January has a way of sneaking up on me—and usually bringing one big question with it: How’s your data looking? In this episode, I’m sharing a realistic, no-pressure approach to doing a midyear data check, without the guilt, the overwhelm, or the unrealistic expectation of having “perfect” charts and reports. This conversation is all about…
January is often when attendance challenges start to feel impossible (for students and for counselors). In this episode, I break down why attendance dips during the winter months, how to reframe attendance as a support issue rather than a compliance issue, and what counselors can realistically do to help students re-engage with school. This episode…
January can feel especially tough in schools. Big emotions, increased anxiety, mood changes, and shutdown behaviors often show up as students transition back from break. In this episode, I’m breaking down why January feels so hard, and what school counselors can do to support students in ways that are compassionate, practical, and sustainable. In this…
January has a way of making counselors feel like they should start over with new systems, new routines, new everything. But what if that pressure is actually working against your effectiveness? In this episode of Counselor Chat, I’m offering a grounded reframe for the new year: you don’t need to become a brand-new counselor just…
As the calendar turns to a new year, many school counselors find themselves holding a mix of emotions about heading back to work. Motivation might feel low, energy might feel scattered, and that sense of readiness may not be there yet. In this New Year’s Eve re-listen, I’m revisiting Episode 41 of Counselor Chat Podcast,…
As the holiday season arrives, we’re revisiting one of the most meaningful episodes of Counselor Chat — a conversation filled with honest advice, encouragement, and reminders from counselors who truly understand the work. In this episode, counselors from across the country share the wisdom they wish they had when they were new to the profession…
December in schools hits different. The schedules are off. The kids are buzzing. The teachers are exhausted. And counselors are somehow expected to be part Santa, part therapist, and part crisis manager… all before lunch. If your December feels especially full, you are not imagining it. In this week’s episode of Counselor Chat, I’m sharing…
Episode 140: Finding Calm in the Counselor Chaos December brings a special kind of school chaos. Schedules shift. Energy skyrockets. Teachers and students feel stretched. And counselors often find themselves trying to hold it all together. In this episode, I am sharing simple ways to stay grounded, centered, and calm during one of the busiest months of the school year. In This Episode You’ll Learn: • Common early signs of counselor burnout • Why noticing burnout is an act of wisdom, not weakness • Easy micro practices that take 30 seconds to 2 minutes • A guided one-minute breathing reset you can use anytime • How to let go of perfection and choose simplicity • Ways to weave calm moments into your day without adding tasks Quote From the Episode “You are doing enough. You are enough, and you are allowed to rest.” Encouragement for the Week December may be busy, but you do not have to absorb all the chaos around you. Take a pause, take a breath, and give yourself permission to rest. You are doing more good than you know. Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!Connect with Carol:TpT StoreCounseling Essentials WebsiteInstagramFacebookElementary…
December can feel like a whirlwind in schools, which makes it the perfect time to slow down and center students in one of the most grounding SEL themes we have: gratitude. In this episode, I am sharing simple, meaningful ways to introduce gratitude to students of all ages, plus ideas for weaving it into your…
Right before Thanksgiving, in the middle of progress reports, last-minute meetings, and all the pumpkin spice in the world, it can be easy to miss the small moments that actually fuel us. This episode is a gentle pause. A breath. A circle of gratitude created for you. I asked counselors in my Facebook groups what they are most grateful for, and their answers were pure joy, connection, and heart. Today I am sharing their stories, along with a few of my own, as a reminder that even in the chaos, the work you do every day truly matters. ✨ What You Will Hear in This Episode: Why the weeks before Thanksgiving feel especially heavy The power of stopping to notice the good A collective gratitude circle filled with counselor shared moments Students choosing time with their counselor as their reward Kids using calm down strategies and repeating your words back to you When a student calls you their trusted adult Why small wins often matter the most Real stories of connection from counselors across the country A quick 30 second gratitude practice you can do anytime Simple ideas to keep the gratitude going at school 💬 Quote from the Episode “Emotional safety is such a quiet form of love, and when kids choose to show up in your space, that is gratitude in motion.” 💛 Encouragement for the Week Take a moment today to name one thing you are grateful for in your work, with no posting or documenting, just a quiet acknowledgment of a meaningful moment. You are the safe space. You are the trusted adult. You are the calm in the storm. And that is something to be profoundly grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving, counselor friends. I appreciate you more than you know. 💛 Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when…
