In Episode 3 of High School Counseling Conversations, we talk about 3 practical ways to reset with your school administrators as you head into the new year. When school counselors and administrators (whether it be principals or assistant principals) work together, they can move mountains!

As you continue a healthy, open dialogue with your administrators, you’ll find yourself growing professionally and loving your job the way that you should! Instead of being discouraged as you head into a new semester, tend to one of the most powerful relationships in your school building… the school counselor/administrator relationship!

Find the Resources:

• Join the Reset for Success Challenge that starts in January by downloading this gameboard!
• Resource: School Counselor Beginning of the Year Presentation
• Resource: Annual Administrative Conference Template from ASCA
• Blog post: “4 Ways to Find Money for Your Professional Development Opportunities”

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and snag a freebie
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative (High School Counseling Membership)

Read the Show Notes: www.counselorclique.com/episode3

It can be hard to find the motivation to try new ideas, learn new ways of doing things, or change our perspectives on “how things  have always been done.” … or maybe you just don’t know where to start as you head into a new year. You must believe that what you do truly matters!

Here are 3 ways to reset yourself as you enter into the new year or new semester. Give these 3 things a shot to help make a more profound impact on students!

Find the Resources:

• Join the Reset for Success Challenge that starts in January by downloading this gameboard!
• Freebie: Self-Care Goal Sheet
• Blog post: 3 Ways to Make a More Profound Impact on Students by Changing Your Mindset 

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and snag a freebie
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

Read the Show Notes: www.counselorclique.com/episode2

We’re quickly approaching a new year, and I wanted to bring in some FUN as we begin to wrap up 2022. Today I’m sharing five favorite episodes from High School Counseling Conversations. 

These are the most listened to episodes from 2022, with the exception of the number one most popular episode. I’ll be revealing that top episode in a couple of weeks when I re-air it on the podcast!

In this episode, you’ll hear some highlights from these most-listened-to episodes. I’ll share an introduction and then give you an audio clip to listen to. If it sounds like an episode that you’d love to hear the full version of, then go check it out! I have all of the episodes mentioned linked below for you.

Resources Mentioned:

• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative Membership!
• Resource: My Amazon Favorites
• Resource: Senior Planning Presentation 
• Podcast: Episode 9, 3 Ideas for Starting High School Counseling Small Groups From Scratch
• Podcast: Episode 29, How to Invest in Yourself So That You Can Make a Lasting Impact on Students
• Podcast: Episode 2, Resetting Yourself in the New Year
• Podcast: Episode 39, Running Senior Meetings Like a Boss
• Podcast: Episode 32, Back to School Tips for School Counselors: Office Prep
• Podcast: Episode 33, Math Teacher Turned First-Year Public High School Counselor with Clique Collaborative Member, Liz A.
• Podcast: Episode 37, A Back to School High School Counseling Pep Talk
• Podcast: Episode 22, A Pep Talk for New High School Counselors
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and get the free Data Collection Ideas Guide for High School Counselors
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode52

Several weeks ago, I posted on Instagram about a colleague’s unique work space and quickly learned that you all wanted to learn more about her and her private practice! Today I'm giving you all that information and more.

My guest is Lorraine Holeman, and guess what? We had the fun experience of sitting down to record this interview in person as she lives local to me. Lorraine was actually my department head for a couple of years, and she has some great insight as to what makes a great leader and teammate. 

In her early career, Lorraine was an Army officer. She then became a school counselor, went after her LPC, and most recently opened her own private practice co-working space, Summit Greenville. 

Inside this episode, Lorraine shares all about her career changes, and what she loves most about each one. She gives important advice about the importance of knowing your strengths and values, and allowing that to guide your career decisions.

Lorraine and I discuss her experience as a department head, and her wisdom about how to put yourself in a place of leadership in order to advocate for your students and your role as a school counselor. Then she gives us all the fun details of making the leap to a private practice.

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: High School Counseling Data Ideas Guide
• Resource: Values Inventory Card Sort
• Resource: CliftonStrengths Finder

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and get the free Data Collection Ideas Guide for High School Counselors
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode51

Wahoo! We've hit 50 episodes on the High School Counseling Conversations podcast. I can't believe it!

To celebrate this milestone, I'm doing a special 'ask me anything' episode. Several weeks ago I put a question sticker up on my Instagram stories where you could submit your questions. I let you know that you could literally ask me ANYTHING - high school counseling questions, personal questions, and even 'would you rather' type of questions. I'm happy to report that ya'll definitely delivered. I had so much fun going through your questions, and am answering several of them today inside this episode.

During this round of 'ask me anything', you'll hear me talk about topics such as how/why I got started on Teachers Pay Teachers, how to handle helicopter parents, funny (and awkward) things that students have said, marriage advice, and some pretty funny 'would you rathers'. 

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Senior Year Planning Guide
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative Membership!
• Kitchen Sync
• The Commons Food Hall
• The Strip Club Steakhouse
• Follow Rebecca Joyner @its.not.rocket.science
• Podcast: Episode 46, Spooky, Scary School Counseling Stories: A Hilarious Crowdsourced Episode
• Podcast: Episode 40, How to Advocate for all Post-Secondary Plans
• Podcast: Episode 39, Running Senior Meetings Like a Boss
• Podcast: Episode 1, An Introduction and Backstory
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and get the free Data Collection Ideas Guide for High School Counselors
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode50

You wear a lot of hats as a high school counselor, and 'social media strategist' probably isn't one of them...yet! 

