School Psych Podcast: Parenting Tips and Teacher Strategies for Supporting Diverse Learners

Send a text Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns in children, teens, and adults - and is one of the most misunderstood. In this deep dive episode, I walk you through what anxiety actually is (from both a clinical and practical lens), how it shows up in real life, and where to begin if you or your child are struggling. Whether you're a parent, an educator, or someone navigating anxiety personally, this replay episode will help you understand what's happening in the brain and body - and what actually helps. 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! Support the show

Send a text This episode is a follow-up to the "Fall Start-Up" episode (#82). If you are a licensed educational psychologists (LEP), school psych, or school clinician, you're going to want to listen to this one. Winter is not coming... winter is HERE, and we are officially halfway through the school year. It's time to take stock of our to-do list for the school year, and how much we've been able (or not) to achieve so far. The point of this is not just to celebrate how far we've come but also to re-evaluate our priorities for the rest of the school year and what we realistically have time for. 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! Support the show

Send a text This episode is a message for the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Colombia, who have recently experienced a tragedy at their secondary school. To the people of Tumbler Ridge, the hearts of Canadians and people all over the world are with you. We are so deeply sorry for your loss. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover on the podcast, 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! Support the show

Send a text Join me as I sit down with school psychologist (with over 20 years of experience) David Krasky, to talk through some of the common parenting struggles we've all been through or are about to go through! This episode is for parents and caregivers who are interested in some tips and "perspective" (i.e., hard truth) for how we foster independence in our kids. This journey of "Raising Future Adults" is not for the faint of heart, and that's why Dave wrote a book about it (see below for the link). In this episode, we explore: - Why being an educator or parent nowadays might feel harder - How chronic stress impacts the body - Small, realistic ways to support your nervous system - Why regulation is collective - not something you're meant to do alone To learn more about David Krasky, visit the website: ABOUT ME | Raising Future Adult His book, "Raising Future Adults," is available here: Raising Future Adults 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! Support the show

Send us a text This conversation isn't about fixing kids, improving outcomes, or adding a bunch of new strategies to your plate. It's about what happens to our nervous systems when the environment feels unsettled - and why feeling irritable, exhausted, or checked out is not a personal or professional failure. We explore: - Why being an educator or parent nowadays might feel harder - How chronic stress impacts the body - Small, realistic ways to support your nervous system - Why regulation is collective - not something you're meant to do alone This episode is for educators, school staff, and caregivers who feel stretched thin and are wondering why it's feeling harder to access patience, problem-solving, and energy. I hope this episode helps you feel a little more seen, validated, and human. 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! Support the show

Send us a text One of the most common and emotionally loaded questions parents ask after a diagnosis is whether to tell their child. In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are weighing the benefits and risks of sharing diagnostic information with their child. We explore why there isn't a single "right" answer, but also how factors like age, understanding, and context matter. I'll also cover what parents are often really worried about when they ask this question. Rather than offering a script or a rule, this episode helps parents think through the purpose of sharing, the values guiding their decision, and how diagnosis can be framed in ways that support identity rather than limit it. If you're feeling unsure, conflicted, or afraid of saying the wrong thing, this conversation is meant to help you think clearly and compassionately about next steps. 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! Support the show

Send us a text Many parents are surprised by how heavy things can feel after a diagnosis - sometimes heavier than before. Even when the diagnosis brings clarity or relief, it can also come with grief, worry, or a sense that everything suddenly feels more complicated. In this episode, I'm speaking to parents who expected things to feel easier by now and are wondering why that hasn't happened yet. We talk about why this reaction is so common, how diagnosis changes what parents notice and why increased awareness can temporarily make things feel harder. This episode is not about pushing through or staying positive. It's about understanding what's happening beneath the surface and why this phase is often a meaningful - if uncomfortable - part of the adjustment process. 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! Support the show

Send us a text After a new diagnosis, many parents feels pressure to start making changes everywhere - at home, at school, and in between. But trying to do everything at once often leads to more overwhelm, not more support. In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are wondering where to begin. We explore a helpful question - where is my child working hardest right now? - and why the answer isn't always a s straightforward as it seems. .If you're unsure where to put your energy, this episode offers a way to think clearly and compassionately about what you and your child need most right now. 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! Support the show

Send us a text January has a way of making everything feel urgent - especially if your child has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, a learning difference, or another form of neurodivergence. In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are in teh early days after a diagnosis and feeling pressure to have a plan, make changes, or "get it right" as the new year begins. If you're feeling overhwlemed, behind, or unsure about where to start, this conversation 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 share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text In this New Year's episode, I share a few of my own New Year's resolutions - not as goals to strive for, but as intentions grounded in care, sustainability, and realism. I also reflect on my hopes and wishes for parents and educators as we move into a new year together: wishes for gentler expectations, more compassion for ourselves and one another, and systems that better support the humans within them. This episode isn't about productivity, perfection, or "doing more." It's about naming what matters, letting go of what doesn't, and entering the year with curiosity, clarity, and care - for ourselves and for the children and learners we support. Whether you're feeling energized by the new year or already a little weary, this conversation offers a grounded place to pause and reset. 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! Support the show

Send us a text In this episode, I share a more personal reflection about how I began to recognize the early signs of burnout in my own life - and the small but meaningful shifts I'm making to climb out of it. As caregivers and educators, we're often skilled at noticing stress in others while minimizing it in ourselves. This episode explores what burnout can look like before it reaches a breaking point, how our values and roles can quietly push us past our limits, and why recovery isn't always about dramatic change. I talk candidly about what helped me pause, reassess, and begin to rebuild in a way that feels sustainable and compassionate - not perfect. If you're feeling stretched thin, questioning your capacity, or wondering whether what you're experiencing "counts" as burnout, this conversation is an invitation to slow down and reflect, rather than push through. 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! Support the show

Send us a text 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. 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! Support the show

Send us a text 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! Support the show

Send us a text 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! Support the show

Send us a text 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! Support the show

Send us a text 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 Support the show

Send us a text 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. 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! Support the show

Send us a text 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! Support the show

Send us a text 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! Support the show

Send us a text 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. In this episode I discuss why suicide intervention is important, as well as the idea that you are not expected to do this alone. Lastly, I teach about the first, most crucial step of suicide intervention, which is: Asking the person directly, "Are you thinking about suicide?" If you want to move from asking the question to helping a person share their story and turn towards hope and life, please listen to part 2 (episode #65). 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! Support the show