Counselor Chat Podcast

Latest Episodes:

23. Decorating Your Office On A Dime Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

There’s so much to consider when you’re setting up your office. You want the space to be functional, but you also want it to reflect your personality and be a space where students enjoy spending time. And what’s often the most challenging part of decorating your office? Doing it on a budget!

In today’s episode, we’re diving into creative and budget-friendly ways to decorate your counseling office without breaking the bank. We'll explore simple steps like decluttering and organizing your space, as well as furniture placement ideas to maximize functionality.

We'll also discuss replacing faded or outdated decor, using calming colors, and adding accessories like pillows, curtains, and area rugs to create a warm and positive atmosphere. Plus, I have some thrifty DIY ideas for you.

After listening, share what your office space looks like in one of our Facebook groups! The links for these groups are listed below.

Topics Covered:

The big difference that decluttering your office can make, and the positive effects that it can have on your students
What to consider when deciding on furniture placement and colors used in your decor
Examples of some things that you might want to avoid putting in your office
How to easily create inexpensive and eye-catching wall art
Suggestions for what to include in your ‘calm down corner’
A hack for defining specific areas in your office

Links Mentioned:

Facebook Groups:

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join 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:

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

22. Why School Counselor Introduction Lessons Are Important Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

At the beginning of the school year, do you take the time to introduce yourself and your role as a school counselor to the students in your building?

Or, do you assume the students know who you are and what you do?

I used to assume everyone knew me and knew what I did as a school counselor. But over time, I realized that wasn't true and I gained some very valuable insight on the significance of introducing yourself and your role as a school counselor.

That’s what we are diving into in today’s episode. We are going to be chatting about why and how to introduce yourself and your role as a school counselor at the beginning of the school year.

Topics Covered:

How to build rapport and connection with students. When students feel connected and comfortable, they are more likely to seek support and confide in you about their concerns and challenges
Informing students about available support, the extent of your role, and the ways you can assist them in their academic success, personal growth, and overall well-being
Why establishing trust with students is crucial
Normalizing help-seeking behaviors. This proactive approach breaks down barriers and encourages students to seek support when facing challenges
The importance of setting clear expectations including explaining confidentiality policies, scheduling procedures, and the types of problems you can assist with
Engaging methods for introducing yourself to students

Resources Mentioned:

Questions about the conference or anything you heard on this episode?

Send me an email: carol@counselingessentials.org

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

21. Sharing An Office Space with Ashley Morat Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever had to share an office or classroom with a colleague? Sharing a workspace can be challenging and can certainly have its ups and downs, especially if the move is unexpected and the space is small.

In this episode, my colleague and officemate, Ashley Morat, and I are chatting about how we came to share the same workspace and how we make it work successfully. 🙌🏼

Topics Covered:

The importance of having open, honest, and frequent communication with your officemate.
How to set clear boundaries and know when to ask permission to use certain items.
Why having a positive mindset, open mind, and being flexible is crucial when sharing an office space.
How having two counselors allows us to reach every student more effectively and provide additional support when necessary.
How sharing office space can be a rewarding experience and can help you both grow as professionals and as friends.

Resources:

Questions about anything you heard on this episode? Send me an email: carol@counselingessentials.org

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

20. Incorporating Diversity Into Your Groups with Leslie Cuprill Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Does your school have an advisory program? A successful advisory program includes social-emotional learning (SEL) done by both classroom teachers and school counselors. It creates a supportive environment, fosters connections between students and educators, and addresses various topics including bullying, relationship building, and college preparation.

Our guest, Leslie Cuprill is a licensed clinical social worker from Brooklyn, who has extensive experience working with diverse populations of students. In our conversation today, we will discuss how to create an engaging advisory program that promotes social-emotional learning (SEL) to help students thrive in their academic and personal lives.

You can hear more from Leslie at The Summer Counselor Conference where she will be presenting a session on engaging students in groups, advisory, and SEL.

Topics Covered:

The many benefits of advisory programs; including improved attendance, engagement, graduation rates, and more.
Why it is important for school counselors to support classroom teachers with training to effectively facilitate advisory sessions and connect with students.
The best ways for integrating advisory into the regular school day in order to increase student engagement and accountability.
Engaging students by using surveys to gather student preferences and interests and involving them in creating ground rules for advisory sessions.
Why it is essential to understand the diverse cultural backgrounds of students when designing advisory content.
Tips on how to overcome teacher resistance and create a successful advisory program.

