"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 with students, parents, and administrators. In this Graded episode, I examine how near-absolute confidentiality has been implemented in school counseling, the fallout it’s created, and why the grade I’m giving it might surprise you. We’ll trace how confidentiality migrated from clinical counseling into schools without informed consent, why the line w...

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 from, the myths we’ve built around it, and the risks nobody’s talking about, and I’ll share what to do instead. Minute meetings have taken on near-folklore status in school counseling. They’re all over Pinterest, pushed in Facebook groups, and praised as the “must-do” way to reach every student. But here’s the problem: they didn’t come from researc...

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 interventions in school counseling, but most trainings leave out the detail that decides whether it works or fails. In this episode, I share the research, the hidden limitation no one’s talking about, and the story of a student who proved that “research-based” doesn’t always mean “right for every kid.” This episode is highly researched: Fairba...

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 mean effectiveThe real reason group work is overusedHow to spot a pretty curriculum with zero impactPlus, a student story that stopped me in my tracks. If you’ve ever run a group just to prove you’re doing Tier 2… this one’s for you. ********************************* ⭐️ Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We’re...

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, it feels like just another way to keep school counselors in check. This week on Graded, we’re pulling apart one of the most pushed- but least supported- tools in school counseling. We’ll talk about: Why it’s recommended in the ASCA model—and required in some states Why real-world counselors struggle to make it stick What happens when it’s used fo...

Needs assessments are everywhere in school counseling, and they're especially enticing when you’re just starting out. They feel like the smart, strategic thing to do. But what if they’re just giving you more to carry? In this episode, we’re taking a hard look at needs assessments: who’s pushing them, why they’ve become the go-to starting point, and what they can cost you. We’ll cover the real benefits and the overlooked drawbacks- like ethical risks, political landmines, and the guilt s...

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...

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 “othe...

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 te...

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 superv...

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 ...

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....

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 r...

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 camp...

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 starts- and how to avoid them while you still can. You’re running on fumes. May is chaos. And the last thing you want is another “end-of-year checklist.” But here’s the truth: what you forget now will turn into a full-on mess in August. We’re walking through 5 school counseling mistakes that seem small in May but turn into massive headaches when th...

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’s unraveling... And now that the school year’s winding down, one question keeps echoing louder than the rest: “Can I really do this again next year?” In this deeply personal episode, I’m not here to hand you a checklist or tell you what to do. I’m here as a fellow counselor, walking through the same hard questions- right alongside you. We’ll talk...

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 burned out, questioning if you can make it through another year, or feeling disconnected from the work you once loved... this episode is for you. In this episode, we talk about: Why April and May hit school counselors especially hardThe difference between burnout and professional fatigueFive evidence-based strategies to protect your energy, motivation, an...

⭐️ 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! ⭐️ ********************************** Ever meet another school counselor and realize halfway through the conversation… you’re not doing the same job at all? It’s not your imagination! Right now, the title "school counselor" covers very different realities- and depending on which kind you’re seen as, your future in this professio...

⭐️ 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! ⭐️ ********************************** Behavior charts. Consequence ladders. ABC data. They’re everywhere- and school counselors are often expected to be in the middle of it. But what happens when the behaviorist framework you're handed feels completely misaligned with your counseling instincts? What if you’re tired of bein...

⭐️ 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! ⭐️ ********************************** You’ve been looped into a student’s behavior. The teacher wants it fixed. Admin wants a behavior plan. And now everyone’s looking at you. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t even know where to start,” this episode is for you. We’re walking through the full behavior intervention ...