School Counseling Simplified Podcast

One thing that counselors always ask me is how are they possibly going to squeeze in all the things they have to do. It can be incredibly overwhelming! But I have found a way that you can look at what needs to be done, streamline your day, and make the impact we know you can make! Summer is the perfect time to step back and take a look at how you can be most effective next school year. One of my absolute favorite ways to do this is by doing a time audit that helps you identify where your time is spent and how you can use your time in the best ways possible. In this episode, I am sharing how you can use a time audit and a crisis response protocol to ensure that you are using your time in a way that allows you to work with more students and make the biggest impact that you can! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/time-audit * Resources Mentioned: Get your ticket for the IMPACT Summer Summit: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/summit 5 Strategies for Stress-Free Scheduling: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/5-strategies-for-stress-free-scheduling Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

If you've ever had a student who struggled with separation anxiety and cried as they got out of the car, you likely wished you had some strategies you could use to help the student. As counselors (and mothers), a lot of us have experience with children who struggle with separation anxiety and could really use some practical tips to help when our kiddos are having a hard time. That is why I am so grateful that Ashley Bartley from Counselor Station is here to share some of her strategies with us! Ashley Bartley, M.Ed., NCC, is a school counselor, author, and curriculum writer. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia and her M.Ed. in School Counseling from the College of William & Mary. She has five social emotional learning children's books published with Boys Town Press and is the creator of Counselor Station, where she develops curriculum and resources for busy school counselors. Ashley lives in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband and three young boys. She enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling. In this episode, Ashley is sharing some signs that a child might be experiencing separation anxiety, strategies she uses to help students, and preventative strategies she has found helpful. Ashley shares so many amazing and easy to implement tips and strategies that I know will help you and your students next school year! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/support-anxious-students * Resources Mentioned: Get your ticket for the IMPACT Summer Summit: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/summit Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Trauma affects everybody, not just certain communities. It is so incredibly important that school counselors are able to support our students who have experienced trauma in positive and impactful ways. Knowing how to best support our students who have childhood trauma can be challenging and I am so glad that Joyce Harduvel is joining me today to share some incredible insight on helping these kiddos. Joyce is a licensed clinical social worker and a certified school social work specialist. After seven years in the field of school social work working with students from preschool to high school, she is pivoting to provide school-based clinicians with the resources, community, and training that they need to support their students. Recognizing that most of what she used on a daily basis as a school social worker she had to learn through experience and create herself, Joyce is committed to sharing her expertise to make the lives of school-based clinicians easier so that they can focus on the important part: the students! In this episode, we are discussing her background as a school social worker in the Chicago Public Schools, an example of how childhood trauma might respond to something and how she would respond to the situation, strategies for handling pushback from teachers and parents, and how trauma impacts a student's ability to learn. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/trauma-informed-counselor * Resources Mentioned: Get your ticket for the IMPACT Summer Summit: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/summit SPARCS: Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress: A Guide for Trauma-Focused Groups: https://www.nctsn.org/resources/sparcs-structured-psychotherapy-adolescents-responding-chronic-stress-guide-trauma-focused Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Books are an incredibly powerful tool, especially when it comes to counseling. They allow for students to relate to the characters, help them to find solutions to problems, and so much more! Our guest today, Laura Filtness is a self-proclaimed book nerd who has found amazing ways to incorporate books into her counseling to help students be more engaged and excited about her lessons. Laura Filtness is a School Counselor in Knoxville, TN and was the 2017 TSCA Elementary School Counselor of the Year. She loves to creatively infuse my love of dogs and books into my counseling program. The best way to sum up her obsessions is that she proudly once won a crazy dog mom contest and her office contains over 300 books. Her dog, Boss, was a certified therapy dog. Laura's love of books and passion for school counseling has helped her to make a huge impact on so many students! In this episode, she is sharing how she got into books, the benefits of using books in your school counseling program, how she uses books in her program, how to choose which books to pick, and ideas for companion activities. Laura is giving us so much incredible information and you are sure to walk away from this episode feeling so inspired to incorporate more books into your program! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/picture-books-to-enhance-counseling-sessions * Resources Mentioned: Get your ticket to the Impact Summer Summit: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/summit The Bad Seed Series by Jory John: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086D7JNFY?binding=hardcover&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_thcv Jory John's book that will be released this year: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Cheese-Food-Group/dp/0063329506/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=76URY&content-id=amzn1.sym.ed85217c-14c9-4aa0-b248-e47393e2ce12&pf_rd_p=ed85217c-14c9-4aa0-b248-e47393e2ce12&pf_rd_r=131-1838589-7953851&pd_rd_wg=F5Tk6&pd_rd_r=4c855a08-337d-4d08-9eae-64b5f52fa490&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk "I'm Bored" series by M.I. Black: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D2Y7W4X?binding=hardcover&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_bs_series_rwt_thcv&qid=1684878190&sr=1-1 Trudy Ludwig - "Invisible Boy": https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Boy-Trudy-Ludwig-ebook/dp/B00CCPIKTE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Y0S4EJ5NHKJO&keywords=trudy+ludwig+invisible+boy&qid=1684878227&s=digital-text&sprefix=trudy+ludgwig+invisible+boy%2Cdigital-text%2C99&sr=1-1 Trudy Ludwig - "Sorry": https://www.amazon.com/Sorry-Trudy-Ludwig/dp/1582461732/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2H9W1XQF1QNBR&keywords=trudy+ludwig+sorry&qid=1684878246&s=digital-text&sprefix=trudy+ludwig+sorry%2Cdigital-text%2C107&sr=1-1 The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld: https://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-Listened-Cori-Doerrfeld-ebook/dp/B072FMLCCX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JET4LPERIFAX&keywords=rabbit+listened&qid=1684878263&s=digital Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

You know I am all about simplifying your job as a school counselor and helping you to make the best use of your time. We can all benefit from more tips and tricks to maximizing our productivity in the little amount of time we have without students. That is why I am so excited to have efficiency and productivity expert, Khristen Massic joining me today! Khristen Massic, M.Ed., loves efficiency and productivity as much as you love leaving school at your contracted time. (Okay, so those go hand-in-hand.) She is a teacher mentor, a 10-year high school engineering teacher, a former middle school assistant principal, and mom to 4 littles. Khristen helps multi-prep teachers with time-saving tools and strategies so you don't have to choose between being effective teachers and prioritizing important relationships. Although Khristen has not been in the school counseling role, her experience as an administrator has helped her recognize how important it is to be super productive in the short breaks we have between students, especially when we could be interrupted at any moment. In this episode, she is sharing her top three productivity tips, what she suggests doing to make the most of small windows of open time, what we can do today to get more organized, and her recommendations for getting systems in place. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/productivity-hacks * Resources Mentioned: Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

