Counselor Chat Podcast

Latest Episodes:

163. Helping Students Transition Well (Without Adding One More Thing to Your Plate) May 20, 2026

Show notes

163. Helping Students Transition Well

As school counselors, we spend so much time managing schedules, testing, field trips, celebrations, and end-of-year chaos that it’s easy to forget what many students are experiencing underneath it all: transition.

In this episode of Counselor Chat, I’m talking about how transitions affect students emotionally and how we can support them in simple, meaningful ways without adding one more giant project to our already busy season.

From elementary students moving to middle school, to seniors preparing to graduate, students often carry fears, uncertainty, excitement, grief, and anxiety all at the same time. The good news? Supporting them doesn’t have to involve complicated lessons, elaborate crafts, or Pinterest-perfect projects.

In this episode, I share realistic and manageable ideas that help students process change, reflect on growth, and move forward with confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why transitions can feel emotionally overwhelming for students
Common fears students have when moving to middle school and high school
The importance of normalizing emotions during times of change
Easy reflection and closure activities for different grade levels
How simple conversations can create lasting impact
Ways to support graduating seniors emotionally
Why counselors don’t need giant productions to create meaningful moments

Favorite Quote from the Episode:

“Simple is often better because it’s realistic and repeatable, and students remember how they felt, who listened, and who helped them feel seen.”

Resources Mentioned:

Year End Review Discussion Questions

Summer Counselor Conference

Remember, meaningful does not have to mean complicated.

You are making a bigger difference than you realize.

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:

162. The 3 Pieces of Data School Counselors Should Grab Right Now May 13, 2026

Show notes

Don’t Wait Until June: The 3 Pieces of Data You Should Grab Right Now

In this episode of Counselor Chat, we're talking about one of the biggest end-of-year stressors for school counselors: DATA. But instead of overcomplicating things with giant spreadsheets and impossible tracking systems, this episode focuses on the simple, meaningful information that actually matters.

If you’ve ever found yourself in May wondering:

“Where did this year go?”
“Did I track enough?”
“How am I supposed to summarize my counseling program?”

…this episode is for you.

Carol shares:

The 3 pieces of data every school counselor should gather before the year ends
Why simple data is still powerful
Easy ways to use the information you already have
How stories and student growth make your impact visible
Why presentation matters when sharing your counseling program with administrators and stakeholders

She also shares practical examples from her own district counseling program and explains how data can help guide next year’s counseling priorities—not just “prove” what you did this year.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why more data does NOT always mean better data

✔️ The importance of tracking the scope of your counseling work

✔️ Simple ways to show student growth and outcomes

✔️ Why stories and student quotes matter

✔️ What NOT to do during May survival season 😅

✔️ How to create visuals that make your counseling program shine

✔️ How data can help shape next year’s counseling goals and supports

The 3 Types of Data to Collect Right Now

1. What You Did

Classroom lessons
Small groups
Individual sessions
Crisis response
Parent meetings
Attendance and behavior interventions
Community circles
Career activities

2. What Changed

Pre/post surveys
Attendance improvements
Coping skills growth
Teacher observations
Student reflections
Behavior changes

3. Stories

Student quotes
Teacher feedback
Parent comments
Success moments
Impact stories that bring your work to life

Free Resource Mentioned in This Episode

🎁 Free End of Year Counseling Report

This free counseling report template helps school counselors summarize the highlights of their school counseling program into an eye-catching, professional format that is perfect for:

Administrators
Advisory councils
Staff meetings
Program advocacy
End-of-year reflection

It’s designed to help you showcase:

Lessons taught
Groups facilitated
Student impact
Program highlights
Counseling outcomes

…without spending hours creating reports from scratch.

Connect with Carol

🌐 Counseling Essentials

📸 Instagram @counselingessentials

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another school counselor who’s trying to survive the end of the school year one spreadsheet at a time. 💛

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:

161. How to Choose an SEL Curriculum May 06, 2026

Show notes

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

160. Simple Mental Health Supports Every School Can Use Right Now Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Episode 160: Simple Mental Health Supports Every School Can Use Right Now

Mental Health Awareness Month is coming up, and I know how easy it is to feel like you need to do more.

Add another lesson. Try something new. Fit one more thing into an already full schedule.

In this episode, I share a different perspective. Supporting student mental health is not about adding something big. It is about what is already happening in your day and how you show up in those moments.

I walk through simple, realistic ways I support student mental health that do not require extra time or complicated planning. These are things you can start using right away.

