Can you believe that in 150 episodes of this podcast, I've never taken a week off from releasing episodes? Well, the time has come! High School Counseling Conversations will be on an official break from November 2024-January 2025. I'll return with new episodes in February 2025.

While we're on break, I invite you to enjoy previous episodes (check out my favorite playlists below!). If you have a specific topic you're looking for, send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique. Thank you for being a listener of the show!

Check Out These Podcast Playlists While We're on a Break:

• Advocacy: https://counselorclique.com/advocacyplaylist
• Reset for the New Year: https://counselorclique.com/resetplaylist
• Classroom Lessons: http://counselorclique.com/classroomplaylist
• College Readiness: https://counselorclique.com/collegeplaylist
• New Counselors: http://counselorclique.com/newcounselorplaylist
• Small Group Counseling: https://counselorclique.com/smallgroupplaylist

Resources Mentioned:

• Guest Episode Application: https://counselorclique.com/podcastguest
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

We talk about a lot of sensitive topics as school counselors, and today is no exception. We’re taking a deep dive into child sex trafficking. Heavy, I know. But with sex trafficking happening all around us, this just might be the conversation you never knew you needed to hear.

I’m joined by Krystal Nierman of Switch, an organization fighting to end sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Krystal shares what sex trafficking really looks like…and there’s a good chance it’s not what you think! Plus, you’ll hear how to spot the red flags among students, what to do if you suspect it’s happening, and actions we can take (and teach to others) to help prevent sex trafficking.

Be sure to check the links below for more valuable resources on this topic. This is something that could be affecting students at your own school in various ways, so keep asking questions and follow your gut if you feel like something is off. Share this episode with fellow counselors to help spread awareness around child sex trafficking!

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Resource: Editable Scholarship Spreadsheet - https://counselorclique.com/scholarship
• Switch Website: https://switchsc.org
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMC): https://www.missingkids.org/home 
• Child Sex Trafficking: https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/trafficking 
• Child Sexual Abuse Material: https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/csam 
• National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE): https://endsexualexploitation.org

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode150

What do you do if a student tells you they’re pregnant? There’s a good chance you were asked this question during a job interview because it’s a situation that you will probably run into sooner rather than later. In fact, if you’ve been a high school counselor for any length of time, it’s highly likely that you’ve already supported pregnant students! 

The truth is, you want to be prepared to not only support your students during their pregnancy but also throughout their journey as a teen parent. As we know, the challenges your students will face don’t end after having their baby. There are interventions you can put in place to help your pregnant students transition to parenthood and reach their future goals.

In this episode, I’m sharing ideas for supporting your pregnant students in three specific areas: their relationships, their knowledge, and their motivation. You’ll hear about resources and sample questions that you can ask your parenting and pregnant students in each of these categories. If you have questions or ideas around serving this unique population, send me a message on Instagram @counselorclique!

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: The Clique Collaborative - www.cliquecollab.com
• Resource: Classroom Lesson Roadmap - http://www.counselorclique.com/classroomroadmap 
• Resource: CDC Teen Pregnancy Data
• Resource: U.S. and State Trends on Teen Births, 1990-2019
• Resource: U.S. Teen Birth Rate Reached Another Historic Low in 2022
• Resource: Teen Birth Rate by State
• Article: State Teen Birth Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin: United States, 2017–2018 (Hamilton, 2020) 
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode149

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

You may not realize this, but you have a unique superpower in your role as a high school counselor! You have the ability to nurture your students and walk them through four of the most important years of their life. One practice that will help you strengthen this superpower is cultural competency.

Today’s guest, Jocelynn Hubbard, is here to help us develop cultural competency at work and in our personal lives. It starts with becoming more aware of your beliefs, your biases, and all of your lived experiences. Then you start to see how this compares with your students and how you can use that information to better support them as individuals. 

Jocelynn breaks down exactly what cultural competency is and how it can inform your counseling practice. She gives great examples of what this practice looks like day to day. You’ll quickly see how every moment of your day can become an opportunity to develop cultural competency and strengthen relationships with your students! After listening, you can download Jocelynn’s Roadmap to inform you of your next steps.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Resource: Scholarship Spreadsheet - https://counselorclique.com/scholarship
• Free Resource: The Welcoming & Culturally Inclusive Classroom Roadmap - https://customteachingsolutions.com/theroadmap/
• Jocelynn's Podcast: The Culture-Centered Classroom
• Resource: What Should Culturally Relevant Teaching Look Like Today? Gloria Ladson-Billings Explains
• Resource: Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy, by Gholdy Muhammad 
• Resource: Dr. Geneva Gay
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode148

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Have your students ever expressed interest in taking a gap year? A gap year is more than just time off! It’s a deliberate period to explore personal, practical, and professional interests before transitioning to post-secondary education. Under the right circumstances, and with intentional planning, a gap year could be the perfect option for some students.