You know I am super passionate about data and I LOVE a good end of the year report! There is so much data that you can put on your end of the year report to show your stakeholders just how big of an impact you are making. You know the importance of including how many students you served, time spent with students, and how many lessons you taught to the report, but today, I am sharing 5 things to add to your end of the year report to really showcase your impact. As a school counselor, you are involved in so many things with so many different people! Because of this, you have some amazing data that you can include in your end of the year report. In this episode, I am sharing why you should include data from the meetings and trainings you've attended, parent and teacher feedback, attendance data, and referral data to your end of the year report to showcase just how much time and effort you are putting in to make a huge impact on your students! If you are creating an end of the year report, I would love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @brightfuturescounseling and show off your report (with confidential information removed, of course!). I'd love to see the work you're doing and reshare it so others can see as well! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/end-of-the-year-report * Resources Mentioned: Episode 90: How This School Counselor Uses and End of the Year Report to Transform Her Program with Katherine Guerrero: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/end-of-year-reports Episode 92: How to Create an End of the Year Report: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/end-of-year-reports Grab the End of the Year Report Template: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-EDITABLE-End-of-the-Year-Report-3144878 Sign up for The New School Counselor Bootcamp: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/bootcamp Mastering Data Collection to get the Recognition You Deserve: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/mastering-data-collection-to-get-the-recognition-you-deserve Essential Data Tools for School Counselors: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/essential-data-tools-for-school-counselors Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Our days as school counselors are busy! Regardless of what grades we work with, how many students are on our caseload, or how perfectly planned our schedule is, school counselors have a lot on our plates. My guest today, Laurel Whitehead, is giving us a glimpse into what her days look like as a 6-8 school counselor. Laurel is making a huge impact on her middle school students! She starts her days by greeting students at the door and is seeing them individually and in small groups as much as her schedule allows. In this episode, Laurel is sharing her journey to her current position, why she loves making connections with her students, the frustration that comes with lack of understanding of the school counselor role, and what her typical day looks like this school year. Laurel Whitehead lives in Hamilton, NJ and is currently the Middle School Counselor at a Charter School in Southwest Philadelphia. She is in her 2nd year at her school placement but has a background in working with students from K-12 for over 5 years. Laurel has been passionate about School Counseling since High School due to the amazing School Counselor she had and she has always wanted to give back. When she is not at school, she enjoys spending time with her adorable niece and nephew, going on adventures with her boyfriend, and working out on her peloton bike and treadmill! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/life-of-a-school-counselor-laurel * Resources Mentioned: Sign up for The New School Counselor Bootcamp: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/bootcamp Mastering Data Collection to get the Recognition You Deserve: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/mastering-data-collection-to-get-the-recognition-you-deserve Essential Data Tools for School Counselors: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/essential-data-tools-for-school-counselors Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

How can we gather student progress data in an efficient and helpful way? We've talked about tracking how many students we see and how many hours we've served them, but an equally important piece of data is how students have progressed or not progressed after services. In today's episode, I am sharing two ways that you can measure and track student progress data. You know I love, love, love helping you use data to showcase your services and improve your program. A key piece of data to track is student progress. Tracking student progress doesn't need to be complicated or time consuming! In this episode, I am sharing how to use self-assessments and behavior progress monitoring surveys to get a full picture of how students are progressing with school counseling services. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/measuring-services-progress * Resources Mentioned: Register for the FREE training on how to use an end of the year report to improve your program and advocate for your role: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/data Episode 142: Data Deep Dive: Measuring Student Progress: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/measuring-services-provided Grab the Data Collection Behavior Surveys: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Data-Collection-Behavior-Surveys-School-Counseling-Data-Tracking-Forms-5221301 Get your School Counseling Self-Assessments Super Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-Self-Assessments-Super-Bundle-with-Digital-Data-Tracking-Forms-7615254 5 Strategies for Stress Free Data Collection: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/5-strategies-for-stress-free-data-collection Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Where has this year gone? The school year is wrapping up shortly which means that it is a great time to dive into your data and use it to advocate for your role. If the thought of collecting and looking at data seems overwhelming to you, don't fret! In this episode, I am sharing two tools that I recommend using to easily track services provided. I absolutely love helping you use data to advocate for your role and improve your program so I am dedicating this month to help you dive into the data! We are breaking it down so it doesn't seem so daunting. Today, we are covering how to track the services you provide in an effective and efficient way. We are looking at what services provided means, how to use a calendar to track your services, and why a counseling hub is helpful in tracking your services provided data. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/measuring-services-provided * Resources Mentioned: Register for the FREE training on how to use an end of the year report to improve your program and advocate for your role: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/data Grab your School Counseling Data Collection Spreadsheets - Caseload and Counseling Log: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-Data-Collection-Spreadsheets-Caseload-and-Counseling-Log-7485732 5 Strategies for Stress Free Data Collection: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/5-strategies-for-stress-free-data-collection Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Have you heard of an advisory program before? It's similar to implementing a school wide SEL program and is so beneficial to our students! Leslie Cuprill of Informed Decisions is joining us today to share all about starting an advisory program in your school. Whether you've considered starting an advisory program at your school or you aren't even sure what an advisory program is, Leslie has some incredible tips for you! Leslie has a great deal of experience with implementing advisory programs in schools. In this episode, she is sharing what an advisory program is, things you should and should not do when implementing an advisory program, examples of ways to implement a program, and practical tips to get started right away. I know you are going to walk away from this episode with so many ideas for an advisory program at your school! Leslie Cuprill is a licensed clinical social worker from Brooklyn, New York, who loves supporting educators and students! For two decades she has worked with court and gang-involved, youth LGBT+. teen mothers, special needs populations, and educators. Throughout her career, she taught, counseled, ensured support of academic intervention services, supervised, conducted professional development trainings, designed curriculum, and developed programs. She started Informed Decisions to provide resources for counselors and teachers working with multicultural urban youth, teens, and young adults. She wants educators to feel confident in facilitating and engaging in interactive activities for their students. The information and resources are culturally, racially, and developmentally appropriate materials used to engage, educate, guide, and inspire our young people. Youth deserve to be afforded equitable opportunities to become productive contributing members of society. Together she believes we can engage multicultural youth in making informed decisions about their lives and future successes! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/sel-advisory-program * Resources Mentioned: Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Leslie: Shop: https://bit.ly/3JK313r Blog: https://informeddecisionsblog.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed.decisions/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2100385153442681 * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

