Counselor Chat Podcast

In this episode we talk about the power of using emotional check in with students and ideas of check ins to use with students.

Why Use Emotional Check-Ins:

• Emotional check-ins are a valuable tool for school counselors.
• They serve as an assessment of students' emotional well-being.
• Identify students who may need additional support or intervention.
• Promote a safe and supportive environment for students to express their feelings.
• Foster empathy among students as they share their emotions.
• Build trust and enhance group dynamics.
• Reduce potential conflicts within the group.
• Provide tailored support for individual students.
• Teach emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
• Normalize the ups and downs of life to reduce the stigma around counseling.
• Track progress over time.
• Enhance students' communication skills.

Check In Examples:

• Sentence starters: "I feel," "I wish," "I need," "I hope," "I want."
• "High Low Buffalo" - Positive, negative, and something funny from the day.
• "Hit Rewind, Let's Rerecord, Press Play" - Reflecting on what to replay, rerecord, or look forward to.
• "Happy News, Sad News, No News Today" - Sharing something positive, something negative, or having nothing to share.
• Using thermometers or Likert scales to rate their day.
• "Feelings Check-In" with pictures of emotions for younger students.
• Creative options like "Brick and a Balloon," "Glow and Grow," "High and Low," and more.
• "Rose, Thorn, and Bud" - Sharing a good thing, a not-so-great thing, and something to look forward to.

Links Mentioned:

Grab this FREE Check In Sampler

Want the bundle of check ins? Grab them here!

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 episode we explore a range of engaging classroom activities suitable for students of all ages. You'll be introduced to a series of interactive exercises designed to foster emotional awareness, teamwork, and active participation in lessons

Activities Discussed:

• Feelings FreezeLine and Blobs
• Line Up By...
• Cross the Line
• Desk Charades
• Clap, Clap, Tap
• House Rock Tree
• Four Corners
• Stand Up or Sit Down

Carol's Brain Breaks on TpT:

• Brain Breaks

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 episode of "Counselor Chat" I discuss strategies to actively engage students in lessons. There are challenge of keeping students engaged but active learning activities are a way to increase student engagement, retention, and critical thinking skills.

The benefits of active learning include promoting skill development, diverse perspectives, and an increased enjoyment of learning.

Activities Discussed:

• The "partner pairing" strategy, which alleviates the pressure of students choosing partners and encourages random pairing.
• "Four corners" --a versatile activity for evaluating different perspectives on various topics.
• "Cross the line" -- an activity to prompt students to express their preferences and opinions.
• The "value line" strategy encourages students to position themselves along a continuum to represent the strength of their feelings about a topic.
• "Down the line" --a group discussion activity that involves students moving to different positions to share and discuss questions.
• "Circle in circle" -- similar to "down the line" but involves forming two circles and rotating positions.
• "Snowball fight" activity, where students write answers to questions, crumple them into "snowballs," and engage in an interactive exchange of ideas.
• "Toss and catch" involves tossing an object to students who must answer a question or pass it to another classmate.
• "Create a commercial" activity, where students work in groups to create persuasive commercials related to a topic.
• "Two Truths and a Lie" is a fun activity that encourages students to identify the false statement among two truths and one lie.

Post-activity discussionsare important to guide students in reflecting on the past, present, and future implications of their experiences

Activities to try:

• Friendship Speed Dating
• Get Up and Move Activities
• Where Do You Stand
• Four Corners Activity

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

Today we are talking with Nancy Willard, the director of Embrace Civility, a program designed to helps empower students to understand their behaviors, while creating positive school climates andunderstanding cultural competance. Nancy has degrees in special education and law, taught “at risk” children, practiced computer law, and was an educational technology and digital safety consultant. 

Nancy is here to share how to best handle situations when students are dysregulated. You’ll hear about what to avoid in these situations (otherwise known as TACOS) in order to promote a positive and safe learning environment. Nancy also gives some helpful calming strategies and coping mechanisms that you and your students can use when faced with triggering situations.

Plus, Nancy sheds light on the impact of trauma on the brain, the power of kindness, and the role of accountability in creating a harmonious community. All of these practical tips would be great to share with teachers in your school for supporting dysregulated children.

