School for School Counselors Podcast
Episodes
A Year Full of “Yeses”… and a Lot of Regret
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You’re not overwhelmed because there’s too much work;You’re overwhelmed because too much of it is not your job.You're not saying yes becaus...
Restorative Justice Works (Just Not Like That)
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You sat in the circle.You heard the apology.And you knew… nothing actually changed.Restorative justice can work in schools- the research supports th...
Your Campus Runs on a Pyramid of Lies
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a reason the same explanation keeps showing up in every staff meeting, every training, every conversation about struggling students.It feels...
Stop Finding Your Why
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At some point, someone has probably told you to “find your why.”I gave that advice last week.I wish I hadn't.In this episode, I’m getting m...
Your School's Pressure Valve Has a Name. It's You.
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You said yes… then suddenly it was your job.At some point in your career, something changed.You stopped being the person students came to see and st...
How Many Rigorous Studies Support Trauma-Informed Schools? Zero.
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"The research supports trauma-informed schools..." You've probably heard it in a staff meeting, read it in a district memo, or repeate...
You’re Not the Behavior Department
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Is managing student behavior actually school counseling?If you’re spending most of your week handling behavior referrals, putting out fires, and dec...
School Counselor, That's Not Anxiety. Here's How to Prove It.
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m challenging a common habit in school counseling: labeling student distress as “anxiety” before it actually meets clinical c...
School Counselors, Stop Accommodating Anxiety. (Yes, Really.)
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if the anxiety accommodations you've been writing into your 504s and IEPs are actually making your students more anxious?In this episode, I&...
School Counseling Has Two Futures- and We’re Running Out of Time
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You hold a master’s degree. You studied crisis intervention, psychopathology, and therapeutic technique.So why is your profession still fighting to ...
The Catalyst Problem in School Counseling
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most school counselors aren’t ineffective.They’re mis-measured.In this episode, Steph challenges one of the profession’s most sacred assumptions...
The Unspoken Cost of Compassion in School Counseling
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Caring is what makes you good at this job. It’s also what puts you in the most danger.If you’re a school counselor who still cares deeply about st...
Why School Counselors Are SO TIRED (It’s Not Burnout)
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re exhausted in a way that rest doesn’t fix, this episode is for you.School counselors are often told they’re burned out, so they’re ha...
The Question School Counselors NEVER Get Asked
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
School counselors are told to:Be flexibleMake it workAdvocate harderAnd somehow still be accountable for everything.But what if the real problem isn’...
The Hidden Reason Students Compete Over Everything
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why does everything at school seem to turn into a competition... and why does it so often become a school counseling issue?In this episode of the Sch...
"Burns" vs. Bullying: What School Counselors Need to Know
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone was laughing... until suddenly someone wasn’t.Learn how "burns" work, why it’s usually mutual until it isn’t, and how to know...
Why Some Students Only Show Up When School Counselors Are Trying to Leave
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some students wait until school counselors are walking out the door before they finally open up?It’s not randomness, and it’s definitely no...
What School Counselors Miss About the Hoodie Kids
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The hoodie isn’t the problem.It’s the messages we’re missing.In this episode, Steph Johnson takes you inside one of the most misunderstood behav...
Are TikTok Dances Actually School Counseling Signals?
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Those hallway TikTok routines are saying something, school counselor- and it’s not what you think.In this episode, we decode what those repeated dan...
The Hallway’s Got Rizz... Can School Counselors Hear What It’s Saying?
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Rizz.” “Bet.” “Six-Seven.”Sounds like noise... but it’s not.In this episode of the School for School Counselors Podcast, Steph Johnson ...
The Hidden Skill That Makes School Counselors Untouchable
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some counselors never have to fight for their role- or explain their worth. That’s not luck. It’s skill.In this episode, you’ll learn how the m...
No More Pizza Parties! The Real Way School Counselors Can Fix Attendance
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Students refusing school isn’t new... but what’s happening now is different.Across the country, nearly one in three students is missing ten percen...
The School Counseling Rollercoaster: 3 Secrets Every Counselor Should Know
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
October hits different, doesn’t it? One week you’re flying high after a student breakthrough, and the next- you’re wondering if you can even mak...
Defiance vs. Dysregulation: The Split-Second Call That Changes Everything
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The radio call comes in. A student’s refusing to move, and suddenly, everyone’s looking at you to fix it.Here’s what nobody ever told us in grad...
GRADED: Behavior Intervention
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mas...
GRADED: PBIS- Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mas...
GRADED: Calm Corners
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are calm corners helping students regulate... or just giving them a softer way to opt out? In this episode of Graded, I take a hard look at one of th...
GRADED: School Counseling Advocacy
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever walked out of an “advocacy meeting” with your admin and thought, Is anything ever going to change?You brought the data. You showed the charts...