I have some EXCITING news! We've recently surpassed 300,000 downloads of the School Counseling Simplified podcast! I can't believe it! I want to give a big thank you to YOU for listening to this show by doing a giveaway. I'm giving 30 counselors 30% off of my IMPACT school counseling membership for 3 months! The offer will expire after the first 30 people use the code 'podcast' at checkout. Head here to get 30% off your first 3 months of IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/offers/9KGqNB22/checkout?coupon_code=PODCAST * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Have you considered providing mini PD to your teachers? You might be thinking that there is no way you are getting in front of your colleagues and teaching something. I completely understand that! But you can still support your teachers by providing easy PD for them about SEL strategies and counseling strategies that they can do in their classrooms. Wouldn't it be great if you could help many students use SEL strategies even without you physically being in the room? Teaching teachers strategies to help support their students is a great way to extend yourself a little bit. There are so many practices and strategies that they can easily implement into their classrooms and a little support and help from you can be so helpful with this. You don't need to overcomplicate the PD you provide to teachers. Make it simple to teach them and simple for them to implement. Some counseling strategies I suggest teaching your teachers are utilizing a calm down corner, grounding techniques, guided meditation for mindfulness, and deep breathing techniques. All of these strategies will be so beneficial to your students and can be taught to your teachers with short and simple PD. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/counselors-support-teachers-with-mini-pd * Resources Mentioned: Grab the Feelings Check Posters Freebie: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feelings-Check-2827761 Get your Grounding Strategies Freebie: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/grounding-freebie Guided Mindfulness Meditation Scripts: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mindfulness-Meditations-10-Classroom-Guided-Meditations-3089368 Check out the "Be the Pond" Mindfulness Video for Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf5K3pP2IUQ Follow me on TikTok @BrightFuturesCounseling: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightfuturescounseling Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

School counselors come from all sorts of backgrounds and it is so interesting to hear how their previous roles play into their role as a school counselor! Making the transition to school counseling can be a process that takes time or, like for our guest Stephanie Hubbard, can be fairly quick. Stephanie is joining us today to talk all about how she got her job as a school counselor intern before she even graduated and what impact she is making at the school. Regardless of how we came into our roles, as school counselors, we all want to serve our students in the best way possible. A key way to do that is to collaborate with other teachers to ensure students are getting the support they need. Stephanie is an amazing example of this! In this episode, she is sharing the importance of collaborating with other staff and teachers. We are also chatting about her background in IT, how she is transitioning into her new role, what she finds frustrating as a school counselor, what her daily schedule looks like, and advice she has for new school counselors. Stephanie Hubbard is a first year counselor intern. She loves learning new ways she can support her school staff and students. Stephanie comes from a big family so being around children has never been an issue for her! She loves shopping and traveling to new places. Stephanie graduates in May 2023 as a school counselor and is ready to see what the world has to offer her! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/school-counseling-intern * Resources Mentioned: Connect with Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/princess_stephanie123/ Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Teachers are experiencing burnout at an alarming rate but we as school counselors may be able to help. We know that our students are best served when school counselors, teachers, and parents are collaborating together and that is one of the reasons supporting our teachers is so crucial for student success. In this episode, I am sharing some ways that we as school counselors can support our teachers. One way that we can support teachers is by providing additional class lessons. This time of year can be especially tough for stress and student behaviors so adding in as-needed class lessons can be so helpful for teachers (and students!). In this episode, I am sharing ideas for how to determine who needs additional class lessons and what topics should be covered. Plus, I am sharing something that my school counselor did when I was in school that was so fun and exciting for students and staff during state testing! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/supplemental-class-lessons * Resources Mentioned: Grad your Needs Assessment for School Counseling: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Needs-Assessment-for-School-Counseling-Digital-Version-2759112 Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Are you needing some motivation and inspiration from another school counselor? We are continuing our birthday celebration with another counselor interview and our guest today is sure to leave you inspired to make big impacts at your school! Carey Hughes is sharing all about her role as an elementary school counselor and giving some helpful tips along the way. Carey has always wanted to work with elementary students and when she and her husband packed up and moved to a new city during the pandemic, she was able to land an elementary school counseling job that she LOVES and today, she is giving us a glimpse into her role. Carey is sharing her background as a middle school and high school spanish teacher, why the variety of tasks as a school counselor is both a good and bad thing, how challenging it is to see some of the struggles her students' families face, tips for data collection, and advice she would give to new school counselors. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/school-counselor-carey-hughes * Resources Mentioned: Sign up for the Ultimate Small Group Experience: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/smallgroups Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590701787640166 Caught in the Middle School Counselors Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/176582632507419 The School Counselor Store Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theschoolcounselorstore The High School Connection Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1737770729838088 Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

No school counselor role looks exactly the same and I absolutely love hearing from different school counselors about how they organize their days and the impact that they are making! Plus, We all know that there are parts we love about being a school counselor and parts we find challenging and it is so reassuring to hear that we are not alone. As we continue our "Day in the Life" series , Lorilee is sharing all about what she loves and what challenges her in her role as a school counselor. I am so excited to have Lorilee join us today as she is a longtime and very active IMPACT member! She is giving us a glimpse into how she manages her role while being in each classroom twice a month as the school counselor for 600 students. Lorilee is sharing about her background and how she got into school counseling, how she enjoys not being in a disciplinarian role, knowing when to refer out, what her daily schedule looks like, and how she uses the IMPACT membership to help in her role. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/school-counselor-role * Resources Mentioned: Sign up for the Ultimate Small Group Experience : https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/smallgroups Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Every school counselor's role is unique based on their school, on their district, and so many other factors. Sometimes, a school doesn't have a counselor and another staff member steps up to support students who need the support of a school counselor. Dr. Natasha Tumbarello is joining us today and sharing how she wears many hats, including the school counselor hat, in her role as a school psychologist at a small elementary school. School counselors and school psychologists can really compliment each other when supporting students. However, when a school has only one person to fill several different roles, it comes with unique challenges. Today, Natasha is sharing about her background in education, insight into how she survived her busy season of life, what the student support roles looked like in schools she has been in, what she loves and finds challenging about her role, and what her typical day looks like as a school psychologist wearing many hats. Natasha's energy and passion is sure to leave you feeling inspired! Natasha Tumbarello, Ph.D. is a School Psychologist at an elementary school in New York. She is also an Adjunct Professor/Lecturer at a private university in New York. Dr. Tumbarello provides assessment, counseling, and interventions to students and families, and professional development and support to the staff in her school. Her favorite part of being a School Psychologist is her daily interactions with students, especially when they share their successes and growth. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/day-in-the-life-of-a-school-psychologist * Resources Mentioned: Sign up for the Ultimate Small Group Experience : https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/smallgroups Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Whether you are a new school counselor or have been one for years, it's always great to hear from other school counselors. To celebrate 2 years of IMPACT, we will be hearing from IMPACT members every week in March. I know hearing from these school counselors will leave you feeling inspired! Aimee Garcia is joining us today to share what her role as a school counselor looks like. She is sharing all about how she became interested in school counseling, what she loves about being a school counselor, how she collaborates with the school social worker, what struggles and frustrations she faces, and what a day in her role looks like. Aimee also shares what she loves about being an IMPACT member and how it helps her be prepared with resources for any lessons she needs to teach. Aimee Garcia is a first year school counselor, wife, and mother of two, working at a public charter school in San Antonio, Texas. She has been in education for ten years, spending the majority of that time as a teacher at the middle school she once attended as a teenager. She taught middle school art, gifted and talented, and English classes and was named teacher of the year in 2017. Through her years teaching middle school, she found that one of her favorite parts of the day were the personal interactions she had with students and the conversations that led to both parties leaving feeling a little bit better. As a life long learner Aimee always looked for ways to challenge herself within teaching roles, becoming an Arts Integrations Specialist, Electives department leader, and Group Travel coordinator. Eventually her path led her back to school, where she earned her Master's Degree in School Counseling. With her career in School Counseling now in full force, she continues to challenge herself as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate working to earn her full LPC license in the next few years. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/day-in-the-life-of-a-school-counselor * Resources Mentioned: Sign up for the Ultimate Small Group Experience : https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/smallgroups Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Just how important is it to have healthy meals as a busy school counselor? We hear about eating healthy all the time but making sure our bodies and minds are properly nourished helps us to maximize our productivity and just feel good! If you're not sure where to start when planning out nourishing lunches, dietician Sandra Gentleman is here to help! Who doesn't love a good treat in the teacher's lounge or grabbing a coffee on the way into school? As delicious and comforting as these things are, it's important for us to have balanced meals throughout our day to fuel our minds and our bodies. In this episode, Sandra is sharing her background and expertise, the importance of planning lunches ahead of time, strategies to plan and prep lunches, and some guidance on what a healthy lunch consists of. We are chatting about the advantages of packing your lunches, how healthier foods impact our mental and physical health, and how to ensure you are practicing mindful eating. After practicing as a Registered Dietitian for 24 years, Sandra is passionate about healthy eating and nutrition. Recently, She's been taking school groups through grocery Nutrition Tours as a fun and interactive way to help improve awareness of healthy food. "My Wife The Dietitian" is a podcast that Sandra hosts with her husband, Rob to help cover diet and nutrition topics. Check out her blog and their social media, including YouTube with the podcast. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/healthy-meal-planning-tips * Resources Mentioned: My Wife the Dietician Podcast - Ep. 34. Back to School Food Hacks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etkPsQ9Ij8w Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

