As the school year winds down, most people are focused on celebrations, graduations, and summer plans. But school counselors know there’s another side to this season—the students we're still thinking about.

In this heartfelt episode of Counselor Chat, we'll talk about the students who stay on our minds long after the final bell rings. The students who still struggle with friendships, attendance, anxiety, family challenges, or simply finding their place in the world.

You'll learn:

• Why it's normal to worry about certain students as summer approaches
• What you can realistically do before the school year ends
• Simple ways to help students identify supports and prepare for summer
• How to effectively hand off information to next year's team
• Why counselors need to remember they are only one chapter—not the entire story

✔️ Supporting vulnerable students before summer break

✔️ Creating meaningful final check-ins

✔️ Helping students identify trusted adults and support systems

✔️ Transition planning and counselor-to-counselor handoffs

✔️ Letting go of the pressure to "fix everything" before June

✔️ Trusting that the seeds you've planted will continue to grow

You don't have to solve every problem before summer. Sometimes the greatest gift we give students is consistency, connection, and the reminder that they matter.

The fact that you're still worried about certain students doesn't mean you haven't done enough—it means you cared deeply.

🌐 CounselingEssentials.org

📸 Instagram: @counselingessentials

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another school counselor who may be carrying the weight of unfinished stories as the school year comes to a close.

Until next time, remember: the relationships matter, the small moments matter, and you matter too. 💛

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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

www.summercounselorconference.com

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.

• 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

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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

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.

✔️ 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

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

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

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

🎁 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.

🌐 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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

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

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.

• 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

• 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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

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.

• 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

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.

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

Simple. Low prep. High impact.

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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

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

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.

• 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

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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

Episode Title:

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

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.

• 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

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

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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

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:

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.

• 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.

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:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership