High School Counseling Conversations®

Think back to the time you transitioned from middle school to high school. You went from being the oldest in the school to now being the youngest in a new building with a bunch of new opportunities in front of you. Many incoming ninth graders are apprehensive about being in a new school and unsure about the classes they need to take and what to get involved in. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing...

I love sharing ideas, tips, and advice about all things related to school counseling. But nothing makes me more excited than the joy, eagerness, and excited demeanor of new high school counselors! They've got all these new ideas they want to implement and are excited to hit the ground running. So, if you're a new high school counselor and thinking, " What do I need to know before the school year b...

This is the time of year when you might start looking for new opportunities in the form of a new counseling job. Whether you’re a student who just graduated college, a parent coming back into the workforce after staying home with your children, or just looking for a new place to help students, this episode is for you! I have my friend, Rachel Davis, on today, and we’re sharing our best school coun...

Even though for some of you, summer might feel so far away, in reality, it’s just around the corner. I know I was always ready to leave and start relaxing, but there are certain things that need to get done before heading out the door. I want you to feel confident and know that you have everything wrapped up from the year and are ready to start a new school...

Sometimes, the things we have to do as high school counselors aren't glamorous, exciting, or thrilling. However, that doesn't mean they're not important or essential for running our counseling programs. One of those things is analyzing data. It's likely that you've collected data throughout the school year, but as the end of the year approaches, you're probably thinking,  what do I do with th...

I’m shocked to say it, but today’s topic is a first for the podcast! It’s not something that we’re immersed in our day-to-day routine, but it’s so important in supporting student needs that, as high school counselors, we should be knowledgeable about it. That’s right, I’m talking about IEPs and 504s. Since I’m not an expert in this subject, I wanted to bring on a guest who has decades of experienc...

I’ve said it before, but this time of year is one of the most stressful with graduation, wrapping up the school year, and so many other things that consume your school day. That’s why I wanted to take a moment and reflect on your year and, more importantly, the success you’ve had throughout the school year. To help celebrate, seven other high school counselors are sharing their counselor wins with...

As graduation approaches, you’re probably doing all the last-minute details of finalizing the details of the event, ordering cap and gowns, designing the program, and about a million other tasks. And while you’ve thought of every detail, you probably didn’t consider or want to think about the seniors not graduating. While it’s an unfortunate and depressing thought, it’s the reality that a lot of c...

We’ve officially entered the last quarter of the school year, which means graduation for seniors is just around the corner. However, we all know some students who are at risk and in jeopardy of not getting their diplomas. As high school counselors, it’s part of our job to help those at-risk students graduate. So, I’m sharing ways you can specifically support them during this time. Being a high sch...

As high school counselors, doing classroom lessons is part of the job and helps us stay connected to students and their needs. However, most of our lessons tend to focus on the essentials of scholarship programs, financial aid literacy, reading transcripts, and so much more academically. Instead, I want to give you some counseling classroom lesson ideas that involve social-emotional learning.  In...

Have you been wanting to start classroom lessons in your high school counseling program but haven’t taken the plunge yet? You’re in the right place because I have some motivating tips for you that will help you take action on classroom lessons. Specifically, I have six steps that you can follow. If you’re feeling like you’ll be creating more work for yourself if you start classroom lessons, hear m...

Are you interested in hosting a career fair at your high school and wondering where to begin? That's similar to the position I was in as a school counselor. There hadn't been a career fair at my school in many years, but I decided to pitch the idea to help with career readiness efforts for students. Career fairs can be an incredible way to reach many students at once and open doors and career oppo...

As high school counselors, we are experts at discussing mental health, relationships, self-regulation, and post-secondary planning. But when it comes to school counselor finances, it can feel uncomfortable and confusing! Whether you want to pay off debt, save, or invest, this conversation will empower you regarding your finances.   Today's guest, Jeremy Schneider, is a successful entrepreneur and...

You're ready to start using small groups in your high school, but you need to be able to measure their effectiveness and have something tangible to show for your endeavors. The key to success is to plan to collect and share small group data from the start.   If you have resistance from admins or fellow high school counselors, data can be highly compelling to show the value of utilizing small group...

Do you have mixed feelings about counseling small groups? Today's episode will pique your interest and get you thinking about incorporating them into your high school counseling. There is so much power in using small groups in the high school setting!   It's time for high school counselors to replace your dreaded non-counseling duties with actual counseling duties, like the forgotten tier-two inte...

When was the last time you reviewed different counseling theories you could bring into your role? It's probably something you have not considered since graduate school, but we have you covered! We are diving into using a solution-focused school counseling approach and how it can increase your effectiveness and efficiency. Today's guest, Dr. Russell A. Sabella, is a Professor in the School Counseli...

Are you looking for a high school counselor membership that provides the information you need to know, helps you understand how to apply everything to your role, and has a place to connect with other counselors?  The Clique Collaborative  is the place for you and is ready to welcome you with open arms! The doors are officially OPEN for you to join!   The Clique Collaborative  is a high school coun...

Did you know National School Counseling Week is only a few weeks away? This year's celebration is from February 5 through February 9, 2024. Before you ignore this episode, I want to say I SEE YOU and know you're out there! It's common for counselors to get down on themselves about this week, but this episode will help to understand why it's so important to celebrate.   No matter how you currently...

You made it to the halfway point; it's time to begin the second semester! You may feel excited, overwhelmed, and wondering where to start. All those feelings are normal, and I want to be here for you during this transition and give you the four essentials to finish the school year strong!   It's easy to look ahead and get overwhelmed by how much is left to do and how much of the year is still left...

Have you ever considered going back to school to get your doctorate? You may have wondered how doctorate school counseling could benefit your career. Well, you're in luck because we are going to hear directly from a counselor who went for her dream and received her Ph. D.   Today's guest, Dr. Maritza Cha, is a first-generation college graduate who started her journey as a social studies teacher in...

We are taking it back to the second episode of this podcast! This episode is the perfect reminder to focus on resetting yourself for the new year and semester! It's easy to let the whole winter break fly by without thinking about ways to reset for 2024.   It's essential to reset yourself because it can be hard to find the motivation to try new ideas, learn new ways of doing things, or change your...

As high school counselors, many of us are natural helpers, and some are to a fault. This often shows up as us not following through on the boundaries we've set for ourselves, which can quickly lead to burnout and job resentment.    I'm here to tell you that if we're not defining our boundaries, somebody else will! Taking our boundaries seriously leads to higher job satisfaction and helps you feel...

Are you a high school counselor looking for a supportive and engaging community?  The Clique Collaborative might be just what you're looking for, and one of the best parts is access to the live quarterly calls! Today, we are going behind the scenes so you can experience what it's like to be on one of our Live Clique Collab Calls! These calls provide members with a school counselor community that u...

Are you familiar with MTSS? In case you aren’t, MTSS stands for Multi-Tiered System of Support. Essentially, it is a framework that helps schools be effective and efficient in identifying and supporting kids who need academic, social, emotional, or college and career development support.   Today, we are re-airing one of the most popular episodes from this year, where I had Dr. Jake Olsen and Dr. P...

Are you tired of trying to squeeze in everything and feeling overwhelmed? Scheduling is hard when you're pulled in so many different directions, and it's something that many counselors struggle with.   It's time to implement a new strategy to make the most of your time! My friend, Rachel Davis, has found a way that you can look at what needs to be done, streamline your day, and make the impact we...