All students are bound to have conflicts at some point or another. It is so important that our kiddos know how to resolve conflicts in a respectful manner because it's a skill they will use while in school and carry through life. Today, I am sharing how we can teach conflict resolution skills across all three tiers so our students are prepared when conflict arises. Handling conflict can be challenging for children and even adults. Teaching effective conflict resolution skills to all of our students is an excellent way to ensure they know how to respectfully handle conflict whenever it comes about. In this episode, I am sharing ideas for how to teach conflict resolution skills for all three tiers, ideas for how to teach these lessons, and resources I suggest for each tier. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/conflict-resolution * Resources Mentioned: "I Statements" Comic Book Lesson: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-Group-Social-Fluency-Social-Skills-Counseling-Group-4963094 Conflict Resolution Counseling Group - From Pirates to Peacemakers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conflict-Resolution-Counseling-Group-From-Pirates-to-Peacekeepers-3389446?utm_source=SCS%2520Podcast&utm_campaign=Pirates%2520to%2520Peacekeepers Pause it and Resolve it Conflict Resolution Game: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conflict-Resolution-Game-Pause-it-and-Resolve-it-with-Digital-Version-3338653?utm_source=SCS%2520Podcast&utm_campaign=Pause%2520it%2520and%2520Resolve%2520it Kelso's Choice: https://kelsoschoice.com/ Kelso - "It's Your Choice Baby" Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrpG8Tk9f8o&t=103s Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

As school counselors, it seems we never have enough time to do all the things we want to do. Meeting with students, putting on programs and activities, being in meetings, and all the other duties that are put on us spread us so thin. I am so grateful that Rhea Parks is joining us today to share about how she is managing everything on her plate as a second year counselor. If you are feeling worn out and just tired, Rhea's zest is sure to leave you feeling inspired and motivated in the second half of this school year! She is sharing her background and her path to being a school counselor, what she loves about school counseling, what she finds frustrating in her position, a look inside her typical week, her ideas for what she wants to do in the future, and her favorite Valentine's themed counseling activities. Rhea Parks began as a teacher at 30 years old teaching 4th and 5th grade reading and writing in a Title 1 school. She began to realize that teaching did not prepare her for the emotional support that her students were needing. She is a huge advocate on building relationships but she quickly knew this wasn't enough. Rhea looked into taking counseling classes at a local university just to arm herself with strategies on how to deal with the ever growing emotional and behavioral needs of her current and future students. While in the program, she began to fall in love and realize her purpose. As a new mom, it took Rhea a while to finish the program while she was teaching, and now she is in her second year as a school counselor at the age of 46 at Daniel Boone Elementary in Richmond, KY. Rhea is a mother of two beautiful girls, age 13 and 10 and a bonus mom to an amazing son, 26. Her husband is a teacher and a head football coach at a high school. She loves watching her children play sports, which is part of my self-care, believe it or not. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/life-of-a-school-counselor * Resources Mentioned: Have a question for Rhea? Email her at [email protected] Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

