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Is there a Brad in your family? Brad is a typical middle school kid who just wants to fit in. He doesn't want to stand out for looking or acting different. At his school, looking different means wearing a mask as they are no longer required. Most kids never wear a mask and certainly not Brad's buddies, but Brad has asthma, and he is more comfortable wearing a mask. He wishes his friends would wear a mask, but they don't, so Brad doesn't either. This makes him more withdrawn, quiet and a bit angr …

There’s something magical about giving power to students to resolve peer conflicts. No longer is it an adult who is steering the conversation, giving consequences, and perhaps even making judgements on a student’s decision-making ability. Instead, it’s a peer who is nonjudgmentally listening to both sides of a situation and helping to brainstorm solutions.  Peer mediation is like having good friends help two students work out a problem when they’re not getting along. …

Many people believe that autistic individuals lack empathy. This is not true. The reason this misconception never seems to get discarded may be due, in part, to its deep historical roots. Early descriptions of autism and autistic individuals, dating as far back as the 1930s, tended to emphasize the social and communication difficulties associated with the condition. This helped foster an assumption that autistic individuals lacked empathy. Even as recently as the early 2000s, research sugge …

Work-life balance. What if it’s not what we think it is? I used to think it meant schoolwork could be contained within the school day. Ideally, I would have energy and time left over to do non-school-related activities in the evenings and on the weekends. But, using this definition, I still haven’t reached a work-life balance. Schoolwork often spills out of my school day and into other parts of my life.    Fortunately, I have great news! I found a new definition. Accor …

The Success Nebulous  I am always fascinated by the different ways families define and measure success. Just like the words bat and well, success can carry multiple meanings. For some, it might mean achieving Honor Roll status after months of evening homework and study sessions. For others, it could mean earning a spot on the All-Star team. Some may deem the preservation of Family Game Nights as a major success, while others may simply feel that remembering to grab breakfast before rus …

Most of us can remember feeling dread in the moments before taking a test, and the fears, self-doubts, and what ifs that flourish in those moments: What if I get stuck on a question? What if I don’t know the answer? What if I freeze and forget everything? Today’s students have the same fears and doubts. But they also experience those emotions more frequently and sometimes more intensely. Why? Because in addition to their classroom tests, there has been a steady rise in the nu …

When it comes to any type of counseling, the strength of the therapeutic relationship is the number one factor that contributes to positive counseling outcomes. Without establishing rapport and a solid working alliance with students, no intervention will ever really amount to much. Relationship-building is truly the bedrock of the school counseling profession. As we embark on 2025, here’s a handy little acrostic (KEEPERS) comprised of seven tips to help school counselors build stronger re …

“In order to get a friend, you have to be a friend. Be ready to be a friend.” This insightful quote from Maya Angelou highlights a valuable truism: The first step to having meaningful and rewarding friendships requires becoming a good friend and being friendly to others. With that in mind, what are the best strategies and tips we can share with our kids to help them be a better friend and enjoy healthier friendships? Here are several that can make a real difference: Use active list …

The week before Christmas, my husband and I filled up our travel mugs with coffee and ventured forth into the dark of night. The classic holiday tunes on the radio, with a little help from our car’s heater, kept us warm as we made our annual trek around town to view all the holiday décor. We were armed with our official 2024 Scavenger Hunt checklist. The list included items we look forward to every year. The old favorites that keep us grounded, but with a hoped-for surprise or two. Some items …

“I’ll start my diet on Monday. I’ll start my diet this summer. I’ll start my diet in 2025…” Sound familiar? The start of a new year is always buzzing with excitement, full of promises of new beginnings. It's that time when we give ourselves permission to start fresh, set big goals, and dive into resolutions with a “clean slate.” We tell ourselves this will finally be the year we check off all those things we’ve been putting off: reading that book, organizing the garage, clearing out the junk …