Connect with Leslie:

Email: Leslie.informeddeisions@gmail.com
Informed Decisions Newsletter
Informed Decisions Blog
Advisory and SEL Programs And Activities Facebook Group
Informed Decisions Instagram
Informed Decisions TpT Store
Informed Decisions on Boom Learning

Resources:

Questions about the conference or anything you heard on this episode?

Send me an email: carol@counselingessentials.org

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

19. Motivational Interviewing For School Counselors with Reagan North Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever used motivational interviewing (MI) in your school counseling program? If you aren’t familiar with motivational interviewing, it is a technique that focuses on building empathy and helping students talk themselves into making positive changes based on what motivates them.

It’s absolutely fascinating to learn about and for our guest today, Reagan North, it completely changed the way he viewed his job as a school counselor. Reagan is here to share all about this technique and how you can use it with your students.

Reagan North is a professor and author of Motivational Interviewing for School Counselors. In our conversation, we discuss the power of motivational Interviewing (MI) in school counseling and how it can lead to positive behavioral changes in students.

You can hear more from Reagan at The Summer Counselor Conference where he will be presenting a session on motivational interviewing techniques for individual counseling, small groups and classroom lessons.

Topics Covered:

A powerful MI technique that leads to better understanding and connection with students.
How asking for permission to discuss sensitive topics or change allows students to feel in control of the conversation
Different ways that school counselors can use MI (Motivational Interviewing) effectively
Why giving advice can actually break our relationships with students
The difference between a simple and complex reflection, and examples of how you might use it during a counseling session
What to focus on in order to help students develop the motivation to make positive change in their lives

Links Mentioned:

Connect with Reagan North:

Facebook: Motivational Interviewing For School Counselors
Twitter: @ReaganNorth

Grab Reagan's Book:

Motivational Interviewing For School Counselors

More Resources:

Questions about the conference or anything you heard on this episode?

Send me an email: carol@counselingessentials.org

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

18. 5 Steps to Vocalizing Your Value with Jeff Becker Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

When was the last time you got to the end of a work day and actually got everything done that was on your to-do list?

As our guest Jeff Becker says, “there’s never a quiet day in the counseling office”. It’s non-stop and some days the overwhelm really wears on you. What’s worse is that other staff members may not recognize the hard work that you put in each day.

Jeff and I both know exactly how you feel, which is why he’s here to emphasize the importance of vocalizing your value and showcase his passion for helping other counselors succeed.

You’ll hear Jeff introduce a new training program, “Counselor Impact Training”, which focuses on empowering counselors to understand and utilize data effectively, identify and address performance gaps in students, and develop creative interventions. Plus, he explains the significance of pitching innovative ideas to school leaders and display your impact to stakeholders.

Topics Covered:

How to communicate who you are, what you do, and the value you provide
Strengthening the skill to understand and apply data effectively for student success
Identifying hidden performance gaps impacting students
Inspiring the creation of unique innovative solutions to address individual student needs.
Boosting your confidence in presenting bold innovative ideas to school leaders
Jeff will be presenting a session at the upcoming Summer Counselor Conference, focusing on how to get teachers involved in delivering counseling lessons and fostering social-emotional learning in the classroom.

Resources:

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

17. Bringing Accountability to Your Own Wellness with Dr. Sandi Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

As counselors, we do so much for our students, but how do you actually show up for yourself in supporting your own wellness?

This is just one of many great questions that we're going to challenge you to ask yourself today. In this episode of Counselor Chat, Dr. Sandi Logan from Oceanic Yoga and Wellness joins me to discuss the topic of bringing accountability to your own wellness as a counselor.

Dr. Sandi emphasizes the importance of connection and commitment in supporting personal wellness. She introduces the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness, which focuses on five key elements: creative, social, physical, coping, and essential self.