February brings so many fun things for school counselors including National School Counseling Week and Valentine's Day! One thing I love to cover in the month of February is healthy relationships and friendships and this ties in great with Valentine's Day. If you are looking for some fun ways to combine the Valentine's theme with healthy relationships, you're in luck! I have so many fun ideas for you today! We may think that teaching healthy friendships and relationships isn't necessary. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Many of our students may be more familiar with UNhealthy relationships than with healthy ones. We want to make sure that students know what healthy friendships and relationships look like and that they themselves are acting in a healthy manner. In this episode, I am sharing some of my favorite Valentine's themed activities that you can use with your students. I am sharing why you should be teaching students about healthy relationships and friendships, examples of activities to do with your students to teach about healthy relationships, and ideas for how to easily implement these activities without added stress. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/healthy-vs-unhealthy-relationships * Resources Mentioned: Healthy vs Unhealthy Friendships Discussion Cards - Valentine's Day Themed: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Healthy-vs-Unhealthy-Friendships-Discussion-Cards-Valentines-Day-Themed-5224748 Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationships Discussion Cards - Valentine's Day Themed: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Healthy-Vs-Unhealthy-Relationships-Discussion-Cards-Valentines-Day-Themed-5224755 Episode 77: How to Celebrate National School Counseling Week (even if you're a solo counselor!): https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/national-school-counseling-week Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Do you work in a Title 1 school or support low income students and families? Working in a low income school can come with unique challenges and supporting these students and families may look a little different. It is so important to understand each unique student and family and find ways to best support them. Today we are joined by Megan Polk who is sharing some amazing tips she has learned from working in Title 1 schools for 15 years. She is sharing her background and experience in Title 1 schools, what Title 1 is and what the different types of Title 1 funding are, strategies school counselors can use to support low income students, and important things to consider when communicating and collaborating with parents and caregivers. Megan Polk is a literacy specialist living in Nashville, Tennessee. She has over a decade of teaching experience across elementary grades. She uses best practices and innovation to meet and reach students where they are. Megan is the content creator behind The Literacy Dive and Writing Made Simple where she creates reading and writing resources that are creative, rigorous, and comprehensive. She seeks to equip teachers who share similar challenges and have the same mission: to close the gap, to increase student confidence and achievement, and to develop students who will expand their true love for literacy. Megan is dedicated to supporting teachers, parents, and students everywhere! She loves connecting with educators through Instagram and enjoys diving into ALL things literacy every Monday on The Literacy Dive Podcast. Megan realizes the power of collaboration and the positive impact it holds; teachers are truly better together! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/title-1-students-and-families * Resources Mentioned: Episode 95: How to Incorporate Journaling into Your Counseling Sessions with Literacy Specialist Megan Polk: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/journaling-into-counseling-sessions Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Are you finding that you are feeling burned out or that your mindset just isn't great right now? Our mindset and thoughts impact us more than we realize. If you aren't loving your job or are feeling overwhelmed, a mindset shift may make a huge difference! Luckily, there are things we can do to improve our mindset which may lead to rediscovering our love for our job and reducing overwhelm. Our guest today, Chrissy Nichols, is here to share some amazing ways to shift our mindset. She uses her experience as a teacher to help educators love their job again and avoid burnout. She is sharing what she does as a life and mindset coach for educators, the three main areas she coaches in, one strategy counselors can implement to take control of their schedule, how educators can learn to re-love their job, and how thoughts impact your life. * Show Notes: Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/mindset-shifts * Resources Mentioned: Pomodoro Timer: https://pomofocus.io/ Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-James-Clear-audiobook/dp/B07RFSSYBH/ref=sr_1_1?gclid=Cj0KCQiA8aOeBhCWARIsANRFrQFSNm0u-Fq6jaFDXWYujFiu-6nWlFEBURO5f9qK4Nly6LR-7FMrer4aAocuEALw_wcB&hvadid=602222145990&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1027991&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12297735861927490533&hvtargid=kwd-1668531942405&hydadcr=22533_10353821&keywords=atomic+habits%27&qid=1674147389&sr=8-1 Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo: https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Is-Figureoutable-audiobook/dp/B07RQV9QNP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HHIVGD20MXH8&keywords=everything+is+figureoutable+book&qid=1674147546&sprefix=everything+is+figureoutable+book%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1 Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Looking to feel inspired as we take on the second half of the school year? I am so excited to start having current school counselors on the podcast more often so you can hear what they are implementing at their schools. Jessica Weinberg Zeff is joining us today to talk about her role as a 3rd year school counselor and what it's like being an IMPACT member. I absolutely love hearing about what counselors are doing in their schools, what they've found works for them, and of course, any advice they have for other counselors. I am so grateful Jessica is joining us to chat about her counseling program and give us a glimpse into her days. We are chatting about what her plans are for second semester, how she's reaching students in all three tiers even with a big caseload, what she focuses on that has had a huge impact on her program, and advice she would give first year counselors. Ready to make an even greater impact without added stress or time? Check out the newly revamped IMPACT 2.0 membership! Get access to hundreds of resources for all three tiers right at your fingertips. PLUS, you'll have access to our community of school counselors to collaborate and troubleshoot with and quarterly professional development training so you have everything you need to support your students. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/school-counselor * Resources Mentioned: Sign up for the FREE live workshop, 3 Practical Ideas to Bring Your High School Counseling Program Back to Life in the New Year: https://counselorclique.mykajabi.com/januaryworkshop Listen to High School Counseling Conversations: https://counselorclique.com/podcast/ Join the IMPACT 2.0 membership for ongoing support and access to 300+ resources: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Cue the confetti because I have such an exciting announcement to share with you! Impact 2.0 is here! This episode is a replay of the live launch party I held to unveil all the new features of Impact. I know what it's like to have the heart and desire to want to help as many kiddos as possible as a school counselor. But here's the problem. You end up overwhelmed and winging it more than you'd probably like to admit, because it takes so much time to create and implement quality curriculum. There's only so many hours in the day! Enter Impact 2.0! When you join, you'll get unlimited access to all of my resources, a quick and easy resource search feature, live professional development trainings, Zoom calls, a school counselor community, and so much more. This will take the guesswork out of planning each month and make the biggest impact as possible at your school. The best part? We're keeping Impact 2.0 at the same low price of $29/month so we can make it as accessible as possible for school counselors everywhere. Learn more here! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/impact-2 * Resources Mentioned: Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Join me LIVE TONIGHT, January 10, 2023 at 6:00pm EST for a huge announcement! I cannot wait to share this with you! We are launching something BIG and I am so excited to finally give you the details. We will be giving away gift cards, door prizes, and 3 people who are there live will receive unlimited access to all of my counseling resources for 1 month! Sign up at stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/newyear to join me live TONIGHT! * Resources Mentioned: Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Happy New Year! I hope that 2023 is off to a great start for you! I am feeling super optimistic for this year and want to help you have the best start to 2023 when you return to school. I am sharing three goals for school counselors for the new year. We all want to make our school counseling programs the best that they can be. We want to make an impact on our students and I have some ideas for simple ways you can increase your impact in 2023. In this episode, I am sharing how to use ASCA aligned objectives to measure student progress, why you should be collaborating with stakeholders, and the importance of creating a curriculum map for all three tiers. I want you to have the best year you can in your counseling program and I know setting these goals will help with that! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/counseling-goals * Resources Mentioned: Sign up to join in on the HUGE announcement on Tuesday, January 10th at 6pm EST: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/newyear Grab the Curriculum Map Freebie: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/counseling-program-roadmap ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/7428a787-a452-4abb-afec-d78ec77870cd/Mindsets-Behaviors.pdf Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Do you set goals for yourself and your program at the start of every year or have New Year's goals not really been your thing in the past? I know doing "New Year, New Goals" is a bit overdone but I feel like it's a good chance to encourage ourselves to improve personally and professionally. If you aren't sure where to start with your goals, I have five goals you can set to help improve your counseling program this year. We're about half way through the school year so it's a great time to look at what we've done and where our program is. It's also a great time to set some goals that will help us better our school counseling program in the new year. I'm not talking huge, lofty goals, but smaller goals that will have a big impact on your program. I am sharing professional goals on scheduling, organization, data collection, advocating, and handling push back. I made each of these goals attainable so you can celebrate the wins when you achieve them and see the impact they have on your program. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/program-goals * Resources Mentioned: Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Whether you're resting and relaxing or getting in as many social gatherings as possible, I hope you are having an AMAZING, well-deserved break! At this point in the school year, self-care is especially important. So today, I am sharing four self-care tips to help you get the most out of your holiday break! We often get so busy with our to-do list, obligations, and feeling like we need to do everything that we forget to take care of ourselves. Whether it's at school or on a break, self-care is so important! In this episode, we're looking at four self-care tips that you can easily do to take care of yourself during winter break and when you return to school. I am sharing how to prevent yourself from over-committing, how to set clear boundaries, fun ways to practice mindfulness, and the importance of unplugging and taking a break. I hope you can use these four tips to truly enjoy your winter break and return to school with a plan to implement self-care throughout the day. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/self-care-tips * Resources Mentioned: Episode 119: Advocating 101: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/advocate School Counseling Data Wall: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-Data-Wall-Counseling-Bulletin-Board-8000554 Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Holiday break will be here before you know it! As stressful as it is before break, I think it is so important and helpful to wrap things up for our students and for ourselves before we leave for break. Your future self will thank you in January when you come back and things aren't a total mess! Today, I am sharing four ways to create closure before the holiday break. We're all ready to run out the door when the bell rings and winter break begins but a little prep now will save you unnecessary stress when you return. Creating closure before the holiday break isn't only important for you, but for your students as well. In this episode, I am sharing tips on how to wrap up small groups, the importance of supporting all students leading up to holiday break, why you should take time to organize your desk and work, and why a data check-in is so important to do before you leave for break. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/creating-closure-before-the-holiday-break * Resources Mentioned: Counselor Chat: Terminating Group Counseling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD0xUBnqWa0 A 4 Step Guide to Successfully Terminating Individual and Group Counseling Sessions: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/a-4-step-guide-to-successfully-terminating-individual-and-group-counseling-sessions School Counseling Data Collection Spreadsheets - Caseload and Counseling Log: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-Data-Collection-Spreadsheets-Caseload-and-Counseling-Log-7485732 Episode 70: How to Conduct a Mid-Year Data Checkin: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/how-to-conduct-a-mid-year-data-checkup School Counseling Data Wall: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-Data-Wall-Counseling-Bulletin-Board-8000554 Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