Topics Discussed:

• The parts of the brain involved in the dysregulation process
• The lifecycle of a triggering event leading to an outburst
• What ‘TACOS’ stands for, and why we want to avoid it
• How you can communicate with students when they are having an outburst
• What to do after a student begins to calm down
• The difference between reactive triggering and intentional misbehavior 
• Implementing an accountability process if a student needs to remedy any harm done
• Trigger prevention strategies to teach students
• Seven “be positively powerful” strategies 

Resources Mentioned:

• VIA Character Strengths Survey
• Hardwiring Happiness, by Rick Hanson PhD
• Chapter 6 of Engage Students to Embrace Civility 

Connect with Nancy:

• Embrace Civility website

Nancy's Books:

• Engage Students to Embrace Civility
• The Way Of The Donkey (picture book)

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 episode of Counselor Chat, I delve into the advantages of running a small group centered on hope and resiliency for students in upper elementary through high school. I outline the top 10 reasons why these groups are essential, ranging from boosting mental well-being and academic success to creating a more positive school climate and enhancing conflict resolution skills. 

I also share my personal experience in structuring and running these groups, from selecting the right participants to conducting activities such as exploring the concept of identifying personal strengths, setting SMART goals, and discussing the resilience of famous figures who faced setbacks.

After listening, I hope you’re inspired to consider starting your own hope and resiliency groups! I saw a huge positive impact on my students when using this type of group, and feel that the beginning of the year is the perfect time to try it out.

Topics Covered:

• How teaching hope and resiliency enhances students’ mental well being
• The ripple effect that comes when we encourage students to manage their emotions constructively
• Helping students to feel a sense of belonging among their peers
• The details of how I structured my hope and resiliency small group, including how I chose the students to invite and how long I ran for the group for
• Setting long-term goals for your small group
• Teaching hope vs. false hope and doing a personal strength inventory

Link Mentioned:

• Having Hope Small Group Curriculum

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

When we begin a new school year, there are so many topics that we could dive into with our students. I think one of the very most important things we can teach our students as we kick off the year is identity. 

We have a unique role in fostering discussions around identity, diversity, and empathy. So in this episode, we’ll look at the importance of teaching an identity lesson at the beginning of the school year and how it sets the stage for everything that follows.

I have ideas for several interactive activities and group discussions that you can use to help students reflect on their own identities and appreciate differences in others. Additionally, we’ll address the role of empathy and how we can challenge biases and stereotypes to create a welcoming atmosphere for all students. Plus, I’ll share some of my favorite book recommendations that explore these themes!

If you have favorite books that you use to teach about identity, please send me a message on Instagram or an email to [email protected]. I would love to create a list of books to share with everyone!

Topics Discussed:

• How we can facilitate discussions around identity 
• Why teaching identity makes for a really great first or second lesson at the beginning of the school year
• Examples of activities that foster self-awareness and lay the foundation for understanding others
• Challenging the biases and stereotypes that often influence how we perceive others
• Great mentor texts to use when teaching empathy
• Hosting school events that celebrate different cultures, religions, and traditions

Links Mentioned:

Books:

• Last Stop On Market Street
• Those Shoes
• A Bike Like Sergio's

Book Companion Lessons:

• Those Shoes
• A Bike Like Sergio's

Identity Lessons

• K-2 Identity Lesson
• Grades 3+ Identity Lesson

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

Join me as I talk to Brandy Thompson, AKA The Counseling Teacher. Brandy is a teacher turned counselor and currently works with middle schoolers. In this episode, Brandy and I talk about how to perk up your program, curriculum, and confidence as a school counselor.

We open up about our journey as counselors, sharing successes and challenges we’ve faced along the way. We’ll also shed light on how finding a balance between work and personal life can greatly impact your confidence and overall well-being.

Plus, we have big news! Brandy and I are joining forces, as she and I have created The Perks School Counseling Membership. Inside you’ll gain community and all the resources you need so that you can spend less time planning and more time doing the things you love. And guess what? You can get your first month FREE by using the code PODCAST or signing up here.

