Counselor Chat Podcast

Latest Episodes:

13. Mindfulness with Beverly Fernandez Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Mindfulness is a topic we hear a lot about. But what really is mindfulness? What does it look like? And how can we use it in the classroom with our students?

In this episode of the Counselor Chat Podcast, I interview Beverly Fernandez, also known as ‘Counselor Bev’. Beverly dives deep into the topic of mindfulness and its powerful impact on both students and educators.

Mindfulness is all about appreciating the present moment, helping us break free from stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression. By being fully present and anchoring our thoughts to our senses, we can experience greater clarity and emotional well-being.

Topics Covered:

Beverly Fernandez discusses the concept of mindfulness and its importance in being present and reducing stress and anxiety.
Strategies for incorporating mindfulness in the classroom such as using breathing, senses, art, music, and movement.
Introducing mindfulness to students while respecting individual preferences and beliefs
Tips for counselors to practice mindfulness in their own lives such as self-reflection and taking pauses to gain clarity.
Beverly's favorite mindfulness activities, such as breath work, using scents like peppermint, and appreciating water

Beverly Fernandez is a licensed mental health professional and certified thetahealing practitioner. She is a counselor educator and school counselor from the Philippines.

Connect with Beverly Fernandez:

Links Mentioned:

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:

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12. School Anxiety Solutions: Technical Tips for Managing Tears at Dropoff with Ashley Bartley Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Are you a school counselor looking for effective strategies to address separation anxiety, school anxiety, and school refusal? If so, this episode of Counselor Chat Podcast is for you!

In this episode, I chat with Ashley Bartley, an experienced elementary school counselor, author, presenter, and creative mind behind Counselor Station. They take a deep dive into the topic of helping kids overcome separation challenges and anxiety.

Ashley Bartley is an Elementary School Counselor in Virginia. She also is Counselor Station on TpT and social media. Ashley will be a presenter at the Summer Counselor Conference where she will go in depth on helping students with school anxiety, separation anxiety and school refusal, but today she'll share what she does at her school to help students who are frequent cryers as they enter school.

Topics Covered:

Identifying the prevalence of separation and school anxiety in recent years, especially following the pandemic
Exploring tactical tips and strategies for educators to support students facing separation and school anxiety
Collaborating with parents and caregivers to provide comprehensive support for students
Implementing tiered interventions to meet students’ varying needs
Creating a positive and inclusive environment for new students, including ELL students

Connect with Ashley Bartley:

Resources:

2023 Summer Counselor Conference

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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:

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11. Prepared Spontaneity in Lesson Planning May 31, 2023

Show notes

Being spontaneous while being prepared means being ready for unexpected situations while also allowing room for improvisation and creativity. It involves balancing the need for structure and planning with the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.

To achieve this balance, it's important to have a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as a mindset of openness and adaptability. This means:

Prioritizing the important tasks.
Being Flexible.
Practicing adaptability.
Maintaining a positive attitude.

Resources Mentioned:

Guided Meditation Scripts

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

10. Closing Down Your School Year May 24, 2023

Show notes

The end of the school year is here, and I’m sure that summer relaxation is on your mind. But wait! Let’s first think about how you can close down this year in a way that will set you up for success for the next one.

This process all starts with reflection. Reflection in itself is an act of self-care. It allows you to assess the effectiveness of your current systems and routines, identify areas for improvement, and shift from busyness to productivity.

In today’s episode I’m going to walk you through exactly what to reflect on, and offer suggestions on possible changes that you can put in place. What you do today can drive you towards where you want to be tomorrow. I promise, your future self will thank you if you take some time to do these things before completely closing the door on your year.

Topics Covered:

The benefits of creating end-of-year reports, and what to include in them
What to do if you didn’t formally collect data during the school year
The real purpose of giving a staff survey (it might not be what you think!)
How data can be an incredibly powerful tool for us as counselors
Tips for cleaning up your inbox and organizing your files
Specific questions to ask yourself as you reflect on your program

Links Mentioned:

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9. Slumps and Burnout and What You Can Do About It May 17, 2023

Show notes

Burnout is real for school counselors! But, there are things that we can do to try to prevent burnout from happening.

Yes we can be overworked, underpaid, under staffed, tired and exhausted, but if we look at the systems we put in place in our counseling program and start to examine our time on tasks, we can take back some of our time and feel less stressed and more productive.

This episode is filled with tips that you can implement right away to make the most of your day.

Links Mentioned:

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

8. Erin’s Law and School Counselors May 10, 2023

Show notes

Child abuse is a serious issue that affects millions of children worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1 billion children globally have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year.

Erin's Law is a law that requires all public schools in the United States to implement age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault prevention education. The law is named after Erin Merryn, a survivor of child sexual abuse who became an advocate for such education.

While talking about Erin's Law can leave School Counselors and students feeling uncomfortable, these uncomfortable conversations are so necessary to keep our students safe. Today, we'll be talking about why we need to take on this role and steps to make it easier.

Here are some resources that can help:

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

7. Transition To Middle School With Laura Oathout (Music City School Counselor) May 03, 2023

Show notes

Are you overwhelmed by thinking about all the things you need to do to transition students from the elementary school to the middle school? There's a lot to get done and throw in end of the year testing, end of year activities and fun days, it can seem like there is absolutely no time to cover everything that needs to get done.

Our guest today, Laura Oathout of Music City Counselor, is here to share some tips to make this transition easier and how she got her elementary students ready to move on. I think you will enjoy her easy to implement tips on how to make this transition easier for both you and your students.

Connect with Laura on Instagram: @MusicCityCounselor

Resources that can help:

Middle School Transition Lesson, Activities, & Workbook, Digital & Printable by Music City Counselor
Middle School Readiness Survey by Music City Counselor
Blog Post: Middle School Transition Tips For Success by Music City Counselor
Middle School Transition Bundle by Counseling Essentials
Escape To Middle School Escape Room by Counseling Essentials

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6. Interviewing Tips For School Counselors Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

If you made it to the school counselor interview, you are in the elite few that are being considered for the job! You've wowed them with your resume, now it is time to knock their socks off by how you answer their interview questions. No need to stress, these tips will keep you feeling confident and ready to rock that interview!

Links to resources talked about in this podcast:

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

5. Putting Together A School Counselor Resume Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

Your resume is often the first impression you make on a potential employer, so make sure it is clear, concise, and tailored to the job you are applying for. It's a document that summarizes your education, work experience, skills, and accomplishments.

Today we'll cover the steps to putting together a great resume employers will want to see.

Links to resources talked about in this podcast:

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

4. Amplify Your School Counseling Job Search Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

Applying for school counseling jobs is a marathon and not a sprint. Planning ahead is the key. You need to get everything in order ahead of time to avoid the stress later on. Brainstorming, networking, trackers and checklists can help you get ready and put your best foot forward. We'll talk all about what you can do now before you even start to write your resume and prep for interviews.

If you are want the trackers and guide we talked about in today's show, make sure you download the FREE Job Search Workbook .

Want more help with building your resume, cover letter and interview prep? Join BOOST , my resume, cover letter and interviewing prep course.

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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