As we get closer to winter break, we know our schedules are going to get crazy with all the assemblies, concerts, and special events. As fun as this is for our students, it can make our typical schedule feel a bit more stressful and keeping students engaged can be a challenge. So today, I am sharing eight seasonal activities you can do with your students that will keep them engaged and give you a break from planning! This time of year is super busy for everyone! The last thing we want to do with our limited time is come up with, plan, and prep seasonal activities for our students. The good news - I am sharing eight fun and easy activities for you to do with your students this holiday season! In this episode, I'm sharing how to use self-esteem ornaments, countdowns, trail mix, elf games, scavenger hunts, and presentations to keep your students engaged with little prep on your end! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/holiday-resource-roundup * Resources Mentioned: How to Plan a Fun Elementary School Counseling Christmas Party: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/blog/2017/12/6/how-to-plan-a-fun-counseling-christmas-party Countdown to Winter Break - Counseling and SEL Activity Pack: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Countdown-to-Winter-Break-Winter-Themed-Counseling-and-SEL-Activity-Pack-4190664 Conflict Resolution Christmas Activity Dress an Elf with I-Statements: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conflict-Resolution-Christmas-Activity-Dress-an-Elf-with-I-Statements-3526142 sELF-Control Christmas Game + Google Slides Digital Holiday Board Game: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/sELF-Control-Christmas-Game-Google-Slides-Digital-Holiday-Board-Game-3516717 Christmas Coping Strategies Digital Activity: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Coping-Strategies-Digital-Activity-Holiday-School-Counseling-SEL-3520988 Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

What do you do when you receive push back from unsupportive stakeholders? Unfortunately, this may happen even when we are careful to be respectful, not step on others' toes, and maintain relationships with teachers and parents. You don't need to feel unprepared when dealing with push back because today, I am sharing four tips for handling push back. We want teachers, admin, and parents to see all the good that we are doing for our students. But when we implement new things or switch things up, you may be met with some resistance. In this episode, I am diving into why you should share the purpose and goals behind what you are doing, how to use data to back you up, why having allies that believe in what you are doing is so important, and the importance of giving grace to others. I truly hope you don't receive much push back when you are doing such incredible things for your students, but if you do, this episode will help you be prepared! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/how-to-handle-push-back * Resources Mentioned: School Counseling Data Wall - Counseling Bulletin Board: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-Data-Wall-Counseling-Bulletin-Board-8000554 Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

You know I am all about advocating for your role as a school counselor and I love giving you tips and advice on how to do so. We all know that a huge part of advocating for our program is showcasing how many students we are working with and how we are using our time to help these students. So today, I am talking about two things you can do that will help you advocate for your position and program. How can we free up some time to impact more students, keep track of all the students we are working with, and use this to advocate for our program? It may be simpler than you think! In this episode, I am sharing two things you can implement right away that will help you advocate for your role. I am talking about why you should be batching your communication and how to start doing this right away, what a counseling log is and how it's used, and how implementing these two things will help you advocate for your program. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/advocate * Resources Mentioned: School Counseling Data Collection Spreadsheets - Caseload and Counseling Log: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-Data-Collection-Spreadsheets-Caseload-and-Counseling-Log-7485732 Freebie: Stress Free Counseling Organization Toolkit: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/sfsc-freebie Episode 38 - How You Can Use a Counseling Log to Increase Your Impact and Advocate for Your Role: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/episode38 Episode 37 - How You Can Batch Communication to Increase Your Impact and Advocate for Your Role: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/episode37 Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

One of the most effective ways for you to advocate for your role as a school counselor is to use data to showcase your impact. Many counselors get overwhelmed or nervous about data collection. I am here to tell you that it doesn't need to be overwhelming! It is so powerful to have data to show your parents, teachers, and admin, and today, I am sharing my favorite end of the year data report to help you advocate for your role. You may be wondering why I am talking about end of the year data reports in November but the tool I am talking about can be used throughout the year to showcase your work. I am so excited to help you create an amazing report that will WOW your admin, teachers, and parents. In this episode, I am sharing why you should be using data collection and data reports, what my data report looks like section by section, tips for when you create your report, how this report helps you advocate for your position, and how you can use it throughout the year. If you're looking for more information on what data to collect and how to collect it, grab the FREEBIE that's filled with helpful data collection information! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/data-to-advocate-for-role * Resources Mentioned: Freebie: Stress Free Counseling Organization Toolkit: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/sfsc-freebie School Counseling EDITABLE End of the Year Report: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-EDITABLE-End-of-the-Year-Report-3144878 Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Are you using paper organizers to keep track of your caseload? Or maybe you just don't have an effective system for keeping track of all your tier II and tier III students? We're continuing our series about areas to focus on to make a big impact in your counseling program. Today, we are covering organization and looking at one of my favorite organizational tools for keeping track of all the students on my caseload. We, as counselors, have so much on our plates and so many students to keep track of. It's so important that we have a way to keep track of the students we are working with so that nothing and no one falls through the cracks. In this episode, I am sharing all about the spreadsheet I use to maximize my productivity. I am sharing what my spreadsheet covers, tips for effectively using a caseload spreadsheet, and how using a caseload spreadsheet helps you impact more students. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/organize-your-caseload * Resources Mentioned: Freebie: Stress Free Counseling Organization Toolkit: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/sfsc-freebie Counseling Caseload Spreadsheet: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counseling-Data-Collection-Spreadsheets-Caseload-and-Counseling-Log-7485732 Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Are you looking for tips on what to focus on in order to see big results in your counseling program? That's what we are focussing on all month long! We are taking the next five weeks to look at key areas to focus on for a big impact in your program. Today, we are taking a look at how scheduling can help you get better results in your counseling program. You may hear scheduling and think I'm sharing a calendar or scheduling tool with you but, in this episode, we are talking about scheduling a crisis response team to help prevent you from being stretched too thin. I am covering the difference between a crisis response team and a crisis response protocol, ideas for who might be on a crisis response team, how to schedule who responds to a crisis, and how it helps both you and your students. There are so many benefits to having a crisis response team and I truly believe it will be so helpful for you and your students! I'd love to hear who you are considering for your crisis response team so send me a DM on Instagram and let me know! * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/crisis-response-team * Resources Mentioned: Freebie: Stress Free Counseling Toolkit: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/sfsc-freebie Enroll in the Stress Free School Counseling Course: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/enroll Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

