January is often when attendance challenges start to feel impossible (for students and for counselors). In this episode, I break down why attendance dips during the winter months, how to reframe attendance as a support issue rather than a compliance issue, and what counselors can realistically do to help students re-engage with school.

This episode focuses on compassion, collaboration, and practical strategies that honor what students are really experiencing.

1. Common reasons attendance declines in January (illness, anxiety, routine changes, weather, and more)
2. Why framing attendance as a symptom changes how students respond
3. Language counselors can use to talk about attendance without blame
4. Layered counseling supports for students with chronic absences
5. How small wins (fewer tardies, staying longer, asking for help) matter more than perfect data
6. Engagement strategies that increase motivation and belonging

“Students don’t avoid school because they don’t care. They avoid school because something feels really hard.”

Attendance Small Group

Middle School Attendance Lesson (grades 6-7)

Barriers To Attendance Lesson (grades K-1)

Academic Success Attendance Lesson (grades 2-3)

Barriers to Attendance (grades 4-5)

Chronic Attendance Intervention Lesson (grade 8)

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

January can feel especially tough in schools. Big emotions, increased anxiety, mood changes, and shutdown behaviors often show up as students transition back from break. In this episode, I’m breaking down why January feels so hard, and what school counselors can do to support students in ways that are compassionate, practical, and sustainable.

1. Why January creates emotional and behavioral shifts for students
2. 
   
3. How anxiety shows up differently across age groups
4. 
   
5. The difference between behavior problems and regulation problems
6. 
   
7. Why predictability is essential for reducing anxiety
8. 
   
9. Counselor strategies to restore safety and routine
10. 
    
11. Low-pressure Tier 1 lesson ideas for January
12. 
    
13. Small group supports for anxiety, coping skills, and transitions
14. 
    
15. Trauma-informed practices that prioritize connection before correction
16. 
    

“Anxiety increases when predictability decreases.”

January isn’t about fixing feelings or pushing through. It’s about regrounding, rebuilding routines, and helping students feel safe enough to learn again. Small supports matter—and they add up.

Thank you for showing up for your students and for yourself. Your work matters more than you know.

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

January has a way of making counselors feel like they should start over with new systems, new routines, new everything. But what if that pressure is actually working against your effectiveness?

In this episode of Counselor Chat, I'm offering a grounded reframe for the new year: you don’t need to become a brand-new counselor just because the calendar changed.

Instead, this episode invites you to slow down, protect your energy, and focus on what already works.

1. Why January pressure can lead to burnout instead of clarity
2. A simple explanation of the law of diminishing returns in school counseling
3. How “doing more” can actually reduce your impact
4. Why small tweaks matter more than big overhauls
5. Practical ways to carry fall systems into the spring
6. Three gentle reflection prompts to guide your January planning

1. What is one counseling routine that felt manageable in the fall?
2. What is one lesson, group, or system I don’t need to reinvent?
3. What is one thing I can stop doing to protect my energy?

This episode is a reminder that:

1. You are not starting over
2. Your relationships still matter
3. Your systems didn’t disappear
4. And sustainability is what carries you through March, April, and May

✨ New year. Same counselor. Stronger boundaries. Smarter focus.

Thanks for being here, counselor friend.

You’re doing important work — even when it doesn’t feel loud or new.

⭐ If this episode helped you, a quick review means more than you know

Until next time — I hope you have a really great week.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Episode 83

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

As the calendar turns to a new year, many school counselors find themselves holding a mix of emotions about heading back to work. Motivation might feel low, energy might feel scattered, and that sense of readiness may not be there yet.

In this New Year’s Eve re-listen, I'm revisiting Episode 41 of Counselor Chat Podcast, a conversation counselors return to again and again when break comes to an end.

This episode is a reminder that feeling unmotivated, heavy, or unsure about returning to school is normal. Motivation does not magically appear on January 1st, and you do not need to have everything figured out before heading back.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why mixed emotions after a break are completely normal
2. How different breaks can bring different feelings from year to year
3. The importance of acknowledging your emotions instead of pushing through them
4. How reconnecting with your “why” can ground you when motivation feels low
5. Simple strategies to ease back into work, including building white space into your calendar
6. Why prioritizing tasks and letting go of doing everything at once matters
7. The power of reconnecting with colleagues for support and perspective
8. Gentle reminders about self care and protecting your energy

You are not alone, and you are allowed to take this transition one step at a time.

Mentioned in the Episode:

Energy Inventory: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eXT5jXvwueU39AGvkFYq7-wvom9TiSns/view?usp=sharing

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

As the holiday season arrives, we’re revisiting one of the most meaningful episodes of Counselor Chat — a conversation filled with honest advice, encouragement, and reminders from counselors who truly understand the work.

In this episode, counselors from across the country share the wisdom they wish they had when they were new to the profession — advice that’s just as powerful for seasoned counselors navigating full plates, shifting priorities, and year-end reflection.

You’ll hear thoughtful insights on:

1. The importance of visibility and relationship-building
2. Giving yourself grace and letting go of perfection
3. Asking for help and leaning on your support system
4. Balancing heart work with realistic expectations
5. Caring for yourself while caring for others
6. Remembering that even the smallest moments matter

This episode feels like sitting down with colleagues who get it — the challenges, the joy, the exhaustion, and the purpose behind the work you do every day.

Whether you’re listening on a walk, at the gym, or during a quiet moment of rest, my hope is that this re-listen meets you exactly where you are and reminds you that you are not alone.

Ready to share your tips and advice on a upcoming episode? Just hit this link, and then press record on your phone or device. Easy peasy! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/325646/26/h0ldegvcaj9roa3k

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

December in schools hits different.

