Electrify your educators and parents with an award-winning
SPEAKER
Allison Edwards delivers strategically developed topics that empower educators, counselors and parents with the tools they need to support kids. Her sessions blend brain science with practical strategies that can be implemented immediately. Each engagement with Allison is a pivotal step to cultivating a culture of empowerment within homes and schools.
Allison is available for both in-person and virtual events.
Allison makes it easy for you.
1
SELECT A TOPIC
Choose from the topics below, designed to transform your role as an educator and parent.
2
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE
Contact Allison to customize your chosen topic, add additional topics, or choose a plan based that will fit your unique goals and audience.
3
UTILIZE THE BOOK DISCOUNT
Use the 25% discount to purchase corresponding books as a reference to enhance learning.
TOPIC 1
Growing up Strong: Empowering Young Minds to Manage Emotions, Navigate Conflict and Embrace Growth
Grounded in neuroscience and real-life experience, this training focuses on what children need—not just in the moment, but over time—to build lasting resilience. Participants will be introduced to the five core feelings children need to learn to manage before age 18, along with best practices to help them develop emotional strength, confidence, and the ability to navigate life’s challenges.
Through relatable stories, brain research, and immediately usable strategies, Allison teaches adults how to guide children through discomfort rather than remove it—helping them build the “emotional muscles” necessary for long-term growth. This session blends emotional literacy, regulation, and practical skill-building into a framework that can be used at school and at home.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Help children do hard tasks and persist through discomfort
Understand the five key feelings children must learn to manage before adulthood
Teach practical strategies for managing frustration, anxiety, and overwhelm
Guide children through conflict in ways that build independence and problem-solving
Support children in setting goals and following through with confidence
Foster resilience by turning everyday challenges into growth opportunities
TOPIC 2
Flooded: A Brain-Based Guide to Help Children Manage Emotions - Counselor Training
School counselors are often the first line of support when students feel overwhelmed—but many are left navigating big emotions in short sessions with limited tools. This training is designed specifically for counselors who want a clear, practical, and brain-based approach to helping students regulate emotions, build coping skills, and return to learning ready.
Grounded in neuroscience and real-life counseling experience, this session brings your Flooded framework to life—helping counselors understand what’s happening in a child’s brain during emotional overwhelm and how to respond in ways that create safety, connection, and lasting change.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Identify when a student is “flooded” and unable to access logical thinking
Understand the brain-body response to stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm
Use simple, effective strategies to help students regulate in the moment
Teach coping tools that are portable, repeatable, and student-friendly
Build trust quickly and create a safe, predictable counseling space
Move beyond surface-level solutions to support deeper emotional skill-building
This training empowers counselors to work with the brain, not against it—so students don’t just feel better in the moment, but learn how to manage emotions for life.
TOPIC 3
The Flooded School Model: All Staff Training
Today’s students are navigating a world that often overwhelms their developing brains—academically, socially, and emotionally. When students become “flooded,” their ability to think clearly, communicate effectively, and make positive choices is significantly reduced. This training equips all school staff—not just counselors—with a shared, brain-based understanding of what happens when students are emotionally overwhelmed and how to respond in ways that support regulation, connection, and learning.
Grounded in neuroscience and real-world school experience, this session introduces The Flooded School Model, a practical, school-wide framework that helps educators recognize signs of dysregulation, respond with confidence, and create environments where students feel safe, seen, and supported. Participants will learn how to shift from reactive discipline to intentional regulation strategies that reduce disruptions and increase student engagement.
Through relatable examples, simple language, and ready-to-use tools, staff will leave with strategies they can implement immediately—in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and beyond.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Recognize the difference between a “flooded brain” and a regulated brain
Understand how stress and emotions impact behavior and learning
Respond to students in ways that de-escalate rather than intensify situations
Use consistent, school-wide language to support emotional regulation
Create a culture where every adult contributes to student emotional safety
School counselors are expected to make a meaningful impact in minutes—not hours. Between packed schedules, constant interruptions, and high student needs, the reality of school counseling often looks very different from what was taught in graduate programs. This highly practical session bridges that gap.
Designed specifically for school counselors, this training offers real-world, time-efficient strategies that work within the constraints of a typical school day. Grounded in experience and brain-based principles, participants will learn how to make the most of short counseling sessions—without sacrificing depth, connection, or effectiveness.