In this episode:

Why mental health support is not limited to a lesson, a week, or a specific month
How everyday interactions shape how students feel and respond
Simple ways to support students without overwhelming your schedule
The role consistency plays in helping students feel safe
How to support your own mental health while supporting others

Practical Ways to Support Mental Health:

Checking in with students in small, informal moments throughout the day
Helping students understand that all feelings are valid and worth sharing
Teaching a few coping strategies and practicing them regularly
Creating predictable routines so students know what to expect
Making space for connection through simple conversations
Using tools like calm down kits to support regulation when needed

"You are not responsible for doing everything. You are responsible for doing what you can with intention."

Resources Mentioned:

Calm Down Kit Freebie!

High School Mental Health Lesson

Feelings Check Ins

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

159. You Don’t Have to Do It All: Letting Go This Time of Year Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Episode Title:

Rocks, Sand, and the Pressure to Do It All (Especially in April)

Episode Summary:

April can feel like a breaking point for school counselors. Between testing, behavior challenges, end-of-year responsibilities, and ongoing student needs, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind.

In this episode, I'm sharing a powerful perspective shift using the classic “jar of rocks” story to help you refocus your time, energy, and expectations. This is your reminder that you were never meant to do it all—and that doing less of what doesn’t matter can actually help you do more of what does.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why April feels especially overwhelming for school counselors
The hidden “invisible checklist” many counselors carry
How to identify your “rocks” (what matters most right now)
The difference between rocks, pebbles, and sand in your daily work
Why letting go is a strategic decision, not a failure
A simple mindset shift to reduce overwhelm immediately

Key Takeaway:

“You were never meant to do it all.”

Reflection Questions:

What are your rocks right now?
Where are you spending time on sand instead of what matters most?
What is one thing you can let go of this week?
Where are you already making a difference (even if it doesn’t feel like it)?

You don’t have to do everything to make a difference.

You just have to focus on what matters most.

And right now… that’s enough. 💛

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

158. Test Anxiety Isn’t Just Nerves—Here’s What Students Really Need Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Test Anxiety Isn’t Just Nerves—Here’s What Students Really Need

Test anxiety is everywhere this time of year, but it doesn’t always look the way we expect.

It’s not just nervous students biting their nails.

It’s avoidance.

Shutdown.

Frustration.

“I don’t care.”

In this episode, I’m breaking down what test anxiety really looks like, what’s happening in the brain, and how we can support students with simple, effective strategies that build confidence and calm.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why test anxiety is often misunderstood
How overwhelm—not defiance—is driving behavior
A simple way to explain anxiety to students
How confidence and identity impact test performance

🧠 What’s Really Happening

When students feel stressed, their brains flip into alarm mode.

Heart rate increases
Thinking becomes foggy
Focus drops

It’s not that they don’t know the material…

👉 Their brain is trying to protect them.

🎨 Easy Activities to Support Students

Color-by-code coping activities
Confidence statement practice
Collaborative classroom posters with calming messages

Simple. Low prep. High impact.

✨ Key Takeaway

“They care a lot… they just don’t feel capable.”

🎁 Resources Mentioned

Color by Code Test Taking SKills

Test Strategies Game

Test Prep Motivators

Test Prep Collaborative Poster

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

157. Why I Don’t Make Kids Apologize (And What I Do Instead) Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Why I Don’t Make Kids Apologize (And What I Do Instead)

💭 Episode Overview

We’ve all said it:

“Go apologize.”

But what if that moment isn’t actually teaching accountability?

In this episode, I’m sharing why I don’t force apologies—and what I do instead to help students take real ownership, build empathy, and repair relationships in a meaningful way.

🔑 Key Takeaways

An apology is not the same as accountability
Forced apologies often teach compliance—not empathy
Students need understanding before they can offer a genuine repair
Slowing down the process leads to better long-term behavior and relationships

✨ Key Insight

“When we force an apology before a student is ready, we’re not teaching empathy… we’re teaching compliance.”

🛠️ Resources Mentioned

Think Sheets

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

156. Spring Fever Is Real: Managing Big Energy & Bigger Behaviors Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Episode Title:

156. Spring Fever Is Real: Managing Big Energy & Bigger Behaviors

🌱 Episode Overview

April is here—and with it comes big energy, distracted students, and behaviors that can leave teachers feeling overwhelmed.

But what if those behaviors aren’t defiance…

What if they’re communication?

