apr 04, 2025•14 min•Ep. 143
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be . ⭐️ ********************************** You get the call: “Can you come get this student?” But when you walk in, it’s clear- this isn’t really about the kid. It’s about stress. Dysregulation. Maybe even burnout. For the adult . And if school counselors keep stepping in without asking bigger questions, we’re not solving the problem… we’re just keeping the cycle going. In this episode, we’...
Mar 31, 2025•25 min•Ep. 142
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be . ⭐️ ********************************** You’ve been asked to read a Social Story to a student—again. And if you're being honest… you’re not sure it’s actually doing anything. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at the research behind Social Stories: Where they came from and what they were actually designed to do What the peer-reviewed literature says about their effectiveness (an...
Mar 24, 2025•26 min•Ep. 141
➡️ JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR THE BEHAVIOR BREAKTHROUGH KIT! Every school counselor has been there—stuck in a conversation where the word "bullying" is thrown around, but something feels off. A parent demands action because their child was left out of a game at recess. A teacher sends a referral for a “bullying” case that turns out to be a one-time disagreement. Meanwhile, students facing real, targeted harassment often go unnoticed in the noise. So, how do you cut through the confusion and handle th...
Mar 17, 2025•23 min•Ep. 140
"It's just middle school drama." "Ignore them, and it'll stop." "You're gonna have to toughen up." Sound familiar? These are the kinds of dismissive responses students often hear when they report bullying or relational aggression—and they’re not helping. In fact, with 1 in 5 students reporting being bullied and 41% of those fearing it will happen again , we’ve got serious work to do. In this episode, we’re diving deep into relational aggression and cyberbullying , breaking down what makes these ...
Mar 11, 2025•22 min•Ep. 139
You know that moment—the banshee scream echoes down the hall, and suddenly, all eyes are on you. The walkies go off, teachers are calling your name, and once again, you’re expected to drop everything and handle the latest behavior meltdown. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This time of year, behavior issues ramp up, and school counselors often find themselves at the center of the storm. But honestly, most of the advice out there on behavior intervention is not designed for you. You’re ...
Mar 03, 2025•23 min•Ep. 138
As busy school counselors, we often find ourselves reaching for quick-fix solutions to help our students. But are these convenient resources truly serving our students' needs? In this episode, I challenge the effectiveness of "print and pray" materials that have become way too common in our field. Thinking back to the misguided "fat-free" diet craze of the 90s, I explore how mass-produced school counseling worksheets and activities might be doing more harm than good. Because while they promise q...
Feb 24, 2025•22 min•Ep. 137
Can small acts of kindness truly transform a school environment? Or is that just wishful thinking? As we dive into Random Acts of Kindness Week , I’m sharing my firsthand experiences as a school counselor navigating workplace challenges—and how I discovered that the simplest gestures can have the biggest impact on school culture. Imagine a school where stress doesn’t rule the day, burnout isn’t lurking around every corner, and job satisfaction actually exists —all because kindness became a delib...
Feb 10, 2025•18 min•Ep. 136
* Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be .* Happy National School Counseling Week! Or maybe not? There’s a growing divide in how school counselors feel about this week—some dive in with enthusiasm, while others don't want to be bothered. And honestly, after what I’ve been seeing lately, I get it. In this episode, I talk through the uncomfortable truths about school counseling advocacy : what’s missing, why it matters, and how we...
Feb 03, 2025•27 min•Ep. 135
* Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be .* *Leave a voicemail here for a chance to be featured in an upcoming podcast episode!* In this episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, host Steph Johnson discusses managing school counseling caseloads efficiently. Using an iconic conveyer belt tv scene as an analogy, she highlights the overwhelmed feeling counselors often experience and the need to triage student needs effec...
Jan 27, 2025•27 min•Ep. 134
* Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be .* In this episode, Steph Johnson, a full-time school counselor, talks through National School Counseling Week, sharing her thoughts on its purpose and the many mixed emotions it stirs among school counselors. Steph addresses various reactions from excitement to frustration and offers simple strategies for observing the week on campus. She highlights the importance of effective advocacy, ...
Jan 20, 2025•31 min•Ep. 133
* Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be .* In this episode, Steph Johnson continues exploring how artificial intelligence is influencing school counseling. She unpacks the risks of depending too much on AI-generated tools and stresses the need for strong professional judgment to evaluate the quality and relevance of resources. Steph also dives into the ethical challenges posed by AI- including protecting student privacy- and un...
Jan 13, 2025•32 min•Ep. 132
* Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be .* In this episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, host Steph Johnson addresses the growing trend of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in school counseling. Steph shares her concerns about the premature adoption of AI tools and their potential to undermine the core values and techniques of effective counseling. She emphasizes the importance of human connection, evidenc...
Jan 06, 2025•22 min•Ep. 131
* Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be .* This episode surveys some of the things I'm using most in my school counseling office right now to promote connection, self-awareness, and emotional well-being. 00:00 Welcome Back! 00:29 Holiday Reflections and New Year Goals 02:49 Preparing for the Spring Semester 05:15 Favorite Counseling Office Supplies 17:56 Join the Free Community 19:10 Final Encouragement Resources: Greatness Car...
Dec 30, 2024•22 min•Ep. 130
* Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be .* Have you ever worked with a student labeled as “ODD” and felt like nothing you tried was working? In this episode, I’m revisiting one of our most talked-about topics: oppositional defiant behaviors in schools. But instead of focusing on the label, we’re reframing the conversation to explore what’s really happening beneath the surface. I’ll walk you through why traditional strategies li...
Dec 16, 2024•32 min•Ep. 129
* Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today for the techniques, support, and confidence you need to handle whatever this semester throws your way.* In this episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, host Steph Johnson addresses the common issue of school counselors feeling unprepared, whether broadly from grad school or specifically day-to-day. She offers actionable tips to prepare for the new semester, emphasizing the importance of decluttering both physical and digital s...
Dec 09, 2024•20 min•Ep. 128