We are wrapping up our series on pre-bullying prevention ideas with a topic that is a little closer to traditional bullying prevention topics. This episode is all about self-advocacy and the importance of students knowing how to stand up for themselves in school and beyond. Self-advocacy is an important skill that often isn't taught as much as it should be. These skills are used in every stage of life and effectively teaching them to our students will help them throughout their lives. Today we are talking about using scripts to teach self-advocacy skills, why self-esteem affirmations help build these skills, and the importance of teaching students to advocate for others. Unfortunately things are going to happen at school and in life where students will need these skills and it's important we equip them to handle these situations. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/self-advocacy * Resources Mentioned: Free Not So Scary Small Groups Video Series: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/training Bullying Prevention Editable Guidance Lesson: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BULLYING-PREVENTION-Editable-Guidance-Lesson-Video-and-Activity-3143641 Bullying Prevention Classroom Guidance Lesson for Elementary School Counseling: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bullying-Prevention-Classroom-Guidance-Lesson-for-Elementary-School-Counseling-8292067 Be an Upstander - Prevent Bullying: A NED Short: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeqQCyQOCPg Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Looking for a simple way to help prevent bullying in your school? Focus on friendship building! We are continuing to talk about bullying prevention by diving into how to promote friendship at your school. Knowing how to include others and build and maintain friendships is key to preventing bullying. Today, I am sharing easy to implement strategies you can use to promote friendship. I am sharing three ideas for promoting friendship at a schoolwide level, ideas for class lessons on friendship, activities for friendship small groups, and how to work on friendship in individual sessions. * Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/friendship-skills * Resources Mentioned: Episode 113: Proactive Bullying Prevention: Conflict Resolution Strategies: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/conflict-resolution-strategies Free Not So Scary Small Groups Video Series: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/training Friendship Counseling Group - Blooming Friendship Small Groups: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Friendship-Counseling-Group-Blooming-Friendships-Small-Group-3211157 FRIENDSHIP Guidance Lesson, Activity, and Video - Friendship Class Lesson: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FRIENDSHIP-Guidance-Lesson-Activity-and-Video-Friendship-Class-Lesson-3400566 Bullying Prevention Classroom Guidance Lesson for Elementary School Counseling: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bullying-Prevention-Classroom-Guidance-Lesson-for-Elementary-School-Counseling-8292067 Friendship Classroom Guidance Lesson for Elementary School Counseling: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Friendship-Classroom-Guidance-Lesson-for-Elementary-School-Counseling-8115034 Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact * Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 * If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

We know how important it is to prevent bullying in our schools and we are continuing our focus on proactive bullying prevention topics. Last week we chatted about creating a culture of kindness and using resolution circles as bullying prevention. Today, we are talking about conflict resolution beyond resolution circles. Being able to resolve conflicts in a respectful way is an important skill for students to learn and we're sharing ideas for how to help teach them these skills. In this episode, we are looking at 3 ways to teach conflict resolution in a class setting, ideas for teaching these skills in a small group, and what to do when a pair is referred to you for a conflict. We know our students need to be able to respectfully resolve conflicts so issues do not escalate into bullying and finding effective ways to teach these skills is key to bullying prevention. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/conflict-resolution-strategies Resources Mentioned: Episode 112: Proactive Bullying Prevention: Creating a Culture of Kindness: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/culture-of-kindness Conflict Resolution Counseling Group - From Pirates to Peacekeepers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conflict-Resolution-Counseling-Group-From-Pirates-to-Peacekeepers-3389446 Bullying Prevention Editable Guidance Lesson: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BULLYING-PREVENTION-Editable-Guidance-Lesson-Video-and-Activity-3143641 Bringing Restorative Practices to Your School By Laura McClure: https://www.edutopia.org/article/bringing-restorative-practices-to-your-school-laura-mcclure Check out the Kelso music video on YouTube: It's Your Choice Baby: https://kelsoschoice.com/zxxy572/ Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

October is Bullying Prevention month which has been my thing since my first year as a counselor. This month, we are covering bullying prevention adjacent topics. So what does that mean? It means I'm going to be sharing topics for you to cover with students and by covering these topics, you'll be promoting bullying prevention. In today's episode, we are looking at how to create a culture of kindness and how we prevent bullying by doing this. We are covering the benefits of morning meetings, how restorative practices help foster a culture of kindness, a fun school-wide activity you can do to spread kindness, and ideas and insights on how to implement these practices for counselors and teachers. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/culture-of-kindness Resources Mentioned: Bullying Prevention Editable Guidance Lesson: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BULLYING-PREVENTION-Editable-Guidance-Lesson-Video-and-Activity-3143641 Morning Meeting Discussion Cards: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Morning-Meeting-Discussion-Cards-3326795 Feelings Check: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feelings-Check-2827761 Bullying Prevention School Wide Activities - Fall and Halloween Activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bullying-Prevention-School-Wide-Activities-Fall-and-Halloween-Activities-3411872 Bullying Prevention Classroom Guidance Lesson for Elementary School Counseling: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bullying-Prevention-Classroom-Guidance-Lesson-for-Elementary-School-Counseling-8292067 Ep. 61. Non-Boring Bullying Prevention Month Ideas: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/bullying-prevention-month-ideas Bringing Restorative Practices to Your School By Laura McClure: https://www.edutopia.org/article/bringing-restorative-practices-to-your-school-laura-mcclure Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

How can I teach social skills in an individual lesson? Don't I need their peers for them to interact with? If you've found yourself wondering how to engage a student in individual lessons for social skills, this episode is for you! We are wrapping up our September social skills focus with actionable ideas for teaching social skills at an individual level. We're looking at ideas to teach engaging friendship skills, manners, and conflict resolution lessons, why individual lessons should be a collaborative effort, and the importance of observing your student in various situations. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/social-skills-strategies-for-individuals Resources Mentioned: Social Skills Individual Counseling Curriculum - Primary: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-Individual-Counseling-Curriculum-Primary-7853875 Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact Connect with Rachel: Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bright-Futures-Counseling Blog: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightfuturescounseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2473191466030095 If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-counseling-simplified-podcast/id1534494971

