School Counselors deal with complex situations that require a high degree of self-awareness, situational awareness, empathy, and collaboration with others. While tending to the post-pandemic aftermath of increased gaps in learning; delayed/lack of student emotional regulation; and heightened expectations to balance work-life responsibilities, to name a few, many service professionals triaged their own “wounds,” while transitioning and adapting from normal to the “new normal,” and currently the “now” normal. Compounded with the exhaustion of covering additional “duties as assigned” while continuing to provide social/emotional/academic support to students–the long-term effects show dips in work productivity, sometimes coupled with a decline in the desire to serve in the school counselor role. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a model for personal and professional development that cultivates these skills, empowering school counselors to manage a high degree of stress effectively. EI is also a way to sustain creative energy allowing school counselors to rip off the bandaid and continue to build new bridges to connect “now” challenges of the school environment to necessary resources. Attendees will walk away with the ability to navigate through murky (often anxiety-provoking) waves of emotions, assess their impact on their thoughts, and manage them through the lens of both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Practical applications and resources will be shared, when activated, can help “heal” – assisting attendees in having and maintaining better relationships with themselves and others, all while living life with joy.