Counselor Chat Podcast

Episode 151: The Words Matter: Small Language Shifts That Make a Big Difference

The words we use as school counselors matter more than we sometimes realize.

In this practical episode, I talk about everyday phrases we often say automatically and how small shifts in language can create more safety, validation, and trust for students, parents, staff, and ourselves.

This isn’t about doing things wrong. It’s about becoming more intentional with our words, especially when we’re tired, rushed, or navigating emotional situations.

In this episode, we explore:

1. Why phrases like “It’s going to be okay” or “At least…” don’t always land as intended
2. Language shifts that validate emotions without escalating them
3. How curiosity-based phrasing changes the tone of conversations
4. Ways to reduce defensiveness when working with parents and teachers
5. Why scripts are a helpful support during high-emotion moments
6. How the language we use with ourselves impacts burnout and longevity

As you move through your week, I invite you to notice your language without judging it. Just notice where a small shift might help someone feel more seen, heard, and supported.

You don’t need to change everything. One intentional change can make a real difference.

Thank you for the heart you bring to this work every single day.

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

Episode 150: Not Every Week Is a Highlight Reel

Not every National School Counseling Week looks like a highlight reel, and that’s okay.

In this reflective episode, I share a personal experience from my own school where carefully made plans for National School Counseling Week were replaced by grief, crisis response, and the need to simply be present for students and staff.

This episode is for counselors who felt exhausted, unseen, or overwhelmed, and for anyone who needed permission to let something go.

In this episode, I cover:

1. Why National School Counseling Week can feel complicated and emotional
2. How unexpected events can shift even the best-laid plans
3. What it means to truly “do enough” as a school counselor
4. Why quiet work still matters, even when it isn’t celebrated

A moment from the episode that I hope stays with you:

If National School Counseling Week didn’t look the way you hoped, if you stayed quiet, or if you focused on crisis instead of celebration, I want you to know this: you didn’t fail. You’re human. And the work you do every day still makes a difference.

Thank you for being here and for all you give to this profession.

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

In this episode, I’m joined by Steve Sharp (a middle school counselor in Pennsylvania) and Dr. Perri Rosen (a nationally certified school psychologist and former special educator) to talk about their new book, Lives Worth Living: Applying the Zero Suicide Approach in Schools.

We have an honest, practical conversation about how suicide prevention in schools has often been treated as “crisis response only”—and why the work we do before a crisis (SEL, belonging, school climate, connection) is a critical part of prevention too.

1. Why suicide prevention is often seen as “its own box” in schools—and how to broaden that mindset
2. What the Zero Suicide framework is and why it can be adapted for school systems
3. How SEL, belonging, and school climate function as real protective factors
4. What school counselors may need to unlearn about suicide prevention
5. Why “refer out and hope it resolves” isn’t the full picture—and how schools still play a role in recovery
6. Why re-entry and connection matter so much after a suicide-related crisis
7. How data and continuous improvement can strengthen a school-wide prevention system over time

Suicide prevention isn’t just a training or a risk assessment—it’s the systems we build, the connections we create, and the culture of belonging we protect, so students can truly live lives worth living.

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to follow the podcast and leave a review—it helps other school counselors find support, resources, and reminders that they’re not alone in this work.

Resources Mentioned:

Lives Worth Living

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

In this episode of Counselor Chat, I celebrate the powerful connection between National School Counseling Week and World Read Aloud Day, and why stories play such a meaningful role in student success.

I share how read-alouds create emotional safety, help students name their feelings, and open doors for conversations that might otherwise feel too hard to start. I also read an excerpt from my children’s book, Sammy’s Sad Day, and walked through simple, practical ways counselors can use storytelling as a Tier 1 support in classrooms, small groups, and beyond.

This episode is a reminder that success isn’t just measured in data — it’s felt in connection.

1. Why student success starts with emotional safety, not just academics
2. How stories create shared emotional language for students
3. Why read-alouds work so well as low-pressure counseling tools
4. Using books as Tier 1 support for whole-class and school-wide impact
5. Simple reflection questions that build emotional literacy
6. How connection changes behavior and learning outcomes

“You amplify student success when a student feels seen, a teacher uses language you modeled, and a child realizes they’re not alone.

Links Mentioned

Sammy's Sad Day

Perks National School Counseling Week Free Month Deal

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

In this episode, I’m sharing a realistic, no-pressure approach to doing a midyear data check, without the guilt, the overwhelm, or the unrealistic expectation of having “perfect” charts and reports. This conversation is all about using what you already have to guide meaningful next steps for your students, instead of stressing over what you didn’t collect.

1. Why “real data” doesn’t always live in spreadsheets and graphs
2. What actually counts as meaningful data in a real school setting
3. Simple reflection questions I use to spot trends and changing needs
4. How I know when it’s time to adjust groups, lessons, or interventions
5. Why January is more about course correction than evaluation
6. How my own energy and workload often point to important patterns

1. What feels heavier than it did in the fall?
2. What feels lighter?
3. Who am I seeing more often—and who am I seeing less?
4. What has surprised me so far this year?

Midyear data isn’t about proving everything worked—it’s about asking one powerful question:

What do students need now?

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to follow the podcast and leave a review—it helps other counselors find support, ideas, and practical strategies too.

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!

Connect with Carol:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

January is often when attendance challenges start to feel impossible (for students and for counselors). In this episode, I break down why attendance dips during the winter months, how to reframe attendance as a support issue rather than a compliance issue, and what counselors can realistically do to help students re-engage with school.

This episode focuses on compassion, collaboration, and practical strategies that honor what students are really experiencing.

1. Common reasons attendance declines in January (illness, anxiety, routine changes, weather, and more)
2. Why framing attendance as a symptom changes how students respond
3. Language counselors can use to talk about attendance without blame
4. Layered counseling supports for students with chronic absences
5. How small wins (fewer tardies, staying longer, asking for help) matter more than perfect data
6. Engagement strategies that increase motivation and belonging

“Students don’t avoid school because they don’t care. They avoid school because something feels really hard.”

Attendance Small Group

Middle School Attendance Lesson (grades 6-7)

Barriers To Attendance Lesson (grades K-1)

Academic Success Attendance Lesson (grades 2-3)

Barriers to Attendance (grades 4-5)

Chronic Attendance Intervention Lesson (grade 8)

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!

Connect with Carol:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

January can feel especially tough in schools. Big emotions, increased anxiety, mood changes, and shutdown behaviors often show up as students transition back from break. In this episode, I’m breaking down why January feels so hard, and what school counselors can do to support students in ways that are compassionate, practical, and sustainable.

1. Why January creates emotional and behavioral shifts for students
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3. How anxiety shows up differently across age groups
4. 
   
5. The difference between behavior problems and regulation problems
6. 
   
7. Why predictability is essential for reducing anxiety
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9. Counselor strategies to restore safety and routine
10. 
    
11. Low-pressure Tier 1 lesson ideas for January
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13. Small group supports for anxiety, coping skills, and transitions
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15. Trauma-informed practices that prioritize connection before correction
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“Anxiety increases when predictability decreases.”

January isn’t about fixing feelings or pushing through. It’s about regrounding, rebuilding routines, and helping students feel safe enough to learn again. Small supports matter—and they add up.

Thank you for showing up for your students and for yourself. Your work matters more than you know.

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!

Connect with Carol:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

January has a way of making counselors feel like they should start over with new systems, new routines, new everything. But what if that pressure is actually working against your effectiveness?

In this episode of Counselor Chat, I'm offering a grounded reframe for the new year: you don’t need to become a brand-new counselor just because the calendar changed.

Instead, this episode invites you to slow down, protect your energy, and focus on what already works.

1. Why January pressure can lead to burnout instead of clarity
2. A simple explanation of the law of diminishing returns in school counseling
3. How “doing more” can actually reduce your impact
4. Why small tweaks matter more than big overhauls
5. Practical ways to carry fall systems into the spring
6. Three gentle reflection prompts to guide your January planning

1. What is one counseling routine that felt manageable in the fall?
2. What is one lesson, group, or system I don’t need to reinvent?
3. What is one thing I can stop doing to protect my energy?

This episode is a reminder that:

1. You are not starting over
2. Your relationships still matter
3. Your systems didn’t disappear
4. And sustainability is what carries you through March, April, and May

✨ New year. Same counselor. Stronger boundaries. Smarter focus.

Thanks for being here, counselor friend.

You’re doing important work — even when it doesn’t feel loud or new.

⭐ If this episode helped you, a quick review means more than you know

Until next time — I hope you have a really great week.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Episode 83

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!

Connect with Carol:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

As the calendar turns to a new year, many school counselors find themselves holding a mix of emotions about heading back to work. Motivation might feel low, energy might feel scattered, and that sense of readiness may not be there yet.

In this New Year’s Eve re-listen, I'm revisiting Episode 41 of Counselor Chat Podcast, a conversation counselors return to again and again when break comes to an end.

This episode is a reminder that feeling unmotivated, heavy, or unsure about returning to school is normal. Motivation does not magically appear on January 1st, and you do not need to have everything figured out before heading back.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why mixed emotions after a break are completely normal
2. How different breaks can bring different feelings from year to year
3. The importance of acknowledging your emotions instead of pushing through them
4. How reconnecting with your “why” can ground you when motivation feels low
5. Simple strategies to ease back into work, including building white space into your calendar
6. Why prioritizing tasks and letting go of doing everything at once matters
7. The power of reconnecting with colleagues for support and perspective
8. Gentle reminders about self care and protecting your energy

You are not alone, and you are allowed to take this transition one step at a time.

Mentioned in the Episode:

Energy Inventory: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eXT5jXvwueU39AGvkFYq7-wvom9TiSns/view?usp=sharing

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!

Connect with Carol:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

As the holiday season arrives, we’re revisiting one of the most meaningful episodes of Counselor Chat — a conversation filled with honest advice, encouragement, and reminders from counselors who truly understand the work.

In this episode, counselors from across the country share the wisdom they wish they had when they were new to the profession — advice that’s just as powerful for seasoned counselors navigating full plates, shifting priorities, and year-end reflection.

You’ll hear thoughtful insights on:

1. The importance of visibility and relationship-building
2. Giving yourself grace and letting go of perfection
3. Asking for help and leaning on your support system
4. Balancing heart work with realistic expectations
5. Caring for yourself while caring for others
6. Remembering that even the smallest moments matter

This episode feels like sitting down with colleagues who get it — the challenges, the joy, the exhaustion, and the purpose behind the work you do every day.

Whether you’re listening on a walk, at the gym, or during a quiet moment of rest, my hope is that this re-listen meets you exactly where you are and reminds you that you are not alone.

Ready to share your tips and advice on a upcoming episode? Just hit this link, and then press record on your phone or device. Easy peasy! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/325646/26/h0ldegvcaj9roa3k

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!

Connect with Carol:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership