What if you could give students a taste of real-world careers in just the time it takes to sip a pumpkin spice latte? ☕️ In this episode of our Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program series, we’re talking about the power of Micro-Mentoring with Local Professionals.

Instead of a full-day career fair that leaves you drained, micro-mentoring offers short, meaningful connections between students and community members. Think of it as a career espresso shot—small, energizing, and packed with impact.

We’ll share:

• Simple formats for in-person or virtual mentoring sessions

• How to invite busy professionals with a time-friendly ask

• Interactive ideas to make each session engaging and memorable

• Ways to collect quick data and showcase impact

• How this idea positions you as a leader and connector in your school community

If you’re ready to add some fall flavor to your career readiness efforts and brew up stronger community partnerships, this episode will inspire you to make micro-mentoring part of your school counseling recipe.

🎃 Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program – Episode 1: Pop-Up School Counseling

It’s time to add some fall flavor to your counseling program! In this brand-new series, Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program, we’re sharing creative, practical, and fun ideas that will freshen up the way you connect with students.

In this first episode, we’re talking about Pop-Up School Counseling—unique ways to bring your support out of the office and into the spaces where students naturally are. From hallway check-ins to surprise lunchtime activities, we’ll explore how “pop-up” counseling breaks stigma, increases visibility, and creates meaningful connections in unexpected places.

If you’re looking for fresh ideas to meet students right where they are, this episode will leave you inspired (and maybe craving a pumpkin spice latte).

☕️ Tune in, take notes, and get ready to spice up your school counseling program!

School counselors know the truth — “lunch break” often just means eating over your keyboard, between classroom visits, or while making copies. In this episode, we’re serving up quick, easy, and delicious low-prep or no-prep lunch ideas that will keep you fueled for the whirlwind of your day.

From grab-and-go protein options to creative bento box combinations, these tips are designed for busy school counselors who barely have time to breathe, let alone heat up a gourmet meal. Whether you’ve got 10 minutes to eat or just 2, you’ll leave with practical ideas you can start using tomorrow.

🍎 Listen in and take back your lunch — even if it’s in your office with the door half-shut.

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of being a school counselor: clearly communicating your school counseling role to the staff you work with every day. Whether you're tired of being asked to cover classes or want to build stronger, more collaborative relationships with teachers and administrators, this conversation is for you. You'll hear practical tips for defining your role, setting boundaries, and helping your school community understand all of the ways you support students. Let’s make sure your work is seen, valued, and respected from day one.

Is your desk more "paper avalanche" than productivity zone? You're not alone—and we've got you.

In this episode, we're talking all about how to turn your school counseling workspace into a well-oiled, stress-reducing, task-tackling machine. 🧠✨ From creative storage hacks to time-saving desk zones, we’re breaking down what actually works in the real world of school counseling (read: when you have 2 minutes between a crisis and carline).

You'll learn:

• The must-have items every counseling desk should include

• What to ditch, what to delegate, and what to organize once and for all

• Our favorite lesser-known tools and systems that keep things running smoothly

• How your desk setup can support—not sabotage—your daily priorities

Whether you’re brand new to the role or just ready for a reset, this episode will help you reclaim your workspace and refocus your energy where it matters most: your students. 💛

So grab a trash can, a label maker, and maybe a snack—we’re diving in!

🎯 Feeling buried under a never-ending to-do list? You're not alone.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into game-changing tools that help school counselors manage the chaos, prioritize what matters most, and stay focused on the heart of the work—kids. 💛

Whether you're a sticky-note warrior or a digital planner pro, these tools will help you work smarter, not harder. ✏️📋⏳

👉 Tune in and find your new favorite system for conquering the chaos (without losing your cool).
#SchoolCounselingTools #PrioritizationStrategies #CounselorLife #TimeManagementForCounselors #SmartNotStressed

In this episode, we’re talking about Open House—but not the old-school version where you hand out a few school counseling brochures and hope for the best. We’re reimagining this traditional event as a powerful opportunity to advocate for your role, build relationships, and set the tone for the year ahead.

You’ll hear fresh, creative ideas for how to make your presence known and your purpose clear, including ways to visually showcase your work, connect meaningfully with families, and explain the “why” behind what school counselors do.

PLUS—we’re sharing a link to a free, customizable magazine template you can use to introduce your program in a dynamic, modern way.

Whether you’re a new counselor or a seasoned pro, this episode will spark ideas that go way beyond the trifold flyer. It’s time to make this Open House your most impactful one yet!

In this powerful and inspiring episode of the Counselor Accents Podcast, we welcome back our dear friend and brilliant colleague, Steve Sharp. Steve joins us to talk about his latest work, Redesigning Schools to Be Antiracist, where he introduces a practical framework for creating meaningful, lasting change in schools. From understanding why systems often resist change to learning how to disrupt the Oppression Cycle, Steve brings both depth and hope to the conversation about equity in education.

Just as we were recording, Steve got the exciting news that his brand-new book, Lives Worth Living: Applying Zero Suicide as a Prevention Approach for Schools, had officially launched—and we get a sneak peek! In typical Steve fashion, he blends heart, humor, and expertise while tackling some of the most critical issues facing schools today.

With an impressive résumé that includes serving on the ASCA Board of Directors, leading the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association, being named PA Middle School Counselor of the Year, and becoming a bestselling author and consultant—you might expect Steve to have moved on from the day-to-day work of school counseling. But what we love most? He's still in the trenches, showing up for students every day and reminding us why our work matters.

Tune in for a conversation that will challenge, encourage, and equip you as a school counselor and change maker.

If you still have a few weeks of summer left, listen to this episode to find out our recommended reading list for school counselors (Fiction Edition). We each are sharing a few of our 5 star fictional book choices. We try to tell you why these books might appeal to you as a school counselor. Let us know if you've read any of these, or if you have a book to suggest!

Check out our post about these books here:

https://counseloraccents.com/recommended-reading-list-for-school-counselors/

In this powerful and heart-wrenching episode, we speak with Dave Neese, the father of Skylar Neese—a bright, spirited teenager whose life was tragically cut short when she was brutally murdered by two girls she considered her best friends. Dave shares Skylar’s story with honesty, courage, and a deep commitment to preventing similar tragedies.

This episode is intended for school counselors, educators, youth advocates, parents, and anyone who works with adolescents. Together, we explore the warning signs of relational aggression, how toxic friendships can escalate, and what trusted adults can do to identify and intervene before it's too late.

Through Dave’s voice, we honor Skylar’s memory while shedding light on the hidden and often overlooked dynamics of adolescent relationships. This conversation is both a call to awareness and a guide for those working to create safer emotional environments for all students.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses violence, loss, and adolescent mental health.