She also provides examples and strategies for nurturing each element, such as engaging in creative activities, investing in relationships, cultivating a healthy relationship with food, and prioritizing physical well-being. She leaves us with 2 questions to consider:

What are 1 or 2 steps that you can take immediately to bring greater accountability to your wellness?

What are 1 or 2 steps that may take more time and effort to implement, but lead to long term wellness?

Topics Covered:

Overcoming the challenge of implementing wellness practices as a counselor despite understanding their importance
The Indivisible Self Model of Wellness: creative, social, physical, coping, and essential self
The importance of using your sick and mental health days
Strategies for nurturing each element include engaging in creative activities, investing in relationships, cultivating a healthy relationship with food, and prioritizing physical well-being

Links Mentioned In The Show:

Summer Counselor Conference

Connect With Dr. Sandi:

Instagram- Beachmeetswellness

Oceanic Hoga And Wellness Blog

Facebook Page--Beach Meets Wellness

Facebook Group-- The School Counselor Sanctuary

Connect With Carol:

Carol's website

TPT store

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

16. Teaching Students About Race and Racism in Elementary School with Kristin Moffett Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

How do you approach teaching the topics of race and racism with your elementary students, especially if you are not a person of color? If you need additional support with this, this episode is for you!

In this podcast episode, I interview Kristen Moffett, a 20 + year school counselor at the Walker School in Georgia. Kristen shares her experiences and insights on addressing race and racism with elementary students.

Kristen collaborated with parents, administration, and colleagues to develop a curriculum focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, race, and racism. She discusses the significance of educators taking responsibility for learning and educating themselves about race and racism, rather than solely relying on individuals from diverse backgrounds to teach these topics.

Kristen is also going to be one of our presenters at the 2023 Summer Counselor Conference. Be sure to grab your ticket here today!

Topics Covered:

Educators, regardless of their racial background, must educate themselves about race and racism and take responsibility for teaching these topics to students.
The curriculum developed by Kristen and her team, consisting of five lessons on diversity, equity, inclusion, race, and racism.
Using age-appropriate definitions and language when teaching about race and racism
Simplifying complex concepts to ensure students comprehend and engage in meaningful discussions.
The importance of collaborating with parents, administrators, and colleagues in addressing race-related topics effectively.

Resources Mentioned:

More Than Peach Book

More Than Peach Project

Summer Counselor Conference

Follow Kristen Moffett on Twitter

Connect with Carol:

Carol's website

TPT store

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

15. The Top 10 Excuses I Told Myself For Why I Shouldn’t Attend An ASCA Conference Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

Attending conferences during the summer is a great way to reset your mindset, set goals, and prepare for the upcoming school year. I’ve attended the ASCA Conference both as an active participant and presenter.

There is a unique energy, excitement, and inspiration that can be found at this event. However, it's common to make excuses as to why you should not attend a conference such as shyness, missing family, not meeting anyone, cost, and thinking you wouldn't learn anything new.

In this episode, I am going to debunk these excuses and emphasize the value of attending conferences for professional development and personal growth.

Topics Covered:

My experience with attending the ASCA Conference as a participant and a presenter
Common excuses people make for not attending conferences
Practical tips for those attending in-person conferences
Benefits of attending summer conferences both in-person and virtually

Blog Posts

ASCA Conferences

Resources:

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

14. School Counselors: Level Up Your Game – Why Conferences Matter Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

Do you attend conferences or professional development trainings during the summers? Attending national and state conferences can open up a world of opportunities for learning and networking with other educators and counselors.

In this episode, we are chatting about the benefits of attending conferences and other professional development trainings. I am also announcing details about the 2023 Summer Counselor Conference I am hosting in August! You won’t want to miss the amazing keynote speakers and presenters I have lined up!

Topics Covered:

Why it is important to attend professional development trainings for school counselors
How to keep up with the changing educational landscape and aligning counseling approaches with evolving needs
How to create networking and collaboration opportunities with colleagues from different schools and districts
Announcement of the 2023 Summer Counselor Conference! 🎉

Links Mentioned:

ASCA Conference
Summer Counselor Conference
Prior episode about anxiety that was mentioned (Activities To Help Kids With Anxiety)
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Questions about the conference or anything you heard on this episode?

Send me an email: carol@counselingessentials.org

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join 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:

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

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