Counselor Chat Podcast

The first few weeks of school are often a blur of class schedules, new faces, and back-to-school energy—but they’re also the time when every referral seems to come in at once.

In this episode, I'm breaking down how to handle that wave of requests without losing your mind (or your lunch break). You’ll learn how to triage like a pro, set healthy boundaries with staff, and create systems that save your future self a ton of time and stress.

• Why referral overload is actually a good sign (and how to manage it)
• Carol’s 3-T Triage System: Time-Sensitive, Tiered, and Transparent
• How to streamline referrals with a Google Form
• What to say instead of “That’s not my job” (without burning bridges)
• Why your language matters when setting boundaries
• A simple way to track referrals for data and advocacy

You don’t have to do it all at once. You just need a system, a plan, and permission to pause. Triage your time. Lead with heart. And remember—you’re not behind, you’re building something sustainable.

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

The first few weeks of school aren’t just about bulletin boards and icebreakers. They’re the perfect time to notice the small shifts in our students that tell us something deeper might be going on.

In this episode, I'm sharing practical ways to recognize red flags early, along with strategies to check in without making students feel called out.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to spot withdrawal in a student who used to be engaged
• Why perfectionism may really be anxiety in disguise
• When humor turns from fun to a red flag
• The patterns behind frequent nurse visits
• How to check in with “everything’s fine” students
• The top “early warning radar” signs to watch for weeks 1–4

Encouragement for Counselors:

Your instincts matter. Be curious, not judgmental. A small check-in today can redirect the entire course of a student’s year, and sometimes, their life.

Links Mentioned:

Forced Choice Behavioral Surveys

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

“What do you do again?” If you’ve ever heard this question, you already know why visibility matters. In this episode of Counselor Chat, we’re diving into how a simple monthly newsletter can help you advocate for your role, connect with staff and families, and showcase the true impact of school counseling.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The 5 essential pieces every counselor newsletter should include
• Practical ways to share updates, events, and tips without overwhelming yourself
• How newsletters shift the perception of counselors from “crisis response” to essential leadership
• Why visibility = value when it comes to your program
• A shortcut resource if you’re too busy to design from scratch

Links & Resources:

Counselor Newsletter Templates

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

Do you ever feel like you and your principal are speaking two different languages? Maybe you’ve been asked to cover lunch duty, sit in on last-minute student issues, or explain (again) why your role matters. You’re not alone—and you’re not powerless.

In this episode of Counselor Chat, we’re talking about how to collaborate with administrators without feeling like you’re constantly on defense. You’ll learn how to reset your mindset, swap your language, and use strategy that strengthens your working relationships.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to shift your mindset from undervalued to essential leader
• Language swaps that turn “ASCA says…” into solutions your admin wants to say yes to
• Why aligning your work with schoolwide goals (attendance, achievement, behavior) is a game-changer
• Practical scripts for saying no without confrontation
• How data makes your advocacy more compelling than feelings ever could

If you’ve ever wondered how to stop being seen as “the other team” and start being seen as an essential member of the leadership team, this one’s for you.

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

Suicide prevention isn’t easy to talk about—but it’s a conversation we can’t afford to avoid. In this episode of Counselor Chat, I share strategies, stories, and resources to help school counselors navigate this difficult but critical topic.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to have age-appropriate conversations with students about suicide and mental health.
• Practical steps for creating student safety plans that are clear, collaborative, and effective.
• The role teachers play as gatekeepers, and how training can help them recognize signs and take appropriate action.
• Why we need to set expectations with staff about reporting concerns immediately—not at the end of the day.
• How we as counselors can support not just students, but also teachers, staff, and families in this work.

💡 Remember: suicide prevention isn’t only about stopping a crisis—it’s about building hope, creating systems of support, and reminding students that they matter.

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode:

Grades 6-7 Suicide Prevention Lesson

Suicide Prevention Grades 8 and up 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

Sometimes the smallest gestures hold the biggest power. In this episode, we’re talking about how the High Five Habit can transform your energy, your relationships, and your school year.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

• How high fives activate your brain’s reward center and lift your mood.
• Simple ways to use high fives with students, colleagues, and even yourself.
• The importance of celebrating presence and effort—not just performance.
• Ideas like high five rituals and creating a school-wide high five wall.
• Why giving yourself a high five in the mirror can shift your confidence and outlook.

Whether it’s literal, symbolic, or metaphorical, high fives are a powerful reminder that we see each other, we’re not alone, and we’re worth cheering for.

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

Crisis isn’t on your calendar—but it will find its way into your school year. From grief to suicide risk to behavioral outbursts, these moments change everything in an instant. In this episode, I share how to build a Crisis Toolkit so you’re ready to respond with care, structure, and sanity when the unexpected comes knocking.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to approach student grief with honesty, check-ins, and healing resources.
• What protocols and tools to have ready when a student expresses suicidal thoughts.
• The must-have elements of a behavioral crisis communication and de-escalation plan.
• What to include in your crisis go-bag and why post-crisis support matters as much as the response itself.

Motivation to Take With You:

The best time to prepare for a storm is before the clouds roll in. You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to be prepared. Because you, counselor friend, are the calm in the chaos, the heartbeat in the hard stuff, and the soft landing for students who need it most.

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 Summary:

What does ice cream have to do with school counseling? More than you might think. In this episode, I share the famous Blueberry Story—a tale that perfectly captures the heart of what we do as counselors. While businesses can send back “bad batches,” schools take every child who walks through the doors—gifted, anxious, angry, brilliant, frightened, and everything in between.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The surprising connection between ice cream and education.
• Why schools can’t—and shouldn’t—be run like businesses.
• How school counselors act as cultivators of every “blueberry” who enters their care.
• Why small, messy, and unmeasurable moments with students matter more than any spreadsheet.

Motivation to Take With You:

You don’t need perfect ingredients to create transformation. Every day, you’re doing life-changing work—not with butterfat percentages or flawless blueberries, but with patience, empathy, and heart. You’re cultivating growth in a patch that’s sometimes messy, sometimes wild, but always worth it.

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

If you’ve ever felt like your day is one giant interruption, this episode is for you.

In this week’s Counselor Chat, I'm sharing my go-to strategies for using time-blocking to create structure, reduce chaos, and make room for what matters most in your school counseling program.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:

• What time-blocking is really about (hint: it’s not rigid—it’s freeing!)
• The 5 key “Counselor Buckets” to organize your time effectively
• How to plan for flexibility with daily crisis buffers and walk-in time
• The tools Carol uses (Google Calendar, a printed planner, and color-coding)
• How to communicate your availability and reduce unnecessary interruptions
• Tips for reviewing, adjusting, and staying consistent—without guilt

Whether you’re a sticky-note scheduler or a digital calendar pro, this episode will help you manage your time with intention—and protect your peace in the process.

Links Mentioned:

Perfect Counselor Planner-

• Printed Version
• Print Your Own Version

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

Let’s be honest—back-to-school season can feel like a whirlwind. But there’s one move that can make the whole year smoother: teaming up with teachers from the start.

In this episode of Counselor Chat, I'm walking you through simple and creative ways to build trust and connection with your teaching staff—without adding more stress to your plate.

You’ll learn:

• Why visibility and approachability are your superpowers
• What to include in a 1-page Counselor Cheat Sheet 📝
• How to use small gestures (like hand sanitizer and chocolate 🍫) to open big doors
• The power of asking, “What do your students need right now?”
• Creative ways to co-create lessons and build classroom calm corners
• Quick wins for consistent collaboration (hello, Coffee on a Cart ☕)

Whether you’re brand new or just ready for a fresh approach, this episode will leave you feeling equipped and encouraged to be the kind of teammate teachers rely on—and students benefit from most.

Links Mentioned:

Counselor Brochure Bundle

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