259. Preventing Risky Behaviors with Dr. Crystal Collier
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Release Date: 07/29/2025
267. Managing Behaviors During Counseling Lessons with Gina Venancio
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout September, we are diving deep into classroom lessons. I love using them as my tier 1 interventions. While many times we are handed lessons to deliver, there are plenty of situations where you have to create everything on your own. That is why I am sharing how to schedule, plan, and teach classroom lessons. These insights come from my Stress-Free Class Lessons Course, a five-module program that equips you with tools and strategies to feel prepared and confident. In today’s episode, we are focusing on behavior...
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266. Teaching Counseling Lessons
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout September, we are diving deep into classroom lessons. I love using them as my tier 1 interventions. While many times we are given lessons to teach, there are also plenty of situations where you are expected to create everything on your own. That is why I am sharing strategies on how to schedule, plan, and teach classroom lessons. These ideas come from my Stress-Free Class Lessons Course, a five-module program designed to help you feel confident and prepared. In today’s episode, we are focusing on the teaching piece...
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265. Planning Counseling Lessons
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! All throughout September, we’re diving into classroom lessons, one of my favorite tier 1 interventions. While some schools provide ready-made lessons, there are many times you’ll need to design and plan them yourself. That’s why I’m excited to share tips on how to schedule, plan, and teach effective lessons. These strategies come straight from my Stress-Free Class Lessons Course, a five-module resource designed to help you feel confident and prepared. In today’s episode, we’re continuing the conversation by focusing...
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264. Scheduling Counseling Lessons
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout September, we’re diving deep into classroom lessons, one of my favorite Tier 1 interventions. Sometimes we’re given lesson plans, but other times we’re left to create everything from scratch. That’s why this month I’m sharing practical strategies for scheduling, planning, and teaching lessons with confidence. These tips are pulled directly from my Stress-Free Classroom Lessons course, a five-module training designed to help you feel prepared and supported when delivering class lessons. In this episode, I’ll...
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263. Unlock the Power of Data with Joyce Harduvel from Balanced Mind Therapy
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! I hope your school year is off to a wonderful start. Today I’m excited to bring you a very special guest, Joyce Harduvel. Joyce is a passionate advocate for youth and the school counselors and social workers that support them. She worked in Chicago Public Schools for seven years where she specialized in evidence-based and trauma-informed behavior intervention for students with chronic challenging behaviors. Joyce is an advocate for proactive professional self care that allows school-based professionals to build that sustainable...
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262. 4 Ways To Spruce Up Your Meet The Counselor Lesson
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! I hope your school year is off to a fantastic start. In this episode, I’m sharing four creative, hands-on ways to freshen up your Meet the Counselor lesson. I truly believe that every counselor should include a Meet the Counselor lesson at the beginning of the year. My personal favorite is a Meet the Counselor Game Show. It’s competitive, fun, and requires very little prep. Most importantly, it’s an excellent advocacy tool. It gives students clarity on who you are, what you do, and how they can access your services. But if...
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261. Dealing with School Refusal
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified! As we dive into the back-to-school season, many of us are seeing students who are struggling with separation anxiety and school refusal. In this episode, we’re talking about how you can support not only the students experiencing anxiety, but also the teachers in your building and the parents at home. We’ll cover a wide range of practical, school-based strategies that you can implement right away. From calming tools and classroom tips to talking points for caregivers, this episode will give you a full toolkit for addressing separation anxiety at...
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260. 9 Must-Have Class Lessons for Back to School Season
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! August is here, which means it’s officially back-to-school season and time to start planning your class lessons. While small groups and individual sessions are important, those referrals often trickle in later as teachers get to know their students. That’s why I love starting the school year with a strong foundation of proactive, Tier 1 class lessons. In this episode, I’m walking you through 9 of my must-have class lessons that are perfect for kicking off the year. These lessons help you see every student and establish a...
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259. Preventing Risky Behaviors with Dr. Crystal Collier
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an inspiring guest: Dr. Crystal Collier, PhD, LPC-S. Dr. Collier is a therapist, educator, and author, known for her powerful work in prevention education and brain development. She is the author of The NeuroWhereAbouts Guide and the Know Your Neuro children’s book series. The Know Your Neuro prevention model was selected for the Prevention and Education Commendation from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Dr. Collier received the Torch Bearer Award from the Texas...
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258. What counselors think about IMPACT
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
School is right around the corner, and I want to help you feel confident and prepared as you head back! I’m offering a free live training all about how to use a Meet the Counselor lesson to introduce yourself to your students and advocate for your role as a school counselor. You’ll get a free copy of my favorite lesson and a PD certificate for attending! This training is TODAY to make sure to use the link below in resources and save your seat! In today’s episode of School Counseling Simplified, I wanted to take a break from our usual content to let you hear directly from the amazing...
info_outlineWelcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an inspiring guest: Dr. Crystal Collier, PhD, LPC-S. Dr. Collier is a therapist, educator, and author, known for her powerful work in prevention education and brain development.
She is the author of The NeuroWhereAbouts Guide and the Know Your Neuro children’s book series. The Know Your Neuro prevention model was selected for the Prevention and Education Commendation from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Dr. Collier received the Torch Bearer Award from the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals, Outstanding Research Award from the Association of Alternative Peer Groups, and was voted Counselor of the Year by the Houston Counseling Association.
In this episode, Dr. Collier dives deep into:
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Risky behaviors to watch for in elementary students
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How early intervention impacts brain development
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The effects of screen time and technology on the brain
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The case for phone-free and watch-free schools
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Why it’s never too early to talk to kids about feelings, empathy, and healthy coping
She shares sobering insights, like how 50% of anxiety disorders are diagnosed by age 6, and how exposure to drugs, alcohol, and even pornography can start as early as elementary school.
But the good news? The brain can change!
We can equip kids with tools early, long before they reach their “peak” development years. The key lies in prevention, consistent brain-based education, and empowering parents and counselors with the right strategies.
Key Takeaways for School Counselors:
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Feelings education is critical: Teach students to name and express emotions to avoid avoidant coping strategies.
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Social experience matters: Lack of play and exposure can lead to higher anxiety.
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Early empathy-building can prevent bullying down the road.
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Prevention strategies must begin in early childhood and evolve as students grow.
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Teach executive functioning through brain-based praise and risk education.
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Use tools from www.knowyourneuro.org to implement evidence-based practices.
Pro tip from Dr. Collier:
Encourage parents to have six 10-minute brain conversations per year with their kids—it’s a simple but powerful way to build awareness.
Birth to age 3 is foundational—more kids are sitting with screens than moving their bodies, which affects motor skill development.
Tune in to hear how you can be part of this essential work in your school and community!
Resources Mentioned:
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More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!