Where To Find Hope - A Message From a California School Counselor

At the 2024 California Association of School Counselors conference, one of the main topics was how to create real, positive change in schools. Students are asking themselves if things will ever get better, or if school is just about surviving stress and disappointment. This mindset affects not just their academic performance but also their motivation and mental health.

During our interview at the conference, school counselor Cher Kretz pointed out that a shift in how we talk with students can make a meaningful difference. Instead of focusing only on what’s going wrong, she and others recommend asking students about what’s working, even if it’s something small. For example, a question like “What helped you get through yesterday?” can help students recognize their own strengths and see that improvement is possible. This approach, which is rooted in solution-focused counseling, is being used more widely to help students build hope and resilience.

Many students don’t have an adult they feel comfortable turning to, so even small gestures from teachers or counselors, like checking in, listening, or offering encouragement, can have a big impact. Cher also emphasized that sometimes, a short conversation where a student feels heard is enough to help them feel less alone and more supported.

The pressures students face outside of school, such as social media, family stress, and uncertainty about the future, were also part of the conversation. Schools are starting to respond by offering more mental health resources, providing quiet spaces for students to take a break, and making it easier to ask for help without embarrassment. Flexibility and understanding are becoming more important as schools recognize the challenges students bring each day.

The overall message from the conference was that turning schools around doesn’t require dramatic, sweeping changes. Instead, it’s about small, consistent efforts: focusing on hope, building relationships, and celebrating small wins. When students believe things can improve and know someone at school cares about them, they’re more likely to stay engaged and succeed.

For practical strategies and real-life examples, Cher Kretz shares advice and stories on her podcast, The Focused Mindset, and at TheFocusedMindset.com. You'll also benefit from her inspirational TEDx Talk and more.

Where To Find Hope - A Message From a California School Counselor

Transcript:

"Why is it that they say depression is on the rise?

I honestly feel that it’s the level of hopelessness that has attacked our psyche, attacked our mind. People are wondering, “Is it ever going to get any better than this? Is everybody always going to be in conflict? Am I ever going to be able to thrive?” These questions are rolling through people’s minds like never before.

People are starting to realize that the answer isn’t just another self-help book. It’s about people really taking the time to care about their mindset and care about their mental health.

School counselors in particular sit in front of a lot of people who might never get a chance to talk to a mental health professional. This may be the one chance in their entire life that they get to sit in front of somebody who’s educated and can help them work through hard issues like that.

We want to help people find hope. We know that’s the key to them being successful. All the research shows that our level of hope is directly related to how successful we will be. It’s more reliable than any standardized test out there.

So it makes sense to put our energy into the place that’s going to make the biggest difference—our mindset, how we view things. We can look at things with hope. Even with the most unknown future, we can find a way to move on because one person believes in us, because we have the skills that are going to make a difference."