Mental Health, Queer Visibility, and Professional Risk in Education | Ep. 193 (with Dr. Clark Ausloos)

In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) is joined by February Educator of the Month Dr. Clark Ausloos (he/him) for a deeply grounded conversation about the intersection of education, mental health, and queer identity.Dr. Ausloos shares what it looks like to teach future counselors while navigating political pressure, professional ethics, and the emotional labor of showing up authentically in higher education. Together, Bryan and Clark unpack belonging versus boundaries, privilege and risk, and why small moments of care can matter more than grand gestures.In this episode, you’ll hear about:How queerness shows up in teaching and counselor educationNavigating boundaries, safety, and self-disclosure in classroomsEthical conflicts educators face under hostile policy climatesThe emotional toll of mental health work—and how to sustain yourselfWhy small, everyday moments can be life-changing for studentsIf this episode resonates, consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with another educator who might need it.Support the showQueering Education is a Teaching While Queer podcast centering LGBTQ+ educators and the real-world realities of teaching while queer. We explore queer representation in education, including burnout, tokenism, doxing, visibility, boundaries, and advocacy for inclusive classrooms, safe schools, and anti-bullying practices.This podcast supports gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, asexual, aromantic, agender, and two-spirit teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to reduce isolation, protect educators, and build community.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me.Follow Teaching While Queer on Instagram and Facebook. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.Keywords: Teaching While Queer, queer educators, LGBTQ teachers, inclusive education, gender identity in schools, safe classrooms, anti-bullying strategies, educator burnout, LGBTQ advocacy, queer visibility in education