GRADED Recap: The Best & Worst of School Counseling
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the tools you’ve been told to use as a school counselor are actually working against you?In this highlights reel, I’m recapping eight of t...
GRADED: Confidentiality
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"What you say in here, stays in here…” We’ve all said it, but it’s a promise that never came from schools, and it’s costing us trust w...
GRADED: Minute Meetings
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Minute meetings look great on a spreadsheet. But do they actually help kids? In this episode of Graded, I dig into where this practice really came fro...
GRADED: Check In, Check Out
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the behavior approach everyone swears by is actually making some kids worse?Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) is one of the most common Tier 2 interve...
GRADED: Small Group Counseling
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Small group counseling gets pushed as the fix for everything. But what if we’re getting it wrong?In this episode:Why “ASCA-aligned” doesn’t me...
GRADED: Use-of-Time Data
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know that feeling when it’s Friday, and you can’t even explain what you did all week?Use-of-time tracking is supposed to help- but too often, ...
GRADED: Needs Assessments
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Needs assessments are everywhere in school counseling, and they're especially enticing when you’re just starting out. They feel like the smart,...
GRADED: Short-Term Counseling
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all been told school counseling should be short-term and goal-focused, and most of us have tried to follow that rule: running six-week groups,...
GRADED: The ASCA National Model
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Inside the Mind of an Undeniable School Counselor
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Should School Counselors Get Their LPC?
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 stres...
Why School Counselors Feel Like They’re Failing (Even When They’re Not)
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
It’s Summer! So Why Can’t School Counselors Actually Relax?
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
How School Counseling’s Best Intentions Turned Against Us
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why Some School Counselors Get Ignored and Others Don’t
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
5 School Counseling Mistakes That’ll Bite You in August
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 sta...
Should I Quit My School Counseling Job?
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
When You Love School Counseling But Hate How It Feels
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 burn...
The Three Types of School Counselors: Which One Are You?
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mas...
When Behavior Intervention Just Feels... Wrong
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mas...
Behavior Plans, Explained
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mas...
What Schools Get Wrong About ADHD
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mas...
Beyond the Behavior Bouncer
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be. ⭐️*****************************...
The Behavior Problem School Counselors Aren't Supposed to Talk About
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be. ⭐️*****************************...
Do Social Stories Really Work?
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be. ⭐️*****************************...
Bullying or Just Drama? The School Counselor’s Guide to Getting It Right
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
➡️ JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR THE BEHAVIOR BREAKTHROUGH KIT! Every school counselor has been there—stuck in a conversation where the word "bull...
Relational Aggression and Bullying
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"It's just middle school drama." "Ignore them, and it'll stop." "You're gonna have to toughen up."Sound...
How to Handle Student Behavior Like a Pro
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
The Fat-Free Fix That’s Failing School Counselors
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As busy school counselors, we often find ourselves reaching for quick-fix solutions to help our students. But are these convenient resources truly ser...
How to Make Your School Feel Less Toxic (No Admin Approval Needed)
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
School Counselors Deserve Better! The Advocacy Problem No One Admits
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
*Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be.*Happy National School Counseling Week! Or...
Mastering Caseloads in School Counseling
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
*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 b...
A Realistic Approach to National School Counseling Week
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
*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-ti...
Stop Using AI Like This: What Every Counselor Should Know
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
*Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today to become the school counselor you were meant to be.*In this episode, Steph Johnson continues ...
A.I. and School Counseling
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
*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 ...
What I'm Using Most in My School Counseling Office These Days
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
*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...
One Big Reason Behavior Charts Fail (And What You Can Do Instead)
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
*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 label...
Prep NOW for a Stress-Less Spring Semester
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
*Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind today for the techniques, support, and confidence you need to handle whatever this semester throws y...
A Super-Simple Challenge to COMPLETELY Change Your Year
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind to finally feel supported in your careerIn this episode of the School for School Counselors p...
Four-Tenths of One Percent Means You're NOT Failing
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind to finally feel supported in your careerIn this episode of the School for School Counselors p...
When Less is More in Your School Counseling Program
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind to build a "stress-less" careerIn this episode of the School for School Counselors p...
Are You Chasing the Right School Counseling Goals?
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the 'School for School Counselors' podcast, host Steph Johnson discusses a major misstep she nearly made by trying to fol...
How Can We Truly Support Gifted & 2E Students?
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, host Steph Johnson talks through the unique challenges faced by gifted and twice exceptio...
Dignity-Driven Holiday Outreach Programs
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can we create holiday outreach programs that truly lift up our students, without compromising their dignity? Join me, Steph Johnson, and let'...
