Reposted from 2013
When my kids were younger we would watch the Top 100 Scariest Movie Moments (now, we watch Halloween Baking Championship instead). We laughed at some of the older movies with their low-budget effects—The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes which never fails to crack us up! But there are also moments when we cover our eyes, like when The Exorcist comes on and things get truly terrifying. Inspired by the spooky season, I decided to share my own collection of scariest moments—not from horror films, but from my life as a school counselor.
Disclaimer: These are my real-life experiences as a young counselor. Some of these scenarios make me cringe as a seasoned professional, but I wanted to share my experiences to let other school counselors know that everyone has not-so-great professional moments, including yours truly!
5. Helter Skelter
Growing up in a small town where nearly everyone attended a Protestant church, I didn’t see much religious diversity. There was one Catholic church, but I never thought much of the differences. After moving to a large city suburb, I began encountering many new cultures, ethnicities, and religions that were unfamiliar to me.
One spring, I noticed several students with dark marks on their foreheads, which I honestly thought looked odd. I didn’t give it much thought until one of these students came into my office with the mark still visible. Curiosity got the best of me, and as we chatted and joked, I decided to ask the question that had been bugging me. Feeling more comfortable, I blurted, "So, why do you have a Charles Manson swastika on your forehead?"
The student’s smile vanished, and he stared at me with irritation. “It’s not a swastika,” he said, “it’s a cross for Lent.” He quickly finished what he’d come in to say and left. Horrified, I realized the depth of my mistake. I didn’t see him again for a long time, but when I did, I apologized for my ignorance.
This experience taught me the importance of educating myself about different cultural practices before making comments. Now, I try to make cultural competence a priority in my work.
Resources:
ASCA School Counselor Competencies
School Counselor and Cultural Diversity
4. Jaws
Early one school year, I was having a rough day when a former parent came in to discuss his son’s NCAA eligibility. He was a friendly man, always polite, but this time, he came alone without his wife. Since it was noisy outside my office, he asked if we could close the door. As we chatted, he noticed I seemed tired, and I confided that my son had been in the hospital and I was struggling to balance work and home.
After we discussed his son’s status, we both stood to leave, and I offered my hand to shake. But to my shock, he suddenly grabbed my shoulders, kissed me close to my mouth, and walked out. I was frozen in disbelief, wondering if I had imagined it. Since that day, I always leave my door and blinds open when meeting with someone of the opposite sex. This incident showed me how quickly an interaction could shift like a peaceful swim suddenly interrupted by a shark.
Resource:
The School Counselor and Bullying/Harassment Prevention and the Promotion of Safe Schools
3. Nightmare on Elm Street
In my second year as a counselor, I worked in a school where some students were openly involved in occult practices. One of these students—a new transfer who began visiting me regularly—shared that he was close with the occult-practicing group. As we talked, he revealed his strained family life and his gratitude for friends who accepted him. He also mentioned having increasingly vivid, disturbing dreams. Over time, his appearance deteriorated, and one day, he confessed he was losing sleep because his dreams were becoming “real.”
Curious and concerned, I asked what he was experiencing. He told me that at first, he was only an observer, but over time, he felt forced to participate in the “acts” and began to fear he was losing control. As he told me about a demon torturing him for his refusal to harm others in his dreams, he broke down in tears.
I realized I was out of my depth. After reassuring him, I referred him to our mental health clinician, hoping he’d get the support he needed.
Resource:
The School Counselor and Student Mental Health
2. Jekyll and Hyde
I’ve been lucky to work with many supportive and professional principals, but one experience taught me the importance of respectful leadership. I was helping with testing at a school of over 3,500 students, and my nerves were high. That year, the county office was visiting, and our principal seemed unusually on edge. The principal became overly involved, implementing last-minute changes, moving our testing materials to an off-site location, and placing an inexperienced staff member over us—all of which created confusion.
The breaking point came one day when we were counting calculators and realized some were missing. As we reported this, the principal suddenly threw a folding chair across the room, shattering the silence and frightening everyone. She then began yelling at one of my colleagues, reducing her to tears.
After that day, I promised myself I wouldn’t tolerate abusive leadership again. By the end of the year, I decided to move on to a school with a principal who valued and respected their staff.
Resources:
Enhancing The Principal–School Counselor Relationship: A Toolkit
3 Ways to Strengthen the Principal-Counselor Relationship
1. High School Horror
One hectic morning, a student I often counseled came in, looking stressed as usual. I picked up a phone call and told her to hold on a moment. She handed me a small gift for a friend and a note before hurrying out. Something didn’t feel right, so I opened the note—and the words “kill myself” jumped out at me. I immediately kicked off my shoes, sprinted to the front office, and saw her heading toward the main road.
I yelled to two staff members to stop her, and as she neared the highway, one of them caught her just in time. I will never forget that moment. Now, when working with students, especially those at risk, I make sure to give them my full attention and look out for any signs of self-harm.
By the way, the student was tackled by one of the administrators before she was hit by a car. Her mom sued the school for her physical injuries...go figure!
Resources:
The School Counselor and Suicide Risk Assessment
The School Counselor and Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention
These experiences have shaped me into the counselor I am today. I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned, even if they came from some terrifying and difficult moments.
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