My Words – my blog

As the weekend draws to a close, many of us, especially children, experience a sense of unease and anxiety that often accompanies the impending return to school. Commonly known as the "Sunday night blues," this phenomenon can negatively impact a child's mental...

It’s summertime here in the Northern Hemisphere and for educators, this is the perfect time to focus on self-care. If you’re like me, however, you make plans, set goals, and about halfway through the summer you notice that you haven’t even started your self-care...

This is Part 3 of a 3-part series. In the previous part of this series, I shared how school counselors can use Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to support students with academic struggles, including homework completion, focus and concentration, and test stress. In...

This is Part 2 of a 3-part series. In the last part of this series, I shared how school counselors can use Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to support students with emotional regulation, introducing stealth tapping, and building resilience. In this part of the...

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series. As a school counselor, regardless of which age you work with, you know that a significant part of your job is to help your students navigate challenges they face and equip them with tools they need to succeed. As a former school...

About 8 years ago, I thought I had a solid self-care routine. I was careful about what I ate, avoiding sugar and processed foods. I was exercising more than I ever had in my life, training for sprint triathlons 6 days per week, pushing my body beyond what I thought I...

Have you ever had a student who verbally beats himself up? How about the student who has a hopeless or pessimistic view of self? Or the student who lacks the ability to hold their focus in class? These are all examples of a potential trauma response. Trauma When most...

Take a quick peek at social media on a Sunday evening and you are bound to come across an education-related meme referencing the “Sunday Night Blues”. You may have even posted one yourself. You’re familiar with that sinking feeling; the one that comes over you when...

Have you ever found yourself lying awake at night, tossing and turning because something happened during your day at school that still really bothers you? Your worries have taken over. You replay the situation over and over again in your head. Your emotions become...

The beginning of the school year can bring a variety of different emotions, especially if you are an educator. As a School Counselor, I felt eager and excited to bring the students into school and help them open their locker, read their schedule, find their way, get...

As a School Counselor with 25 years of experience, I tried every trick in the book to help my students cope with their emotional struggles and have used those same strategies for myself: deep breathing, meditation, visualization, reframing, positive thinking, etc. I...

Throughout my 25 year career as a School Counselor, I saw a significant increase in the level of anxiety from the time I started, but particularly since the onset of Covid. When students came to my office for help, they were emotionally dysregulated. They were...