Whether you love it or hate it, social media strategy can be a powerful addition to your high school counseling program. It's a great way to get your announcements out to parents, share the latest research, earn credibility with your students, and advocate for your role.

But where do you start? Well, it may be easier than you think!

Just like our students, we are all at different experience levels. Some of you may be social media experts, while others have never even used Instagram. Wherever you fall, I'm here for you, counselor friend.

I have tons of great tips for how you can confidently implement a social media strategy this year. I've split them up into beginner, intermediate, and advanced options to cover our bases.

After listening, send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique and let me know where you fall on the social media strategy experience-meter.

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Digital Mega Bundle for 20% off!
• Resource: Digital Citizenship Digital Activity
• Resource: Sign up for my free Advocacy email templates
• Blog: 6 Keys to Holding a Productive School Counseling Department Planning Day
• Follow Kelly on Instagram @IBSCHS
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts
• Sign up for a free Canva for Education account

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and get the free Data Collection Ideas Guide for High School Counselors
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode49

When you hear the word 'research', do you get excited or want to run the other way as fast as you can? I think many school counselors are the latter, and if you're one of them, you're going to learn so much in this episode all about research in school counseling!

We all want to create the most effective and comprehensive school counseling program possible, but it can be challenging to incorporate the most up-to-date research based practices and interventions. 

Time is not on our side, so where do we go to learn about this research? How do we know if a certain intervention is the best fit for our specific school and group of students?

Our guest today, Sara of The Responsive Counselor, is here to answer all of these questions and more. She is breaking down the differences between best practices, research-based interventions, evidence-based interventions, and evidence-based practice. You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of these terms, and how you can incorporate them to make the biggest impact possible.

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Digital Mega Bundle for 20% off!
• Free Resource: High School Counseling Data Collection Ideas Guide
• Sci-Hub
• CSCORE: Center for School Counseling Outcome Research & Evaluation
• Follow NASP on Facebook
• Follow NASP on Instagram

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and get the free Data Collection Ideas Guide for High School Counselors
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode48

Let’s talk about a really common challenge that we face as high school counselors. It’s a challenge that often leaves us feeling defeated and put under a whole lot of (sometimes self-inflicted) pressure. Can you guess what it is? I’m talking about working with failing students.

We all have these students on our caseloads. They are the students who are behind in their classes, short on the credits they need to graduate, and reluctant to trust that we want to help them.

And yet, our failing students are also the ones who we get to know the best after earning their trust. We push them because we want to see them succeed, and it’s the best feeling in the world when they do. But let’s be real. This is tough work. Sometimes it feels like you’re fighting an uphill battle and that you’re the only one who cares. 

If you’re feeling that way about some of your students, let’s change that today! Inside this episode you’ll hear my top three suggestions for helping your failing students find success. After listening, I think you’ll realize that you are doing more than enough, my friend! 

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Digital Mega Bundle for 20% off!
• Resource: Career Exploration Small Group
• Resource: Stress Management Small Group
• Podcast Episode 8 - Finding Success in High School Counseling Small Groups Before You Even Start
• Podcast Episode 9 - 3 Ideas for Starting High School Counseling Small Groups From Scratch
• Podcast Episode 10 - 6 Tips for Facilitating High School Counseling Small Groups 
• Podcast Episode 39 - Running Senior Meetings Like a Boss
• ASCA Article: "Support Traumatized Students"

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and get the free Data Collection Ideas Guide for High School Counselors
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: www.counselorclique.com/episode47

I asked you all to submit your SPOOKIEST counseling story: the one that makes you shudder to remember or makes you want to roll over in your grave of embarrassment.

Maybe it was a horror story THEN but maybe you’re ready to laugh about it now. 

It could be a story so legendary that we wouldn’t believe it ourselves… or maybe it’s just something you’re thankful hasn’t happened on more than one occasion… because ONE time was MORE than enough. 

Some of these stories have come in the form of audio voice notes and some are messages that y’all gave me in my DMs… but one thing is in common. They are all anonymous. No names, no Instagram handles… just stories!

I hope you’re as curious and captivated by these as I was… and still am.

Resources Mentioned:

• Graduation Credit Check Spreadsheet: https://counselorclique.com/graduation 

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and get the free Data Collection Ideas Guide for High School Counselors
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: www.counselorclique.com/episode46

There are so many pros and cons to consider when laying out different caseload model possibilities for your school counseling program. There isn’t much research out there on this topic, so I thought this episode could be an exploration of a few different types of models out there. (This list is NOT exhaustive by any means!)

This episode will help you examine how your caseload is currently laid out and think long-term to avoid burnout and allow for growth (professionally and practically in terms of lowering caseload numbers).

Listen in as I talk about 4 different caseload models from least to most favorite! I can’t wait to hear if you have the same or different opinion about these!

Resources Mentioned:

• Blog: School Counseling Caseloads: 5 Questions to Consider When Dividing Them Up
• Blog: 10 Quick Tips for Remembering Student Names
• Podcast: Episode 39- Running Senior Meetings Like a Boss
• Resource: High School Counseling Mega Planning Bundle

Connect with Lauren:

• Join my email list and snag a freebie
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email
• Get on the waitlist for the Clique Collaborative

All show notes on website: www.counselorclique.com/episode45