In this episode, we sit down with two school counselors from Mississippi whose work took an idea from our Teachers Pay Teachers to a national stage. After purchasing our Coping Skills Café, they adapted it to meet the needs of their students. What happened next was something none of us could have predicted. Their work went nationally viral after being picked up by the Associated Press and featured across multiple news outlets.

What we love most about this story isn’t just the attention, it’s the collaboration behind it. These counselors took an idea, made it even better, and implemented it in a way that authentically served their school community. Even more meaningful was the grace and professionalism they showed by crediting the original resource while sharing their work publicly.

This conversation is all about creativity, collaboration, and what’s possible when school counselors share ideas instead of guarding them. It’s a reminder that our best work often happens when we build on one another’s strengths — and that there’s room for all of us to succeed.

If you’ve ever adapted a resource, wondered what happens after you click “purchase,” or needed encouragement that collaboration truly matters, this episode is for you.

Coping Skills Cafe

In this important episode of the Counselor Accents Podcast, we sit down with Angela Avery, a seasoned middle school counselor from Maine, to discuss one of the most challenging and critical topics facing schools today: suicide prevention.

Angela shares practical, proactive strategies school counselors can use to address suicide in developmentally appropriate, ethical, and trauma-informed ways. This conversation focuses on prevention over reaction, highlighting everyday practices that quietly save lives long before a crisis occurs.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• How to talk about suicide safely and responsibly with students

• Proactive suicide prevention strategies

• School counseling protocols and response planning

• Protective factors counselors may already be strengthening without realizing it

• Ways to build a school culture of connection, trust, and emotional safety

Angela also reassures counselors who worry they’re “doing it wrong” that many effective prevention efforts are already happening through relationship-building, SEL lessons, and consistent check-ins. This episode emphasizes that suicide prevention is not one program or lesson — it’s a system of care woven into daily school counseling practice.

Whether you are a school counselor, administrator, or mental health professional, this episode offers grounded guidance, encouragement, and realistic tools for navigating an incredibly sensitive topic with confidence and compassion.

🎃 Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program – Parent Power Sessions 🎃

It’s the final episode of our Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program series, and we’re closing it out with something every school counselor knows is both powerful and challenging: parent communication. 🍂🎃

In this episode, we’re diving into simple, meaningful, and practical ways to build strong connections with families—without overwhelming yourself in the process. We’re talking about:

✨ Meet & Greets that help parents see you as a real, approachable human
✨ Newsletter features that educate families while celebrating your work
✨ Parent sessions on relevant topics (yes, including the big one… cell phone usage📱)
✨ Easy communication strategies that build trust and partnership
✨ And how to create “Parent Power Sessions” that empower families and lighten your load

Because here’s the truth: when parents feel connected to you, they feel connected to the entire school community. And when that happens, everyone wins—students, families, and you.

Join us as we wrap up the Pumpkin Spice season with encouragement, ideas you can use immediately, and a whole lot of heart. 💛

🎃 Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program- Episode 4: A School Counseling Data Board- Making Your Impact Impossible to Ignore 🎃

In this episode of Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program, we’re stirring in one of our favorite ingredients for strengthening your school counseling program: a data board.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing incredible work but no one really sees it… this episode is for you.
A well-designed data board can:✨ showcase your impact✨ help stakeholders understand what you do✨ advocate for you even when you’re not in the room✨ and add a little “pumpkin spice” flair to your counseling space!

We walk you step-by-step through what to include, where to put it, how to keep it updated, and how to make it visually appealing (even if you don't feel like a graphic designer). You’ll leave with practical tips, creative ideas, and the confidence to start building a data board that turns your services into a story worth noticing.

Whether you’re brand new to data or just want a fresh way to share your impact, this episode will give you exactly what you need to spice things up!

🎃 Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program – Episode 3: Game On! Engaging Students with Quick Wins 🎃

Sometimes the best connections with students happen in the smallest moments. In this episode of our Pumpkin Spice Up Your School Counseling Program series, we’re sharing how to use quick games and engaging questions to build relationships, spark conversations, and add energy to your counseling program.

From Plinko boards 🎯 to spinning wheels 🎡 to simple “Would You Rather” questions, these fun tools make counseling approachable, break the ice, and create memorable moments without taking up a lot of time.

We’ll cover:

• 🍁 How to set up easy “pop-up” counseling stations with interactive games

• 🍁 Question prompts that get students talking (and laughing)

• 🍁 Ways to use games for SEL check-ins, coping skills practice, and career chats

• 🍁 How these playful strategies can double as powerful data-collection tools

If you’re ready to add some fall flavor, boost student engagement, and show that counseling can be both meaningful and fun, this episode will give you practical ideas you can try tomorrow!

☕️ Grab your pumpkin spice latte and tune in for quick, game-changing strategies!

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!