The schedules are off. The kids are buzzing. The teachers are exhausted. And counselors are somehow expected to be part Santa, part therapist, and part crisis manager… all before lunch.

If your December feels especially full, you are not imagining it.

In this week’s episode of Counselor Chat, I’m sharing The School Counselor’s Holiday Survival Guide. It’s a realistic, no-pressure conversation about how to get through this season without losing your sanity or your joy.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why December feels so intense for school counselors
• How to simplify lessons and expectations without guilt
• What to do when plans constantly change
• Setting boundaries that protect your energy and still support your school
• Supporting students who struggle emotionally during the holidays
• Finding small moments of calm and joy for yourself

One of my favorite reminders from this episode is this:

If you’ve been feeling tired, stretched thin, or like you’re barely keeping up, this episode is your permission slip to simplify and take care of yourself, too.

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

December brings a special kind of school chaos. Schedules shift. Energy skyrockets. Teachers and students feel stretched. And counselors often find themselves trying to hold it all together.

In this episode, I am sharing simple ways to stay grounded, centered, and calm during one of the busiest months of the school year.

• Common early signs of counselor burnout

 • Why noticing burnout is an act of wisdom, not weakness

 • Easy micro practices that take 30 seconds to 2 minutes

 • A guided one-minute breathing reset you can use anytime

 • How to let go of perfection and choose simplicity

 • Ways to weave calm moments into your day without adding tasks

"You are doing enough. You are enough, and you are allowed to rest."

December may be busy, but you do not have to absorb all the chaos around you. Take a pause, take a breath, and give yourself permission to rest. You are doing more good than you know.

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

December can feel like a whirlwind in schools, which makes it the perfect time to slow down and center students in one of the most grounding SEL themes we have: gratitude.

In this episode, I am sharing simple, meaningful ways to introduce gratitude to students of all ages, plus ideas for weaving it into your counseling program throughout the whole month.

• Why gratitude boosts mood, relationships, and academic outcomes

• How gratitude connects to all five CASEL competencies

• How I use the book Last Stop on Market Street to introduce perspective and meaning

• Reflection questions that help deepen student understanding

• My daily Witness Moment practice and how students can create gratitude snapshots

• A gratitude acorn activity that helps younger students understand growth

• A powerful gratitude cross the line lesson for older students

• Schoolwide ideas: gratitude walls, gratitude grams, morning announcements

• How to track simple Tier 1 data when implementing gratitude centered lessons

"It can start off tiny, just like an acorn, but gratitude has a way of growing into something great."

As we close out the year, gratitude becomes a beautiful reminder of why we do this work. Whether it is an acorn on the wall, a hallway display, or a quiet moment in your office, I hope you always find ways to grow gratitude in your school this season.

Resources Mentioned:

Last Stop On Market Street

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

Right before Thanksgiving, in the middle of progress reports, last-minute meetings, and all the pumpkin spice in the world, it can be easy to miss the small moments that actually fuel us.

This episode is a gentle pause.

 A breath.

 A circle of gratitude created for you.

I asked counselors in my Facebook groups what they are most grateful for, and their answers were pure joy, connection, and heart. Today I am sharing their stories, along with a few of my own, as a reminder that even in the chaos, the work you do every day truly matters.

• Why the weeks before Thanksgiving feel especially heavy
• The power of stopping to notice the good
• A collective gratitude circle filled with counselor shared moments
• Students choosing time with their counselor as their reward
• Kids using calm down strategies and repeating your words back to you
• When a student calls you their trusted adult
• Why small wins often matter the most
• Real stories of connection from counselors across the country
• A quick 30 second gratitude practice you can do anytime
• Simple ideas to keep the gratitude going at school

“Emotional safety is such a quiet form of love, and when kids choose to show up in your space, that is gratitude in motion.”

Take a moment today to name one thing you are grateful for in your work, with no posting or documenting, just a quiet acknowledgment of a meaningful moment.

You are the safe space.

 You are the trusted adult.

 You are the calm in the storm.

And that is something to be profoundly grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving, counselor friends. I appreciate you more than you know. 💛

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

In this week's podcast we look at pre-holiday behavior spikes through a problem-solving lens. Instead of “How do we punish this?” we ask, “What skill is missing?” She models restorative conversations, shares reflection tools that build self-awareness, and walks through calm-down strategies that help students regulate before you problem-solve.

Key takeaways

• Behavior = communication. Shift from “what’s wrong with the student?” to “what’s happening for the student?”
• Use restorative approaches: understand harm, take responsibility, repair relationships, restore trust.
• Reflection > reaction: guided behavior reflection sheets connect thoughts, feelings, needs, and next steps.
• Regulation first: you can’t consequence a child into calm; teach calming tools, then problem-solve.
• Mindset shift: connection before correction; growth over guilt.

Try-it-now tools

Restorative questions:

• What happened? • What were you thinking/feeling? • Who was affected & how? • What makes it right? • What will you do next time?

Behavior Reflection prompts:

• Trigger • Feeling • Need • Better choice next time • Who to repair with & how (what a real apology looks/sounds like).

Calm-down strategies:

• Square/5-finger breathing, grounding (5–4–3–2–1), movement/water break, sensory tools (rings, stress balls), feelings check-ins/thermometers.

Scenario highlight

• “Jayden in the line”: Instead of office + lecture, Carol uses a brief restorative chat/circle + reflection sheet to move from guilt to growth and repair.

Counselor moves to start this week

1. Model restorative conversations (skip “Why did you do that?”).
2. Teach emotion language (feeling wheels, visuals, daily check-ins).
3. Build a Behavior Reflection Toolkit for you and teachers.

Quote to remember

Connect

• Follow Carol on IG: @counselingessentials
• Share what’s in your calm-down kit and tag the show!

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