In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful reframe that will shift how you see student behavior this time of year—plus simple, practical strategies you can use immediately to support regulation, connection, and readiness to learn.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why “spring fever” is really a perfect storm of unmet needs
How to reframe behavior from frustration to understanding
The connection between regulation, belonging, and behavior
Why community and purpose matter for both staff and students

🛠️ Quick Tier 1 Strategies You Can Use Right Away

1. Brain Breaks with Purpose

Cross-body movements to support focus
60-second resets for breathing + attention
Intentional movement (not just “random wiggle time”)

2. Reset Routines After Transitions

Build in a 1–2 minute reset after lunch, recess, or specials
Use simple check-ins or grounding exercises
Don’t expect instant regulation—teach it

3. Calm Down Spaces That Actually Work

Focus on regulation—not punishment
Include tools students already know how to use
Practice when students are calm (not just overwhelmed)
Consider portable calm down kits for smaller classrooms

✨ Key Takeaway

“They’re not just acting out… they’re overwhelmed.”

When we shift from asking

“How do I stop this behavior?”

to asking

“What does this student need right now?”

…that’s where real change happens.

Resources Mentioned

Behavior Toolkit

Calm Down Kit

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:

155. How Long Is a Lifetime? (And What Are You Going to Do With Yours?) Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Episode 155. How Long Is a Lifetime?

This week on Counselor Chat, I’m zooming out.

Over the past few weeks we’ve talked about college exploration, career research, brackets, and future possibilities. But in this episode I wanted to step back and ask a bigger question — one I ask my upper elementary and middle school students every year:

How long is a lifetime?

To explore that question, I use a simple visual with jellybeans, where each one represents a day of life. When students see them all laid out it feels like forever… until we start sorting them into things like sleeping, working, and everyday routines.

That’s when perspective shifts.

When we do the math together, students realize the average person may spend about 43 years working before retirement. And that leads to one of my favorite questions to ask them:

“If you’re going to spend 43 years working, how do you want those years to feel?”

Instead of focusing only on what job they want someday, students begin thinking about the kind of life they want to build — and how the effort and skills they build now create opportunities later.

In This Episode

• The jellybean lifetime visual and why it resonates with students

• How I help students see the value of their time and future choices

• Why asking students how they want life to feel changes the conversation

• The connection between effort today and opportunities later

• The transferable skills that prepare students for any career path

Sometimes the most powerful lessons aren’t about choosing a career yet.

They’re about helping students understand that their time matters.

Because when you see your life represented by jellybeans, it becomes real.

Resource Mentioned

Future Plans Lesson (How Long Is A Lifetime?)

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

154. March Madness and School Counseling Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

154. March Madness and School Counseling

March Madness already brings energy into our school buildings.

Students are talking about brackets.

There’s excitement.

Competition.

Predictions about who will win.

In this episode, I share how I take that same excitement and turn it into a college and career exploration experience that students find engaging and meaningful.

Because if there’s one thing I want students to feel about their futures, it’s this:

I want their future to feel exciting, not overwhelming.

So instead of basketball teams…

I create a Future Bracket Challenge.

As I tell my students during this lesson:

“What if your future had its own bracket?”

What if colleges competed for you?

What if careers battled it out?

And what if you got to decide what makes it to your Final Four?

In This Episode

• How to turn March Madness energy into meaningful college and career exploration

• The College Research Pennant Project and how it makes research feel celebratory instead of overwhelming

• The Career Research Pennant Project that helps students connect education pathways to real careers

• A Career Cluster Bracket Challenge that encourages critical thinking and reflection

• A Sweet 16 Skills Bracket that explores essential future workplace skills

• Reflection questions that help students identify what matters most in their future

These activities help students begin to see their future not as something distant or intimidating…

But something they can start exploring right now.

Resources Mentioned

Career Research Pennant Project

College Research Pennant Project

These ready-to-use templates include structured research sections and resource links, so students can focus on exploration rather than teachers building materials from scratch.

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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163. Helping Students Transition Well

In this episode, we discuss:

Favorite Quote from the Episode:

Resources Mentioned:

Year End Review Discussion Questions

Don’t Wait Until June: The 3 Pieces of Data You Should Grab Right Now

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

The 3 Types of Data to Collect Right Now

1. What You Did

2. What Changed

3. Stories

Free Resource Mentioned in This Episode

Connect with Carol

Episode Title:

Episode Summary:

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Key Takeaway:

Reflection Questions:

Test Anxiety Isn’t Just Nerves—Here’s What Students Really Need

💡 What You’ll Learn

🧠 What’s Really Happening

🎨 Easy Activities to Support Students

✨ Key Takeaway

🎁 Resources Mentioned

💭 Episode Overview

🔑 Key Takeaways

✨ Key Insight

🛠️ Resources Mentioned

🌱 Episode Overview

💡 What You’ll Learn

🛠️ Quick Tier 1 Strategies You Can Use Right Away

✨ Key Takeaway

Episode 155. How Long Is a Lifetime?

In This Episode

Resource Mentioned

In This Episode

Resources Mentioned

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