This session focuses on what actually works in schools: how to quickly build trust, identify core issues, teach usable coping strategies, and help students leave your office better equipped than when they walked in.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Maximize impact in 15-minute (or shorter) counseling sessions
Quickly assess student needs and prioritize what matters most
Build rapport and trust in limited time
Use simple, effective interventions students can understand and apply immediately
Teach coping strategies that are portable and repeatable beyond the counseling office
Stay focused, structured, and intentional—even in high-demand environments
TOPIC 4
15-Minute Counseling Techniques that Work: What You Didn’t Learn in Grad School
TOPIC 5
Why Smart Kids Worry
Some of the brightest, most capable kids are also the ones who struggle the most with worry. They think deeply, notice everything, and often imagine worst-case scenarios before anyone else even sees a problem. This insightful and practical session helps parents, educators, and counselors understand why smart kids are more prone to anxiety—and what to do about it.
Based on Allison’s book Why Smart Kids Worry, this training unpacks the connection between intelligence and anxiety in a way that is both validating and actionable. Rather than trying to eliminate worry, participants will learn how to help children understand their thoughts, manage their emotions, and build confidence in their ability to handle uncertainty.
Through brain-based research, relatable examples, and real-life strategies, this session provides a clear roadmap for supporting anxious children in a way that empowers—not overwhelms—them.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Understand why intelligent, perceptive kids are more vulnerable to anxiety
Recognize the thought patterns that fuel worry and overthinking
Help children separate thoughts from reality and challenge unhelpful thinking
Teach practical tools to calm the mind and regulate the body
Support children in facing fears rather than avoiding them
Build confidence, resilience, and emotional flexibility over time
TOPIC 6
Play Therapy in Schools: Bringing Healing Tools into Your Sessions
Children don’t always have the words to express what they’re feeling—but they do have the ability to show us through play. In the school setting, where time is limited and student needs are high, play therapy offers powerful, efficient ways to help children process emotions, build coping skills, and feel understood.
This practical, hands-on training is designed specifically for school counselors who want to integrate play therapy techniques into the reality of a busy school day. Drawing from Allison’s experience as a Registered Play Therapist, and her years of using play-based strategies in school settings, this session moves beyond theory and into real application—offering tools that work within the constraints counselors actually face.
Participants will learn how to use simple, accessible materials to help students express what they cannot yet say, regulate their emotions, and begin to make sense of their inner world. These are not elaborate setups—they are intentional, effective strategies designed for real school environments.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Understand why play is a child’s natural language for processing emotions
Use play-based techniques to quickly build rapport and trust
Help students express difficult feelings without relying solely on words
Incorporate play therapy tools into 15-minute sessions and brief interactions
Support emotional regulation through structured and unstructured play
Confidently use simple materials (games, drawing, storytelling, sensory tools) with clear therapeutic purpose
TOPIC 7
Approaching Anxiety: How and When Educators should Intervene
Anxiety is one of the most common challenges students face today—yet many educators are left wondering: Is this typical worry, or something more? Should I step in, or give space? This practical and empowering session helps educators confidently recognize, respond to, and support students experiencing anxiety within the school setting.
Grounded in brain-based research and real classroom experience, this training provides a clear framework for understanding how anxiety shows up in students—academically, socially, and behaviorally—and how to respond in ways that support regulation without unintentionally reinforcing avoidance.
Participants will learn how to strike the balance between support and skill-building, ensuring students feel safe while also helping them develop the tools needed to manage anxiety independently.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Identify signs of anxiety across developmental levels and school environments
Distinguish between typical stress and anxiety that requires intervention
Understand when to step in—and when to step back
Respond to anxious behaviors in ways that reduce escalation and build coping skills
Avoid common pitfalls that unintentionally reinforce anxiety
Collaborate effectively with school counselors and families to support students
TOPIC 8
Helping Students with Trauma and Emotional Dysregulation
Many students walk into school carrying more than backpacks—they carry experiences that impact how they think, feel, and respond to the world around them. Trauma and chronic stress can leave students easily overwhelmed, reactive, or shut down, often showing up as behaviors that are misunderstood or misinterpreted. This powerful and practical session helps educators, counselors, and school staff understand what’s really happening beneath the surface—and how to respond in ways that support healing and regulation.
Grounded in brain-based research and real-world school experience, this training explores how trauma affects the developing brain and nervous system, often leading to emotional dysregulation. Participants will learn how to recognize trauma responses and shift from managing behavior to supporting the underlying emotional need.