Avoid Paper-Pencil Pitfalls in Your School Counseling Office
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a comprehensive guide for school counselors aiming to improve their engagement with students. Moving beyond traditional worksheets, it...
School Counselors' Secret Weapons for Special Pops Success
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like juggling the needs of special populations is pushing you to the brink? It doesn’t have to be that way! Join me, Steph Johnson, as we ...
Habits for School Counselor Hustle
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ready to Tame the School Year Chaos? In this episode of School for School Counselors Podcast, host Steph Johnson dives into the power of building habi...
How to Tell If You're a "Good Enough" School Counselor
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can trying to solve every student problem actually hold them back? Join us as we explore this provocative question, inspired by Donald Winnicott'...
The Hidden Dangers of Toxic Positivity in School Counseling
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can adopting a positive mindset inadvertently lead to dismissing genuine struggles? How can we balance a healthy stress mindset without falling into ...
School Counseling Stress: What If We’re Wrong?
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if stress wasn't your enemy, but your secret weapon? In this enlightening episode, Steph Johnson reveals how school counselors can transform...
A Surprising Secret Weapon Against Chronic School Counselor Stress
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and burnt out as a school counselor? Discover game-changing strategies to not only manage- but also thrive- amids...
[Bonus Ep.] Are Yours Legit? The Uncomfortable Truth About School Counseling Resources
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the 114th episode of the School for School Counselors Podcast, host Steph Johnson discusses the critical issue of subpar materials flooding the mar...
[Bonus Ep.] Unlock the Secrets to Sustainable School Counseling
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the School for School Counselors Podcast, host Steph Johnson discusses ways to make school counseling more sustainable and enjoyabl...
[Bonus Ep.] From Burnout to Brilliance: SMART Secrets for Overwhelmed School Counselors
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the School for School Counselors Podcast, host Steph Johnson discusses the challenges of adhering to the ASCA National Model in i...
Dysregulated Adults ≠ Regulated Students
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the School for School Counselors Podcast, Steph Johnson addresses the evolving role of school counselors in behavior intervention o...
Can We Convert "Defiant" Students into Dynamic School Leaders?
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, host Steph Johnson addresses the expanding role of school counselors in behavior interven...
Behavior Intervention Chaos: The Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, host Steph Johnson discusses the complex role school counselors play in behavior interven...
The Giant Lie School Counselors Tell Every Day
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Navigating the delicate balance of student confidentiality is crucial but complex. In this episode, we tackle real-life scenarios where transparency b...
Forget "Comprehensive" School Counseling
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the School for School Counselors Podcast! In this episode, Steph Johnson dives deep into the often unrealistic expectations placed on ...
TPT's Dirty Truths & Why You Need an Evidence-Base
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered why some school counseling programs deliver long-lasting results while others fall flat? In this episode of the School for School Counse...
How to Cue Yourself for Better School Counseling
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can understanding the "why" behind your practices truly transform your school counseling program? This week, we uncover the secrets to s...
The Secret to Sustaining Your Passion for School Counseling
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What can keep your motivation and drive burning bright all through the school year? Join us as we uncover how integrating gratitude into your daily pr...
4 Key Components School Counselors Need for an Amazing School Year
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could transform your school counseling program into a haven of organization and efficiency that instantly puts students- and you- at ease?...
Research-Based School Counseling Spaces: Does Yours Make the Grade?
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can the design of your school counseling office really impact student well-being and performance? Join me, Steph Johnson, on the School for School Cou...
Is it Time to Eliminate Some Joy from School Counseling?
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So many of us need to "eliminate some Joy" from our roles. What can this mean for school counselors who strive to build positivity, growth m...
Screaming Goats and Sand Trays: Unique Stories of Real-World School Counseling
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the 100th episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, we are all about the colorful and often unexpected world of school counseling with s...
Why One School Counselor Chose Schools Over Therapy Offices
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if the place where students spend most of their time held the key to unlocking their potential? Meet Kristina Renn, a first-year school counselor...
How Do You Handle Student Info When You're Leaving?
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you preparing to leave your school counseling position and unsure about what documentation to leave for your successor? Navigating the complexitie...
I Blew Up My School Counseling Data: What I Learned
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, I’ll take you through my real-life experience of being compelled to overhaul my data systems due to recent legislative cha...
Want to Make a Real Difference? Be Like Nancy.
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nancy is an experienced and stellar school counselor whose story is as inspiring as it is instructive. Her path from art teacher to guiding light for ...
From Underwater Crime Scene Investigator to School Counseling Superstar
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Ginger Bernal for a friendly chat about her fascinating 17-year journey through the world of education...
The End-of-Year Conversation Every School Counselor Needs to Hear
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's time to end the school year on a high note while supporting a stronger partnership with your campus principal. This week’s School for Scho...