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Self-care is often talked about as something we do - but rarely as something we define ourselves. In this replay episode, I invite parents, caregivers, and all educators to pause and consider what self-care truly means in the context of caring for others. By asking a series of gentle, thought-provoking questions, this episode encourages you to reflect on your needs, your values, and what actually helps you feel resourced and grounded.

Whether you're caring for children at home, in the classroom, or in both spaces, this episode offers space to think differently about self-care - and to consider what support might look like for you.

If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description.

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Welcome to the world of Social Thinking by Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke! In this episode, I tell you about Social Thinking, and introduce you to some key terms used in Social Thinking resources, such as the book "You Are A Social Detective!" I love using this resource in collaboration with classroom teachers, but I've heard of it being used in homeschool settings, small groups, private practices, or just parents reading it to their kids at home. This episode is not sponsored - I am simply sharing a resource I find to be helpful in supporting both neurodivergent AND neurotypical kids to develop socially.

To visit the Social Thinking website to learn even more , click here: https://www.socialthinking.com/

If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description.

If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you!

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Although this episode would be beneficial to parents, teachers, school clinicians, educational consultants, etc... it's really one of those topics that's relevant for anyone who is a human living on planet Earth. Our heart-work (hard work!) in better understanding how to promote equity, inclusion and anti-racism in the systems we work in is never done. In this episode I list 4 resources that are great starting points in this journey, and I dive deeper into explaining one of them (i.e., The Wheel of Privilege and Power). This resource is an excellent way to understand intersectionality and how everyone's life experiences are going to provide differing amounts of earned and unearned power and privilege.

Resources discussed in this episode:

1. The book "The Skin We're In," by Desmond Cole

2. The book "White Fragility," by Robin DiAngelo

3. The book "Me and White Supremacy," by Laayla F. Saad

4. The Wheel of Privilege and Power

If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description.

If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you!

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If you are a parent, teacher, educational assistant, principal, or school clinician, you need to hear this. I recorded this episode to encourage us all to reflect on which of our basic needs we have been neglecting lately. Sleep? Nutrition? Moving our body? Connection/belonging? That last one IS a basic human need - there are historical psych studies confirming this. It's time for us to return to prioritizing ourselves - we're worth it!

If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description.

If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend (or 5!), or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you!

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Trends in psych assessment are constantly evolving, depending on research findings, level of experience, or the context in which a psychologist works. In this episode I cover the (current) trends in assessing for ADHD as a school psychologist. If you are a parent, teacher, school psychologist, administrator, or generally interested in how psychologists assess for ADHD, this episode is for you!

If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description.

If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please consider sharing it with a friend or colleague!

Thanks!

Sincerely, Ivanna

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You may have heard of a "helicopter parent" or a "lighthouse parent," but have you ever heard of a "Curling Parent"? This episode is all about reflections on my parenting, after attending a professional development event on anxiety and resilience, with psychologist Dr. Caroline Buzanko.

To listen to Dr. Buzanko's podcast, visit:

https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/#anxietypodcast

If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description.

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This episode is all about using the acronym RIOT to reduce overwhelm when you are getting started on a new psych assessment. I'll share with you why after 10 years, I'm still using this acronym to ground me in my assessment practice. It will be helpful for you if you are a school psychologist or another school clinician who completes assessments and writes assessment reports.

If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description.

If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please rate or review it, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you!

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Trigger Warning: The topic of suicide is discussed in this episode. Please decide for yourself whether or not you have the emotional capacity to listen at this time. If you skip it for now but feel differently later, you can always come back to it. The most important thing is that you prioritize your own mental health.

This episode is part 2 of 2. If you haven't yet, please go back and listen to part 1. In this episode I discuss how to move from asking directly about a person's thoughts of suicide, to hearing their story and asking for details about strengths and support people in their life. The goal of this is to let the person unload, but also to find a moment to help them reach for life. Because then you will ask them to agree to help keep themselves safe for now. Lastly we talk about how to make a safety plan, and how to support hope for the future.

Please share this episode with your family or friends, whether they work in schools or not! So we can help people feel more prepared to potentially save someone's life.

***GETTING HELP***: If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call or text the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8, or visit 988.ca

If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description.

If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please rate or review it, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you!

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