Through clear explanations, case examples, and immediately applicable strategies, this session equips adults to create environments where students feel safe, supported, and capable of re-engaging in learning.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Understand how trauma impacts brain development, behavior, and emotional regulation
Recognize signs of emotional dysregulation across age groups
Respond to students in ways that de-escalate and restore a sense of safety
Use simple, effective strategies to help students regulate in the moment
Build trusting relationships that support long-term healing and growth
Create predictable, supportive environments that reduce triggers and increase stability
TOPIC 9
Helping the Helper: Self-Care for Counselors
Helping the Helper: Self-Care for Counselors
School counselors spend their days supporting others—holding space for students’ emotions, navigating crises, and managing constant demands. But in the process, their own needs are often pushed aside. This meaningful and practical session is designed to help counselors recognize the cost of continually giving to others and learn how to care for themselves in sustainable, realistic ways.
Grounded in real-world school experience and an understanding of the emotional weight counselors carry, this training goes beyond surface-level self-care. It addresses burnout, compassion fatigue, and the internal pressure to “be everything for everyone,” offering a more honest and effective approach to maintaining well-being in a high-demand role.
Participants will learn how to set boundaries, protect their energy, and build habits that support both personal and professional longevity—without guilt.
In this training, participants will learn to:
Recognize signs of burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional overload
Understand why traditional self-care advice often falls short for counselors
Set clear, healthy boundaries within the school environment
Develop realistic self-care practices that fit into a busy schedule
Shift mindset from over-functioning to sustainable helping
Reconnect with purpose, passion, and the impact of their work
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 14, 2026
EGI School, Carcavelos, Portugal
February 6, 2026
Wisconsin School Counselor Conference Wisconsin Dells, WI
February 13, 2026
Clint ISD - Virtual Event
March 18-21, 2026
Region 17 School District
Lubbock, TX
June 23, 2026
Allison will present Anxiety and Play Therapy as a parent event. This presentation will help parents learn how play therapy works and why it is so effective in helping children communicate their experiences and emotions. Parents will also learn how anxiety presents in young children and useful tools to ease anxiety and help children build emotional resilience by doing hard things.
International School Counselor Conference Prague, Czech Republic
Allison will serve as the opening keynote speaker at the Wisconsin School Counselor Association (WSCA) annual National School Counseling Week Breakfast.
Allison will present on Building Resilience in Students. Based on Allison’s new book, Growing up Strong, this presentation will teach school counselors how to help kids do hard tasks, accomplish goals and become more independent. She will share the 5 feelings kids need to manage before 18 and best practices to help kids build resilience and grow emotional muscles. Using real-life examples, brain research and practical strategies, Allison will teach counselors how to lead kids down the path of becoming resilient, capable and emotionally aware.
Allison is a repeat presenter to this district. At this virtual event, Allison will present 3 break-out sessions to school counselors:
Growing up Strong: Empowering Young Minds to Manage Emotions, Navigate Conflict and Embrace Growth teaches counselors valuable strategies to help empower kids to do hard things. This practical keynote not only leaves counselors with inspiration but practical strategies they can implement immediately.
15-Minute Counseling Techniques that Work: What you Didn’t Learn in Grad School offers a hands-on experience for counselors to learn powerful strategies to use in counseling sessions with kids in the school setting. Based on her best-selling book, Allison will take participants on a deep dive of the strategies and how to implement them with student populations K-12
Why Smart Kids Worry. Based on her best-selling book, Allison teaches participants how bright kids think and why they struggle with anxiety and emotional regulation. In this presentation, Allison teaches counselors practical tools to help kids navigate these fears. This presentation simplifies anxiety, empowers adults and relieves fears that kids won’t be able to overcome anxiety. A fresh approach that has helped tens of thousands understand anxious children.
Allison will serve as a keynote speaker and lead a half-day pre-conference session at International School Counselor Association (ISCA) Annual Conference in Prague, Czech Republic.
The keynote presentation, Growing up Strong: Empowering Young Minds to Manage Emotions, Navigate Conflict and Embrace Growth teaches counselors valuable strategies to help empower kids to do hard things. This practical keynote not only leaves counselors with inspiration but practical strategies they can implement immediately.
The half-day workshop, 15-Minute Counseling Techniques that Work: What you Didn’t Learn in Grad School offers a hands-on experience for counselors to learn powerful strategies to use in counseling sessions with kids in the school setting. Based on her best-selling book, Allison will take participants on a deep dive of the strategies and how to implement them with student populations K-12.
