In this deeply honest episode of The Language of Behavior, Joshua Stamper and Charle Peck dive into a powerful question from a first-year assistant principal: “How do I handle the emotional weight of supporting students in crisis without burning out myself?”

Drawing from their years in school leadership, therapy, and trauma-responsive practices, Charle and Josh unpack what secondary trauma really looks like in educators—and how compassion fatigue can quietly take root in even the most passionate leaders. Through personal stories and practical strategies, they explore how to care deeply without losing yourself in the process.

You’ll learn how to:

• Recognize the signs of secondary trauma before it leads to burnout
• Set boundaries that protect your mental and emotional health
• Use communication and reflective language to create team-wide support
• Integrate small, sustainable self-care habits into your daily routine
• Explore resources like Accelerated Resolution Therapy to process emotional residue

They also share the books, habits, and mindset shifts that helped them recover and lead with renewed purpose. This episode is both a reality check and a lifeline for educators who give their all every day.

Books Referenced during the episode

• Fair isn't Always Equal: https://amzn.to/47q4Tew
• Pause, Ponder, and Persist in the Classroom: https://amzn.to/4h9479j

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About Charle Peck:

Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. She holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work as a 20+ year veteran in education (K-12). As a global keynote speaker, she delivers powerful messages of hope to educators and facilitates meaningful professional development. Charle successfully equips school staff with practical tools to mitigate teacher burnout and the youth mental health crisis providing relief to schools all across the country. Her unique lens as a high school teacher turned clinical therapist specializing in trauma makes her stories relevant and captivating to educators struggling in today’s system. You can purchase her book “Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution” on Amazon and connect with her on X @CharlePeck.

Follow Charle Peck:

• Website: www.ThrivingEducator.org
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlepeckconsulting?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlepeck/
• Other: charle@thrivibgeducator.org
• Podcast: Thriving Educator
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Improving-School-Mental-Health-Community/dp/B0BTS3MN2P?crid=EIKAGWZ4V006&keywords=charle+peck&qid=1705780803&sprefix=charle+peck%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=aspirewebsite-20&linkId=6456f4f1bc2440be71d094a5d14656a4&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

About Joshua Stamper:

Joshua Stamper is the Director of Innovation for the Teach Better Team, a multifaceted role that encompasses his talents as an author, podcaster, leadership coach, and education keynote speaker. With a rich background as a middle school administrator, classroom art educator, and athletic coach, Joshua brings a wealth of experience to his work in education.

Joshua is passionate about implementing trauma-responsive techniques, exploring alternative student discipline methods, and promoting healthy leadership habits. He is deeply committed to enhancing leadership capacity through self-care practices, ensuring that educators are equipped to lead with empathy and resilience. As the author