High School Counseling Conversations®

As high school counselors with large caseloads, it can feel like a lot of pressure when it comes to trying to handle the mental health needs of students on top of everything else. There's no flow chart to work through because each scenario is unique.   The good news is that counselors have the tools, strategies, and experiences to handle these situations. All you need are some new ideas to lean in...

Do you struggle to manage the adult friendships in your life? You're not alone! Maintaining relationships as we age can be challenging. But with some effort to do things differently, we can all be on our way to thriving friendships! My guest today, Blake Blankenbecler, brings real-world examples and ideas to use as adults navigating relationships and friendships in the workplace. She believes that...

WOOOOO! We've hit 100 episodes on the High School Counseling Conversations Podcast! It's existed for almost two years now, which is wild for someone whose personality shifts gears all day, every day.   To celebrate this milestone, I'm doing an "ask me anything" episode. Several weeks ago, I put a question sticker on my Instagram stories where you could submit your questions. Today, I am answering...

Our high school students are so busy and surrounded with pressures of classes, college applications, sports, friendships, and more. With everything they have going on, it’s easy to forget that they are still just kids who need breaks.  My guest today, Tylee Resetich, knew a way to give them the break they needed while teaching them about the importance of exploring new interests. She did this thro...

We know that as high school counselors, our roles are unique and specialized, and it's crucial to feel valued and respected by our admin. But what happens when an administrator seems to be refusing to acknowledge the value of our work? Join me as we explore why this topic is important and how thriving relationships between admins and counselors can lead to higher job satisfaction, lower burnout ra...

When we have children of our own, we have to juggle the role of parent and high school counselor. Our experience in school counseling can pay off when it comes to helping our children through various milestones, such as the college application process. However, it can also get a bit tricky to wear both hats at once! My guest today, veteran school counselor Tyesha Hemmans, is a testament of this ba...

You’ve likely heard all the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI). But let’s talk about AI for school counselors specifically. Can we really use AI to enhance our counseling program and save us some time here and there? Yes we can! I’m sharing over ten ways that you can leverage AI for school counselors. From letters of recommendation, to writing tough emails to parents or staff, to presentatio...

What’s one big reason for counselors feeling stressed out, overworked, underpaid, and spread thin? A large caseload!  You know how it is when you’re juggling a large caseload. You feel like you can’t reach every student that you need to. There’s never enough hours in the day to tackle your endless to-do list. And don't even get me started on all those emails!   I’m here to help you navigate the ch...

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a community of raving fans for your high school counseling program? You know, those people who are not only aware of the amazing work you’re doing but also actively support and advocate for your program.  We all know how tiring it can be to constantly advocate for our programs, so let’s explore how we can transform those around us into raving fans who reinforce our effo...

After witnessing a student feel defeated about plans to attend community college rather than a University, Priscilla Grijalva knew that she needed to change the narrative. That’s when “Reach Higher Thursdays” were created, and more support was shown for celebrating all post-secondary options.  Priscilla Grijalva is a highly accomplished school counselor with over 18 years of experience and an incr...

Each student on your caseload has unique needs. Your DACA and undocumented students face a particular set of challenges, and you have the opportunity to be a beacon of hope for many of them. We're going to dive into advocating for undocumented students and exploring ways to meet their needs. I’m sharing three specific ideas for how you can support these students from creating a safe environment, t...

As we gear up for the school year, I know you've probably already started fielding questions from your seniors about their college search. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to know every single fact about every college! In this episode, I’ll share five free resources that you can direct your students to for their college search journey. From college search engines to school websites a...

We all want our students to find success after high school and we do everything in our power to get them to where they need to be by graduation. This idea of “success” is different for everyone, as is the path to get there. In today’s climate, there are so many options for students post-graduation. A traditional four year college isn’t for everyone. However, there are students who want to pursue c...

We all have students on our caseload who are falling through the cracks in one way or another. While part of your job is to advocate for these students and find solutions, you don’t have to do it alone.  Establishing a student support team may be one of the best ways that you can help these struggling students. A student support team gives a small group of people in your school the information the...

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 doors are officially OPEN for you to join! The Clique Collaborative is a membership for high school counselors that was created to empower and inspire you in your counseling journey. I’ve recently made some improvements to the membership, and now it’s...

Ready to kickstart your year with a jolt of inspiration? This week we’re diving headfirst into the world of imposter syndrome. It’s that nagging doubt that even the most seasoned counselors can’t escape, making you wonder if you truly belong in your role. But guess what? You absolutely do! From veterans to rookies, we’re all in this together, armed with our master’s degrees and an unyielding commi...

If you’ve ever been curious about the differences in school counseling roles based on the grade levels they support, then this episode is for you. I’m joined by Alabama school counselors, Laura Rankhorn and Kim Cumbley. Between the three of us, we have experience as elementary, middle, and high school counselors.   Our conversation centers around the differences and similarities between these grad...

I recently attended the ASCA 2023 National Conference in Atlanta and it's time for a debrief! Between the 12 sessions I attended and meeting so many incredible school counselors, I have lots of highlights, takeaways, and reflections to share with you.   Inspired by this conference, I'm inviting you to join our vibrant Clique Collaborative community . Whether you are seeking new ideas or a place to...

As high school counselors, we all have our must-have items that help to get us through the year (or the day!). Today I’m sharing my top high school counseling essentials that will help you kickstart your upcoming school year. When I crafted this list, I sat down to think of what you and your students would get the most use out of. The result? Five specific items that will help your counseling prog...

Let's tackle a topic that's been surprisingly absent from the podcast so far: needs assessments! You're gearing up for a new school year and are ready to make a big difference in your students' lives. That's where needs assessments come in. They're like the compass that guides us in the right direction from the very beginning of the school year. Think of this as our chance to hear straight from th...

Summer is for relaxing and recharging before you head into another busy school year. I hope you're taking full advantage of this season because we all know that once school is back in session, it will feel like you're drinking from a firehose! While I don't want you to spend your summer worrying about what's to come, there are things you can sprinkle into your break that will set you up for succes...

One of our greatest responsibilities and privileges as school counselors is student confidentiality. I know how difficult it can be when others in the school don't prioritize confidentiality, but we can't let that affect our commitment to our students and their privacy. We’re both advocates for our students and co-workers trying to build relationships with others in the school. It’s important to b...

Let’s talk about something that may (or may not) ruffle some feathers - our title!  Does it really matter if we’re called guidance counselors instead of school counselors? Well, I would argue that it matters a lot, and I’m not the only one. In 1990, ASCA officially announced that our professional title is a school counselor and not a guidance counselor. And yet, we’re still called guidance counsel...

Are you a high school counselor preparing to attend the ASCA National Conference for the first time? Or maybe you’re a seasoned pro in need of a refresher? Either way, I’ve got you covered with my five favorite ASCA conference tips. I’ve attended the ASCA conferences in New Orleans and Denver, and I’ll be at the Atlanta conference this summer! Through these experiences, I’ve taken note of what to...

As school counselors, we often find ourselves reacting to emergencies rather than proactively helping our students. But what if I told you that your work calendar could be the key to shifting from a responsive service to a proactive one? Inside this episode, I'm sharing how my counseling team and I used our digital calendar to collect data and advocate for changes in our department. With these cha...