This is Allison’s second straight appearance at this district-wide event. Allison will present a full-day workshop to counselors, educators and support staff.
The first half of the day, Allison will present Flooded: A Brain-Based Guide to Help Children Manage Emotions. Based on her best-selling book, Allison explains how educators, counselors and support staff can help children regulate emotions. Filled with techniques, real-life examples, and practical suggestions for setting up spaces to support emotional regulation, Allison will help participants identify flooded children and help them reset. In this program, participants will not only learn how to help children reset their brains but also how to reset their own brains when triggered by dysregulated children.
The second half of the day, Allison will present Approaching Anxiety: How and When Educators Can Intervene. Anxiety is the #1 mental health disorder in the country and affects nearly 30% of students. Each day students walk into classrooms with upset stomachs, sweaty palms and minds spinning with fear-based thoughts. Learn how to recognize anxiety in children, how to support anxiety in neurologically diverse classrooms, and how to talk to parents about student anxiety. Educators will leave the session with confidence to identify issues to address inside the classroom and how to work with outside professionals to help anxious children begin to thrive.
Client List
Aubudon Head Start | Owensboro, KY
Alamance-Burlington Schools | Burlington, NC Massachusetts School Counselor Conference | Newton, MA
Autism Summer Institute | University of South Florida Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools | Nashville, TN
Baldwin County Public Schools | Daphne, AL MIT Learning and Brain Conference | Boston, MA
Clarke County Schools | Athens, GA Muscogee County Schools | Columbus, GA
Clint Independent School District | El Paso, TX Nebraska Mental Health Summit | Kearney, NE
Cobb County Schools | Atlanta, GA New Jersey School Counselor Conference | Edison, NJ
Collierville Public Schools | Shelby County, TN North Carolina School Counselor Conference |
Collinsville High School | Collinsville, IL Northbridge Academy | Marin, CA
Connecticut School Counselor Conference | Uncasville, CT Okaloosa County Schools | Destin, FL
Currey Ingram Academy - Brentwood, TN Pace Academy | Atlanta, GA
Dallas Independent School District | Dallas, TX Palmetto State School Counselor Conference | Myrtle Beach, SC
Daviess County Public Schools | Owensboro, KY The Rhodes School | San Diego, CA
Duncanville Independent School District | Dallas, TX Stanly County Schools | Albermarle, NC
Eastern Ohio Gifted Conference | Canfield, OH Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) Conference | San Jose, CA
Education Service Center Region 7 | San Augustine, TX Temple Sinai | Atlanta, GA
Education Service Center Region 8 | Pittsburg, TX Tennessee Administrator Leadership Institute, Murfreesboro, TN
Education Service Center Region 13 | Austin, TX Texas Association for the Gifted Conference | Fort Worth, TX
Education Service Center Region 14 | Abilene, TX Vanderbilt Parent Series | Nashville, TN
Education Service Center Region 17 | Lubbock, TX Vanderbilt Speech and Language Conference | Nashville, TN
Education Service Center Region 19 | El Paso, TX Virginia School Counselor Conference | Hampton, VA
Ensworth School, Nashville, TN Wake County Parent Series | Raleigh, NC
Fayette County Schools | Lexington, KY Warren County Public Schools | Bowling Green, KY
Grand Prairie Independent School District | Grand Prairie, TX The Watson Institute | Sewickley, PA
Hamilton Southeastern Schools | Fishers, IN Williamson County Schools | Franklin, TN
Harding Academy | Nashville, TN Wilson County Schools | Lebanon, TN
Indiana School Counselor Conference | Indianapolis, IN Winnebago Public Schools | Winnebago, NE
School Counselor Conference | Itasca, IL
Irving Independent School District | Dallas, TX
Kentucky School Counselor Conference | Lexington, KY
Kings College School | Cascais, Portugal
Lone Star State School Counselor Conference | Frisco, TX
Maury County Schools | Columbia, TN
“You were amazing and such an easy to follow speaker. You spoke with poise and wisdom and with authenticity. That is hard to find these days and I truly appreciate your boldness to keep it real for us.”
“THE PROGRAM WAS A SLAM DUNK!
Allison was terrific, and really seemed to reach our audience’s concerns. I have heard nothing but glowing comments.”
“Our counselors love your practical strategies they can implement immediately. ”