Are you looking for strategies for teaching social skills to Tier II students that you can use right away? This week, we are continuing to focus on social skills by looking at strategies that you can easily implement with your small groups! In this episode, I am sharing some tips on how to engage your Tier II students in social skills lessons. We are covering four strategies to use when teaching social skills to younger students, four strategies for teaching social fluency to upper elementary and middle school students, and ideas and tips for implementing all of these strategies. Plus, I am sharing resources you can use to implement these strategies and more with your groups right away without tons of extra planning and prep! Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/social-skills-strategies-for-small-group Resources Mentioned: Social Sleuths Social Skills Counseling Group Social Fluency Social Skills Counseling Group Grumpy Monkey Book Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Connect with Rachel on social media: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Class lessons can be tricky for school counselors especially when it comes to a topic, like social skills, that's easier to teach in a smaller setting. If you're unsure where to even begin when planning your tier one social skills lessons, don't stress! I'm sharing 3 great activities you can easily implement to teach your whole class social skills lessons! In this episode, we are taking a look at tier one social skills lessons and how to reach a wide range of levels of understanding. I am sharing three different actionable strategies for teaching social skills that you can implement right away, examples of each of these strategies, and resources to make using these strategies stress-free! Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/social-skills-strategies Resources Mentioned: Social Skills Game - Social Filter Social Skills Board Game Expected Behaviors Social Skills Card Game Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Connect with Rachel on social media: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

We all know how important social skills are and it is very likely that you will get a lot of referrals for social skills. That is why we are doing a mini series all about social skills this month. We are going to do a deep dive on how you can support your students with their social skills through all three tiers! We are kicking off this mini series with an introduction to social skills. We are talking about what explicit social skills are, why you should be clear about the titles of your social skills sessions, and the role of the school counselor in helping students with social skills. Be sure to check out the upcoming episodes where we are looking at how to deliver impactful preventative social skills class lessons, tier two small group social skills lessons, and individual counseling sessions for tier one support. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/teach-social-skills Resources Mentioned: Check out the social skills info from ChildDevelopment.com ASCA: The School Counselor and Social/Emotional Development Social Thinking Curriculum Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Connect with Rachel on social media: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

It is so common for school counselors to work with students who struggle with anger and wouldn't it be amazing if you felt confident and prepared to successfully work with these students? Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, is joining us today as our "resident anger expert" and is giving us so much useful information on how to best work with students who struggle with anger. In this episode, we are chatting with Jessica Sinarski on how to help kids feel and deal with anger. She shares strategies for talking to kids about the brain science behind anger, tips for working with students with trauma, how to support parents of these students, and easily applicable anger management strategies for counselors. Jessica is a wealth of knowledge on supporting these students and is sharing so much helpful information and resources to help us better serve our students who struggle with anger. Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, is a highly sought-after therapist, speaker, and change-maker. Extensive post-graduate training and 15+ years as a clinician and educator led her to create the resource and training platform–BraveBrains. She makes trauma-sensitive brain science practical, helping parents and professionals unlock resilience in themselves and their students. She is also the author of the award-winning Riley the Brave series, Hello, Anger, and more. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/help-kids-with-anger Resources Mentioned: Hello, Anger book BraveBrains Free Resources Finding Our Way Forward in the Aftermath of Violence – Blog Post Parents Corner with free webinar and book shop Sign up for the IMPACT Summer Summit here Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Connect with Jessica: Website Instagram Connect with Rachel on social media: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

There is an increase in newcomers and ELL students all over the country. As school counselors, we of course want to serve and help them as best as we can! Today, I am joined by Beth Vaucher who has some wonderful insight into how school counselors can help new ELL students. School counselors can play a very important role in helping newcomers adjust to a school in a new country. In this episode, Beth is sharing the importance of building a strong relationship with these students, tips for how to help them feel more comfortable, and how to support ELL and newcomer parents. Beth Vaucher is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL-certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction, combined with her experience, has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years of teaching, living abroad, and working with ELLs from around the world. You can find out more resources to support ELLs on www.inspiringyounglearners.com or in her Teachers Pay Teachers store, Inspiring Young Learners. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/school-counselors-help-newcomers-adjust Resources Mentioned: TalkingPoints Sign up for the IMPACT Summer Summit here Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Connect with Beth: Website TpT Store Instagram Connect with Rachel on social media: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

It's officially back to school season! That means it's time to start planning your Meet the Counselor class lessons. Are you unsure where to start or are you looking for fresh ideas for Meet the Counselor lessons? This episode is packed full of great ideas and tips to make your first classroom lesson of the year amazing! Your first classroom counseling lesson of the year is so important to build relationships with students and to make sure everyone knows your role and how you can help. In this episode, we are doing a deep dive into Meet the Counselor lessons. I am sharing 3 engaging activities you can do with your students, 3 tips for teaching your Meet the Counselor lessons, and how to increase your impact with these lessons. Plus, I am answering questions from counselors on how to have successful Meet the Counselor lessons. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/advocate-for-your-role Resources Mentioned: Meet the Counselor Game Show Meet the Counselor Escape Room Meet the Counselor Boom Cards Blog: 5 Strategies for Stress Free Scheduling Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Connect with Rachel on social media: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Are you looking for a way to break down all that needs to be done in the first few months of the school year so you feel less overwhelmed? The 30, 60, 90 day plan may be just what you are looking for! Today, I am sharing a training I did for the IMPACT members on how to utilize a 30, 60, 90 day plan to map out what you need to accomplish in the first 3 months of the school year. In this episode, we are going over what you should be working on in the first 3 months of the school year to reduce stress and start the school year off on the right foot. We are looking at what to accomplish in month one including conducting a needs assessment and setting up your referral process, what month two will look like including establishing your caseload and planning small group curriculum, and how to implement the services you've been preparing and planning in month three. PLUS, I am giving you tons of tips on how to use this plan and a FREEBIE to help work your way through this 30, 60, 90 day plan. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/back-to-school-ready Resources Mentioned: 30, 60, 90 Day Plan FREEBIE Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Connect with Rachel on social media: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Are you feeling stressed with planning class lessons and want to feel competent and prepared? I am sharing how I went from being overwhelmed with planning lessons to feeling confident in my lessons and how you can get there too! Today, I am diving into a few things that always come up when I talk to other counselors about planning class lessons. We are looking at two ways you can feel more competent and prepared, how and why we should stop last minute lesson planning, how we can tell that what we are doing is working and making a difference, and some tips to help you feel valued by your colleagues. We all have a lot on our plates and we know our work is so important. Let's take the stress out of lesson planning so we can focus on providing quality lessons to our students and collaborating with our colleagues. Show Notes: https://brightfutures-counseling.com/podcast-episodes/classroom-counseling-lessons Resources Mentioned: Stress Free Class Lessons course Episode 98: How to Teach Counseling Lessons When You Have a Huge Caseload Episode 100: How to Teach When You're Not a Teacher! FREEBIE! Class Lesson Cheat Sheet 15 Strategies to Engage Your Students Cheat Sheet (FREEBIE!) Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Connect with Rachel on social media: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!