School Counselor Blog

I am heading to the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association Conference next week. I will be presenting about one of my favorite initiatives at school - 12 Days of Self-Care - during my session "Promote Self-Care to Your School Community. Below I will share about the 12 Days of Self-Care and how you can host it at your school! I provide everything you need below! 12 Days of Self-Care & Self-Care Selfies The days leading up to winter break can be stressful! To help students and staff cope with the stress of the season, the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) team at my school hosts a daily self-care challenge for the 12 days leading up to winter break. Each day, students and staff can take a selfie featuring them doing the daily self-care prompt. Students and staff who submit a self-care selfie, will be entered in the weekly prize drawing.  Find some examples of prizes here:  12 Days of Self-Care Prizes .   This year the challenge starts on Monday, Dec...

I have been hosting Children's Grief Awareness Day at school ever since I was an intern and I am shocked to find that I have not written about it on this blog since 2009! Below I will share what I am doing this year for Children's Grief Awareness and share some pictures of what I have done in the past. I also share lots of resources you can access for free to plan Children's Grief Awareness events at your school! This year we will host events and activities leading up to Children's Grief Awareness Day, Thursday, November 20th. The purpose of Children's Grief Awareness Day is to show support to students and members of our school community who may be experiencing grief and loss.  The holiday season can be a particularly difficult time for students, families, and staff who are grieving. Student members of our #bethekindkid group will assist with creating displays and facilitating the events this week.  View this video from The Highmark Caring Place to learn more about...

I’m so excited to present “Promote Self-Care to Your School Community” at the 2025 Pennsylvania School Counselors Association Conference!  🗓 December 4, 2025 | 3:50 PM 📍 The Penn Stater Hotel & Convention Center, State College, PA ➡️ Register now: https://ncyionline.org/conferences/pascac/    💬 Session Description: Self-care goes beyond bubble baths and spa days. It involves proactive, intentional practices that support physical, emotional, and mental well-being. For students, promoting self-care helps students manage stress, build healthy habits, and develop positive relationships. For educators, it can reduce burnout, boost productivity, and support a positive school culture. Discover creative ways to promote self-care through standalone programs and integrate self-care into existing programs. I can’t wait to connect with school counselors, counselor educators, and graduate students at #PSCA25! 💙✨  Want me to bring this session to your school or organizati...