Topics Discussed:

• What Brandy’s first impression was when she joined the membership
• How much community and support can help with avoiding burnout
• My experience as a new counselor, and the imposter syndrome that pops up for so many of us
• What I would change about the counseling profession if I had a magic wand
• What you can expect inside The Perks School Counseling Membership

 Links Mentioned

• Join The Perks School Counseling Membership for K-8 Counselors and get your first month free
• Perks Coupon Code: PODCAST
• Follow us on Facebook
• Follow us on Instagram

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 counselors, we support several different grade levels, students with various learning abilities, and families with diverse backgrounds. It’s rewarding work, but it’s also challenging to meet the needs of so many students. For many of us, it feels even more challenging in this post-COVID climate.

Our guest and seasoned counselor, Indra Owens, focuses on empowering families to navigate the challenges of the post-COVID era. Indra believes in combining theory and practice to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families, and she's here to share her insights on how school counselors can build resilience and create authentic relationships with their students.

Indra is the curator of the Trust Your Journey Project. The premise is to redefine Mental Health & Mindfulness awareness, advocacy & support in Urban communities, and building resilient families. Using the conceptual framework to: engage, educate, empower & equip & providing easy to use strategies, tools and resources to navigate in today's virtually charged climate. Indra is a School Counselor in Atlantic CIty, NJ and was the 2020 NJ School Counselor of the Year.  

Topics Covered:

• The story behind the Trust Your Journey Project
• Advice for counselors who want to help redefine mental health and mindfulness awareness
• How you can teach kids to reframe their thoughts
• Infusing theory and practice to best support our students, especially post-COVID
• Indra’s best tip for new school counselors
• Why you should be invested in your own professional development

Connect with Indra:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Trust Your Journey Project

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

There’s so much to consider when you’re setting up your office. You want the space to be functional, but you also want it to reflect your personality and be a space where students enjoy spending time. And what’s often the most challenging part of decorating your office? Doing it on a budget!

In today’s episode, we’re diving into creative and budget-friendly ways to decorate your counseling office without breaking the bank. We'll explore simple steps like decluttering and organizing your space, as well as furniture placement ideas to maximize functionality. 

We'll also discuss replacing faded or outdated decor, using calming colors, and adding accessories like pillows, curtains, and area rugs to create a warm and positive atmosphere. Plus, I have some thrifty DIY ideas for you. 

After listening, share what your office space looks like in one of our Facebook groups! The links for these groups are listed below. 

Topics Covered:

• The big difference that decluttering your office can make, and the positive effects that it can have on your students
• What to consider when deciding on furniture placement and colors used in your decor
• Examples of some things that you might want to avoid putting in your office
• How to easily create inexpensive and eye-catching wall art 
• Suggestions for what to include in your ‘calm down corner’
• A hack for defining specific areas in your office

Links Mentioned:

• Calm Down Corner Posters
• Counseling Office Decor Bundle

Facebook Groups:

• Elementary School Counselor Exchange
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors
• High School Counselor Connection

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

At the beginning of the school year, do you take the time to introduce yourself and your role as a school counselor to the students in your building? 

Or, do you assume the students know who you are and what you do? 

I used to assume everyone knew me and knew what I did as a school counselor. But over time, I realized that wasn't true and I gained some very valuable insight on the significance of introducing yourself and your role as a school counselor. 

That’s what we are diving into in today’s episode. We are going to be chatting about why and how to introduce yourself and your role as a school counselor at the beginning of the school year. 

Topics Covered:

• How to build rapport and connection with students. When students feel connected and comfortable, they are more likely to seek support and confide in you about their concerns and challenges
• Informing students about available support, the extent of your role, and the ways you can assist them in their academic success, personal growth, and overall well-being
• Why establishing trust with students is crucial
• Normalizing help-seeking behaviors. This proactive approach breaks down barriers and encourages students to seek support when facing challenges
• The importance of setting clear expectations including explaining confidentiality policies, scheduling procedures, and the types of problems you can assist with
• Engaging methods for introducing yourself to students

Resources Mentioned: 

• School Counselor Tic-Tac-Toe Game
• Meet The Counselor Lesson
• School Counselor BINGO Game
• Counselor Brochures Bundle
• Secondary Counseling Brochures Bundle
• Carol's Website
• TPT store
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Questions about the conference or anything you heard on this episode? 

Send me an email: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership