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, setting goals, and wrapping things up quickly.

But when those same students show up in your office again weeks later- or their behavior backslides the moment your group ends- you’re left wondering:
Was it the student… or was it me?

In this episode, we’re talking about the deeper truth behind short-term counseling:

• Why it feels like failure,
• How it leaves counselors holding the emotional bag, and
• What it really means to “stay in scope” when the needs run deeper than the time allows.

How does short-term counseling really measure up?

And when the grade gets revealed… will you agree?

*********************************

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

**********************************

Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.

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 duties as assigned.”

You don’t need another pep talk.

You need someone to tell the truth about why the model still isn’t protecting your time- and help you reclaim your confidence in the process.

*********************************

Episode References:

Mullen, P. R., Blount, A. J., Lambie, G. W., & Chae, N. (2017). School counselors’ perceived stress, burnout, and job satisfaction. Professional School Counseling, 21(1), 2156759X18782468.

Shillingford, M. A., & Lambie, G. W. (2018). Contribution of Professional School Counselors’ Values and Leadership Practices to Their Programmatic Service Delivery. Professional School Counseling, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X1001300401 (Original work published 2010)

Wilkerson, K., Pérusse, R., & Hughes, A. (2018). Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and Student Achievement Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis of RAMP versus Non-RAMP Schools. Professional School Counseling, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X1701600302 (Original work published 2013)

*********************************

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

**********************************

Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.

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.
The kind of leadership that doesn’t wait to be handed a title.

If you’ve ever thought, “I know what I’m doing... so why don’t they see it?”
You’re closer than you think to the answer.

Press play, and let’s talk about what makes a school counselor undeniable.

*********************************

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

**********************************

Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.

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 supervision.
We’ll talk what it really feels like to carry clinical liability.

And most importantly, we’ll ask:
Are you chasing licensure because it aligns with your goals…
Or because you’re trying to escape something no one ever taught you how to fix?

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should get your LPC, this one’s for you.

*********************************

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

**********************************

Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.

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 experienced counselors question themselves more, not less
• How silence and lack of validation chip away at even the strongest counselors
• Why messy, imperfect work is often the most effective
• And how to chase credibility instead of certainty

You’re not failing; you’re growing. And you’re not alone.

Mentioned in this episode:

School for School Counselors Mastermind

Free School Counselor Planner

References:

Culbreth, J. R., Scarborough, J. L., Banks‑Johnson, S. B., & Solomon, T. (2005). Role stress among practicing school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 9(2), 106–112.

Dunning, D., & Kruger, J. (1999). Unskilled and unaware of it: How difficulties in recognizing one’s own incompetence lead to inflated self-assessments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1121–1134.

Falender, C. A., & Shafranske, E. P. (2010). Psychotherapy‑based supervision models in an emerging competency‑based era: A commentary. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 47(1), 45–50.

Hill, C. E., Sullivan, C., Knox, S., & Schlosser, L. Z. (2007). Therapist self‑disclosure: Research-based suggestions regarding clinical training, practices, and ethics. Psychotherapy Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 44(4), 392–407.

Hochschild, A. R. (1983). The managed heart: Commercialization of human feeling. University of California Press.

Jennings, L., & Skovholt, T. M. (2016). In T. M. Skovholt & K. Rønnestad (Eds.), Master therapists: Exploring expertise in therapy and counseling. Routledge.

Skovholt, T. M., & Trotter‑Mathison, M. (2016). The resilient practitioner: Burnout prevention and self‑care strategies for counselors, therapists, teachers, and health professionals (3rd ed.). Taylor & Francis. (Original concept described in earlier editions as an “ambiguity‑rich, feedback‑poor environment.”)

*********************************

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

**********************************

Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.

Hang out in our Facebook group
Jump in, ask questions, share your ideas and become a part of the most empowering school counseling group on the planet! (Join us to see if we're right.)

Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind
The Mastermind is packed with all the things your grad program never taught you I

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 calendar is empty.

You’ll learn:

• Why some counselors feel antsy and others feel emotionally flatlined
• What the stress cycle actually is (and why school counselors rarely complete it)
• What to do instead of trying to “fix” yourself with productivity
• Real strategies to help you downshift: without guilt, pressure, or a color-coded plan
• How parenting, performance pressure, and public education expectations all collide in the summer

This isn’t just about feeling better. It’s about reclaiming your nervous system, your peace, and your ability to start the school year as yourself... not the burned-out version you’ve been trying to push through.

*********************************

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

**********************************

Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.

Hang out in our Facebook group
Jump in, ask questions, share your ideas and become a part of the most empowering school counseling group on the planet! (Join us to see if we're right.)

Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind
The Mastermind is packed with all the things your grad program never taught you IN ADDITION TO unparalleled support and consultation. No more feeling alone, invisible, unappreciated, or like you just don't know what to do next. We've got you!

Did someone share this podcast with you? Be sure to subscribe for all the new episodes!!

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 strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind. Come join us! ⭐️

**********************************

Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.

Hang out in our Facebook group
Jump in, ask questions, share your ideas and become a part of the most empowering school counseling group on the planet! (Join us to see if we're right.)

Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind
The Mastermind is packed with all the things your grad program never taught you IN ADDITION TO unparalleled support and consultation. No more feeling alone, invisible, unappreciated, or like you just don't know what to do next. We've got you!

Did someone share this podcast with you? Be sure to subscribe for all the new episodes!!

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.

Why? Because influence in schools isn’t about credentials.

It’s about trust.

In this episode, we’re talking about what actually earns school counselors a seat at the table, and why the real key isn’t advocacy, a perfect program, or another use-of-time chart.

You’ll learn:

• Why some school counselors get access and others don’t
• The five relational traits that build real trust with administrators
• How to develop on-the-fly fluency that earns instant credibility
• When it’s time to stop chasing influence and pivot strategically
• And how to start showing up like a trusted advisor, even without the title

If you’ve ever been passed over, second-guessed, or told to “just follow the model,” this episode is your blueprint for stepping into leadership the right way, without burning out or selling out.

Because trusted advisors aren’t appointed.

They’re revealed- one moment at a time.

Need a downloadable recap of this episode? Say no more!
Go here to get a free copy.

*********************************

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

**********************************

Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.

Hang out in our Facebook group
Jump in, ask questions, share your ideas and become a part of the most empowering school counseling group on the planet! (Join us to see if we're right.)

Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind
The Mastermind is packed with all the things your grad program never taught you IN ADDITION TO unparalleled support and consultation. No more feeling alone, invisible, unappreciated, or like you just don't know what to do next. We've got you!

Did someone share this podcast with you? Be sure to subscribe for all the new episodes!!