This is a topic we’ve never discussed on the podcast before, so I’m excited to talk about it today. Gap year education expert, Julia Rogers, joins me in this episode to break down exactly what a gap year is (and isn’t) and to share various gap year opportunities for your high school students. 

From traveling in Europe to working locally or taking a structured experiential semester, the possibilities for a gap year are endless. After listening to this conversation, you’ll have plenty of resources to share with students and parents…and you might even find that you’re interested in taking your own gap year!

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Resource: Editable Scholarship Spreadsheet - https://counselorclique.com/scholarship
• Resource: Join the GYA Annual Membership for $10 with code GYEM2024 - https://www.gapyearassociation.org/gya-membership/high-school-college-counselors/
• Resource: The Gap Year Association
• Resource: Gap Year Planning Guide
• Resource: Gap Year Exploration Month
• Resource: Go Overseas
• Resource: USA Gap Year Fairs
• Resource: TeenLife
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode147

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

When you work in a school, there are a million and one things to think about every single day. School safety is at the top of that list, and might even be one of the more intimidating parts of your job. If there was a crisis, would you know what to do? Do you have a strong grasp on what your role as a school counselor is when it comes to crisis management? Let’s talk about it!

My guest today, Brandy Samuell, knows quite a bit about school safety and crisis management. Brandy is the director of mental health and related services at eLuma and has an extensive background in public education. She’s here to share her story of how she handled being in a leadership position during a tragedy in her school district, and what she learned from the experience.

Brandy and I talk through preventative measures and interventions that counselors can put in place for students and practical tips for creating a safe school environment. While we might not want to think about worst-case scenarios happening in our school, it’s important to be prepared for them! If this episode is helpful for you, please share it with a counselor friend and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts.

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Back-to-School High School Counseling Bundle - https://counselorclique.com/btsbundle
• Resource: Grief and Loss Digital Activity - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grief-and-Loss-Digital-School-Counseling-Activity-7045695?utm_source=Podcast%20Ep%20145&utm_campaign=Grief%20and%20Loss%20Digital
• Resource: Crisis Bucket for School Counselors - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Crisis-Bucket-for-School-Counselors-4391950?utm_source=Podcast%20Ep%20145&utm_campaign=Crisis%20Bucket%20Resource
• Resource: Critical Incident Stress Management
• Resource: DESSA Aperture System
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode146

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Have you checked your phone’s screen time lately? If you’re anything like me, you might be embarrassed about how much time you actually spend on your phone, specifically the time spent scrolling on social media. I use social media for both work and personal purposes, and I was beginning to feel like I was spending way more time on these apps than I wanted to be.

So, I decided to challenge myself by giving up social media for a month! I was curious to see how a break from social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook would affect my daily life. In this episode, I’m sharing the highs and lows of this experiment. You’ll hear how it felt to step away from the digital noise, the impact on my personal relationships, and even some unexpected benefits I discovered along the way. 

This conversation also applies to your professional role. As school counselors, our relationship with social media can be a double-edged sword. While it helps us connect and share valuable resources, it’s important to maintain a healthy balance. I hope this episode inspires you to reflect on your own social media habits and even take on a similar challenge if you’re feeling up to it! 

If you have ever tried a social media hiatus, send me a message on Instagram @counselorclique (yes, I’m back, but with healthy boundaries!) or an email to [email protected]. I’d love to know how it went for you!

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Resource: Scholarship Spreadsheet - https://counselorclique.com/scholarship
• Resource: Healthy Relationships Classroom Lesson - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Healthy-Relationships-Classroom-Lesson-for-High-School-Students-7176249?utm_source=Podcast%20Ep%20146&utm_campaign=Healthy%20Relationships%20Classroom
• Resource: Soft Skills Bundle - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Soft-Skills-Bundle-for-High-School-Students-8194384?utm_source=Podcast%20Ep%20146&utm_campaign=Soft%20Skills%20Bundle
• Book: 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Troy Reinke - https://amzn.to/4cJQ0nD

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode145

As school counselors, we know that not all of our students are going to go to college after graduating. However, for the students who do have college in their future plans, we want to make the application process as accessible as possible. Cue: College Application Day!

Hosting a College Application Day is one of the best ways that we can support students as they begin their college application journey. Applying to colleges is an intimidating step for many high schoolers, so hosting a day dedicated to walking them through the process gives them a safe space to tackle this task!

Now if you’ve never hosted a College Application Day before, you may be wondering what you need to do to get this event rolling and make it as successful as possible. I’ve got you covered! In this episode, I’ll walk you through all the details of hosting a College Application Day from beginning to end. Hopefully, with my advice, you’ll be ready to plan and execute an epic College Application Day at your school this year!

Resources Mentioned:

• High School Counselor Kickstart Course: https://counselorclique.com/newcounselor 
• I Applied Bulletin Board: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Applied-College-Bulletin-Board-for-High-School-Counselors-4152773?utm_source=Podcast%20Ep%20143&utm_campaign=I%20Applied%20BB 
• College Application Day Pennant Bulletin Board: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/College-Application-Day-Pennant-Bulletin-Board-for-High-School-3400067?utm_source=Podcast%20Ep%20143&utm_campaign=College%20App%20Day%20Pennant%20BB 
• College Application Day Photo Booth Props: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/College-Application-Day-Photo-Booth-Props-for-High-School-Senior-Events-4936579?utm_source=Podcast%20Ep%20143&utm_campaign=CAD%20Photo%20Booth%20Props 
• College Awareness Bulletin Board: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/College-Awareness-High-School-Bulletin-Board-7270947?utm_source=Podcast%20Ep%20143&utm_campaign=College%20Awareness%20BB 
• Free Playlist: College Application Day Spotify Playlist: https://counselorclique.com/collegeappdayplaylist 
• More episodes on college readiness: https://feeds.captivate.fm/high-school-counseling/college-readiness-high-school-counseling-/
• Blog - All the Steps for Hosting a Successful College Application Day: https://counselorclique.com/all-the-steps-for-hosting-a-successful-college-application-day/ 
• Blog - 3 Ways to Use College Application Day to Increase Student Confidence Around College Applications: https://counselorclique.com/college-application-day-confidence/ 

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode144

Have you ever held a “Coffee with the Counselor” event at your school? This can be a great opportunity for parents to connect with counselors and other parents all while learning about a particular topic.

I’ve held several “Coffee with the Counselor” events in the past, and some have been a huge hit while others didn’t quite have the turnout we’d hoped for. Along the way, I learned what logistics you need to plan for and I’m sharing them with you today. I’ll run through all the details so you can get started on prepping your very own “Coffee with the Counselor”!

Running an event like this doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. Just a bit of minimal planning can make a huge impact on parents and students. Getting parents through the door is a win in itself, right? If you’ve hosted “Coffee with the Counselor” before, I’d love to hear about it! Send me a message on Instagram @counselorclique to let me know what went well or what you’re hoping to improve on for next time.

Resources:

• *NEW RESOURCE!*: Coffee with the Counselor Parent Workshop Materials
• Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Course - https://counselorclique.com/newcounselor
• Resource: NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] - https://www.nami.org/
• Blog: Why I Love "Coffee with the Counselors" - https://counselorclique.com/coffee-with-the-counselors/
• Book: Love and Logic by Jim Fay - https://amzn.to/3zPE6Kz
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode143

Begin with the end in mind. You've probably heard this advice before, but I want it to be your mantra this school year! One of the best things you can do at the beginning of a new school year is to plan your year. I've talked on the podcast before about using organizational tools, such as a calendar, to give you a visual of your year and showcase all the good things you're doing as a counselor. So, in today's episode, I'm sharing why you need to plan your year with a 10,000-foot view and the benefits it has on your year's success.

You know how busy you are as a high school counselor and the many directions you're being pulled throughout the year, which is one of the many reasons you should plan your year at the beginning of the school year. And while keeping track of your tasks helps with scheduling, there's more to your job than just administrative tasks. By taking the time to plan your year, you're also able to add events and tasks that fill your cup. After all, you got into this profession because you love it and want to fill your year with things you enjoy doing that serve your students and your counseling program!

Although it may feel overwhelming to think about planning an entire year, by doing so, you avoid missing anything important, can think about the goals you have, and can schedule events and tasks that bring you joy as a high school counselor. If you want to limit your stress and enjoy your role this school year, join me for the LIVE Power Hour Planning Party, where you'll walk away with a year-long curriculum map!

Resources Mentioned:

• Live Workshop: Power Hour Planning Party https://counselorclique.com/planningparty
• Article: "Use the Power of the Calendar"
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode142