Counselor Accents

We’ve been doing a LOT of traveling lately, and one of the best parts has been getting to meet school counselors from different states, different districts, and very different school settings.And while there are definitely some differences across the country, we’ve also noticed something pretty interesting: school counseling has a whole lot in common no matter where you are.In this episode, we’re sharing 5 (maybe 6!) things we’ve observed through our travels: from differences in 504 caseloads and counselor pay to the increase in student behaviors and the challenges counselors are facing every day.Some things look very different depending on where you live. Some things are surprisingly similar. And some things have us saying, “Oh, y’all are dealing with that too?!”But there is one thing that hasn't changed no matter what state we’re in:We LOVE school counselors.We love getting to meet counselors who are doing this work in big schools, small schools, rural schools, suburban schools, and everywhere in between. We love hearing what’s working, what’s hard, and what counselors are figuring out as the job continues to change.So come along with us as we share What We’ve Learned Through Our Travels- the similarities, the differences, the surprises, and a whole lot of love for the counselors doing the work every single day.

In this episode of Everyone Has a Story, we talk with Holly Wilcox about her experience with childhood trauma and the impact those experiences can have long after the moment has passed. Holly shares her story openly and honestly, giving educators an opportunity to think differently about the students sitting in our classrooms and the stories they may be carrying with them.As school counselors and educators, we know that behavior is often communication, and every student has a story that matters. Holly’s story is a reminder to look beyond what we see on the surface and approach students with compassion, curiosity, and a willingness to listen.If you’re heading into a new school year, this is a conversation worth revisiting.Everyone has a story and sometimes we just need someone willing to listen.

It’s one of our favorite episodes to record each year, and we have a feeling it might be one of yours, too!We’re sharing what we’ve been reading lately, from fiction and historical fiction to nonfiction and everything in between. These aren’t necessarily “school counseling books,” but as school counselors, we can’t help but notice the themes, characters, relationships, struggles, and life lessons woven throughout the stories we read.So grab your TBR list (and maybe make some room on your bookshelf!) as we talk about the books we’ve loved, the stories that have stuck with us, and the counseling connections we’ve found along the way.Whether you’re looking for your next great read or just want to hear what two school counselors are talking about when they’re not at school, there’s something here for you!

What happens when we stop looking at challenging behavior as simply a behavior problem and start looking at what’s happening inside the brain?In this episode, Kim sits down with Anthony “A.B.” Brooks and Joy Winchester for a conversation about the connection between neuroscience, trauma, student behavior, and the way we work with young people.Anthony is the author of How to Eat an Elephant: Inspiring Youth by Facing the Elephant in the Room, a practical look at building trust, influence, and meaningful relationships with young people. His experience working with and mentoring youth brings an important perspective to the conversation: before we can influence a student, we have to build a relationship with them.Joy brings her deep knowledge of the brain and trauma-informed practice, helping educators understand what may be happening beneath challenging behavior. She is the author of Hey, You Got a Minute? and When in Doubt, Assume Brain: Stories of Aha Moments from the Front Lines Where the Brain Meets Behavior.Together, Joy and Anthony explore what happens when we understand the why behind a young person’s behavior—and how that understanding can change the way school counselors and educators respond to students.If you've heard Joy on Counselor Accents before, you already know she has a way of taking complicated neuroscience and making it make sense in the real world. But this conversation brings something new to the table: what happens when a brain-based perspective meets the practical work of mentoring, building relationships, and connecting with today's youth?For school counselors, this conversation offers practical insight into student behavior, trauma-informed school counseling, brain-based strategies, and building stronger relationships with students.Whether you're a school counselor, teacher, administrator, parent, coach, or anyone who works with young people, this is a conversation worth having.Sometimes the behavior you're seeing isn't the whole story.Sometimes, you have to understand the brain behind it.

Our first-ever live, completely unedited episode is here! 🎙️ We affectionately call it our "Rawdog" episode because what you hear is exactly what happened- no edits, no second takes, just an honest conversation.Inspired by the TV show What Would You Do? and John Quiñones' keynote at the ASCA Conference, this isn't a recap of the conference. Instead, it's a conversation about what his message taught us about stepping up when students need someone in their corner.We explore how the question, "What would you do?" applies to school counseling every day and share some practical ways we're planning to bring those lessons into our counseling programs this school year.Whether you're a school counselor, educator, or someone who believes one person can make a difference, we hope this episode leaves you asking the same question:What would you do?