Those hallway TikTok routines are saying something, school counselor- and it’s not what you think.

In this episode, we decode what those repeated dance loops reveal about belonging, status, and the adolescent brain.

You’ll learn how synchronized movement functions as a social signal and why these micro-performances can be early indicators of connection, pressure, or exclusion on your campus.

If you’ve ever walked past a TikTok trend at school and wondered what you’re really seeing, this episode gives you the insight you’ve been missing.

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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!

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All names, stories, and case studies in this episode are fictionalized composites drawn from real-world circumstances. Any resemblance to actual students, families, or school personnel is coincidental. Details have been altered to protect privacy.

“Rizz.” “Bet.” “Six-Seven.”

Sounds like noise... but it’s not.

In this episode of the School for School Counselors Podcast, Steph Johnson breaks down what teen slang really means, and how it maps your campus culture in ways most adults never notice. You’ll hear the neuroscience behind why slang sticks, the social psychology that makes it powerful, and how school counselors can use it to spot who’s connecting… and who’s slipping through the cracks.

If you’ve ever smiled and nodded through a phrase you didn’t understand, this one’s for you.

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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!

Some counselors never have to fight for their role- or explain their worth.

That’s not luck. It’s skill.

In this episode, you’ll learn how the most respected school counselors earn trust, keep influence, and make their programs untouchable, no “advocacy” required.

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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!

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Students refusing school isn’t new... but what’s happening now is different.

Across the country, nearly one in three students is missing ten percent or more of the school year.

And while everyone’s blaming “attendance apathy” or “bad parenting,” the truth is a lot more complicated.

In this episode, I talk about what school refusal really is- and what it’s not.
You’ll learn the four hidden drivers behind school avoidance, how to spot them, and exactly what school counselors can do (without becoming the attendance police).

We’ll also talk about the conversations no one wants to have, like what to do when it’s the parent keeping the student home, or when a student says flat-out, “I just don’t want to go.”

This isn’t another pep talk about attendance incentives.

It’s a grounded, evidence-based roadmap for helping kids come back to school- and want to stay there.

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⭐️ 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! As mentioned in the episode, use code OCTOBER 25 for a limited time.⭐️

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Where to go next, depending on what you need today...

NEW → Grab my free ​Secret Series for School Counselors​- Six short stories about what no one’s willing to say in school counseling

Listen to more of the​ School for School Counselors Podcast​- Real talk and honest insights for school counselors tired of pretending it’s all fine

​Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind​- The professional home for school counselors who love the job… and want to keep their sanity

October hits different, doesn’t it? One week you’re flying high after a student breakthrough, and the next- you’re wondering if you can even make it to Friday.

In this episode, I’m talking about the rollercoaster of school counseling: why it feels impossible to stay grounded this time of year, what’s really fueling the highs and lows, and three sanity-saving ways to keep your footing when everything around you feels like too much.

We’ll get real about the myths we’ve bought into (like thinking we’re supposed to “fix” everything or perfectly follow the ASCA model) and what it actually looks like to stay centered when the job gets heavy.

If you’ve been questioning whether you’re cut out for this work… this conversation might change how you see yourself (and the season you’re in).

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⭐️ 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! ⭐️

The radio call comes in. A student’s refusing to move, and suddenly, everyone’s looking at you to fix it.

Here’s what nobody ever told us in grad school: defiance and dysregulation can look the same from the outside, but they require completely different responses.

This episode gives you a clear, evidence-based way to figure out the difference, match the right tool to the right circumstance, and keep your cool when the pressure’s on.

References

Corrigan, F. M., Fisher, J. J., & Nutt, D. J. (2011). Autonomic dysregulation and the window of tolerance model of the effects of complex emotional trauma. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(1), 17-25.

Lebowitz, E. R., Panza, K. E., & Bloch, M. H. (2016). Family accommodation in obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders: A five-year update. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 16(1), 45-53.

Shahan, T. A. (2022). Explaining extinction and relapse. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 117(3), 360-375.

Siegel, D. J. (2012). The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

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All names, stories, and case studies in this episode are fictionalized composites drawn from real-world circumstances. Any resemblance to actual students, families, or school personnel is coincidental. Details have been altered to protect privacy.

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

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You’re not a behavior specialist. You’re not a Tier 2 team of one. And you’re definitely not the defiance whisperer.

But… if you’re stuck dealing with behavior anyway, you might as well make it worth it.

In this episode, I’ll show you how school counselors can actually win the long game with behavior intervention—without losing time, credibility, or your mind in the process.

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All names, stories, and case studies in this episode are fictionalized composites drawn from real-world circumstances. Any resemblance to actual students, families, or school personnel is coincidental. Details have been altered to protect privacy.

⭐️ 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! ⭐️

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PBIS is implemented in over 25,000 schools. Your district swears by it. But does it actually help kids- or just make the data look better?

In this candid episode of my Graded series, I'm giving PBIS the report card it deserves... and it may not be what you expect.

What you'll learn:

• The gaps in the research that nobody seems to mention
• Why equity matters, and how it isn't automatic in PBIS (with studies to prove it)
• The "invisible kids" PBIS never identifies
• Real strategies for counselors working inside PBIS systems

By the end, you’ll know what PBIS can do for your campus... and where you’ll need to step in.

⚠️ This episode challenges the status quo. If you're ready for real talk about what's really happening in PBIS schools, press play.

This episode is highly researched: email for reference citations