The Empathetic Classroom: How a Mental Health Mindset Supports Your Students―and You

by Maria Munro-Schuster

Develop a mental-health mindset and rediscover the inspiration that brought you to teaching.

In The Empathetic Classroom, educator and licensed therapist Maria Munro-Schuster helps K–12 teachers navigate emotional stress, combat exhaustion, connect with students, and avoid burning out. She also gives tools for better teaching, for teaching that feels better, and for classrooms where emotional intelligence, safety, and empathy are embedded as a part of practice.

This book goes beyond typical books on teacher burnout, focusing on holistic mindsets and strategies that support your mental health and that of your students. Full of tools and strategies to incorporate into the classroom, this approachable book combines teaching best practices with research-backed techniques from the field of counseling psychology. You’ll find sound advice on maintaining boundaries, confronting intrusive thoughts, responding to trauma, incorporating play into classrooms, and many other methods of remaining connected to themselves and their students. Learn how

Create a safe space for students—and educators—to learn and growUnderstand how your past and your triggers influence your teaching—and recognize trauma in studentsValidate emotions to curb disruptive behaviorsBy situating mental health concepts and techniques within established teaching best practices, The Empathetic Classroom helps you adapt your approach, your environment, and your interactions with students. And by focusing on self-regulation, boundaries, and connection, you can rediscover your inspiration. Find emotionally safer and more energizing ways of doing what you love while protecting your own mental health.

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I gained from reading this book:
appreciation for mental health (mine, students, and fellow educators)
ideas (an overload)
key points (easily laid out in each chapter)

Especially worthwhile, for me, was the chapter on our personal triggers. Need to revisit this one.

I think this book would be most helpful in a teacher workshop or professional development situation. Most of us don't/won't sit down and read or study on our own.

But this book is so important (dare I say vital) to the continued field of education and the community of educators who need to be seen - and valued.

And ultimately, this book is about hope.

"We can create an environment that fosters mental health for all. ... It allows us to focus on the momentous task of teaching valuable lessons that will allow [us] to gain new perspectives and experiences in life."

[Samanta Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-have resource—a read, a re-read, and a reliable reference for emotional first aid. Whether you're a teacher, homeschooler, or parent, you'll find it invaluable. Much has been written about nurturing emotional intelligence in children, but who supports the nurturers? This book shifts the focus back to the adults doing the cultivating, offering essential lessons and practical insights into mental health management.

[Mary Corelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am moved by this book's clarity and courage, speaking to teachers through personal stories. It makes classroom empathy feel accessible and relatable, not like another system to implement. I love that it is just as helpful for teachers themselves as it is for their students.

[Sara Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book for an educator at any point in their career. I would like to see some continuing education classes offered as book studies on this text.