High School Counseling Conversations®

Think back to the time you transitioned from middle school to high school. You went from being the oldest in the school to now being the youngest in a new building with a bunch of new opportunities in front of you. Many incoming ninth graders are apprehensive about being in a new school and unsure about the classes they need to take and what to get involved in. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing how to seamlessly transition students from eighth to ninth grade.

When you get a new caseload of incoming ninth-grade students, there are simple and easy ways to help make their transition smooth and make them feel welcome. These practical ideas include tours of the high school, creating a panel of students to answer any student-led questions, being available to meet them in person, and creative ways to introduce yourself and answer their questions. Nowadays, there are so many different platforms to send information out, so I encourage you to take advantage of those to better reach more students.

Making the transition to high school can be intimidating and overwhelming for incoming ninth-grade students, so making it easier as the school counselor is a simple way to make them feel comfortable and welcome. So, if you’re looking for practical ideas to implement to make the transition from eighth to ninth grade smooth, this episode is for you! 

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Ninth Grade Transition to High School Presentation https://counselorclique.com/ninthgradetransition
• Resource: Freshman Planning Bundle https://counselorclique.com/freshmanplanningbundle 
• Resource: Senior Bulletin Board https://counselorclique.com/seniorbulletinboard 
• Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Audio Course — use code PODCAST20 for 20% off! https://counselorclique.com/newcounselor
• 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/episode127

I love sharing ideas, tips, and advice about all things related to school counseling. But nothing makes me more excited than the joy, eagerness, and excited demeanor of new high school counselors! They've got all these new ideas they want to implement and are excited to hit the ground running. So, if you're a new high school counselor and thinking, "What do I need to know before the school year begins?" this episode is for you! 

Learning all the things you'll need to do as a new high school counselor can be overwhelming, so in today's episode, I'm sharing four must-listen podcast episodes for new high school counselors. Each episode discusses a different aspect of school counseling, with a small clip of what you should do or an idea to think about. 

This podcast allows me to reach so many school counselors and help out those who are new or looking for new ways to run a small group or how to use data. So, if you're a new high school counselor, listen to these four must-listen podcast episodes to get a better idea of what to expect as a school counselor in the fall. 

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: High School Planning Mega Bundle
• Resource: School Counselor Beginning of the Year Presentation 
• Resource: Bulletin Board Bundle 2
• Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Audio Course—use code PODCAST20 for 20% off! https://counselorclique.com/newcounselor
• Free Resource: New Counselor Playlist https://counselorclique.com/newcounselorplaylist
• 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/episode126

This is the time of year when you might start looking for new opportunities in the form of a new counseling job. Whether you’re a student who just graduated college, a parent coming back into the workforce after staying home with your children, or just looking for a new place to help students, this episode is for you! I have my friend, Rachel Davis, on today, and we’re sharing our best school counseling interview advice in hopes of giving you encouragement and tips as you enter the job search scene.

When interviewing for school counseling positions, there’s a lot that goes into it. Rachel and I are breaking down the different components of interviews, such as resumes, second interviews, how to respond to different scenarios, and marketing yourself to be the best for the position. Along with sharing how we’d handle different scenarios, we’re also giving general advice on how to make the biggest impact during your interview.

Being on both sides of the interview process, Rachel and I have an open and honest conversation about our dos and don’ts as you look for a new job. No matter what your current situation is, we’re sharing our best school counseling interview advice to get you your dream counseling job!

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Audio Course—use code PODCAST20 for 20% off! https://counselorclique.com/newcounselor
• Free PDF Download: Sample School Counseling Interview Questions from ASCA
• 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/episode125

Even though for some of you, summer might feel so far away, in reality, it’s just around the corner. I know I was always ready to leave and start relaxing, but there are certain things that need to get done before heading out the door. I want you to feel confident and know that you have everything wrapped up from the year and are ready to start a new school year when you return. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing three major end-of-year items to help you close out your year.

There are a million things on your mind when it comes to wrapping up the year, but if you focus on student items, office items, and personal items, you will cover everything you need. With each of these end-of-year items, I provide you with a list and examples of ways to wrap things up. These items include credit recovery, transcripts, decluttering and getting rid of unnecessary paperwork, data, planning out your summer hours, certification hours, and more. I also share resources that would be helpful in closing out these three areas.

In order to truly close out the school year, it’s important to think through all the end-of-year items. I ask you to think about and reflect on the systems you have in place, how you’re keeping it all organized, and ways to communicate with students and parents. So, if you’re ready to close out for the summer, this episode is here to help you feel successful and organized! 

Resources Mentioned:

• Freebie: Podcast Playlist for New High School Counselors
• Shop All: Bulletin Board Resources
• Freebie: Data Ideas Collection Guide
• Resource: Digital Activities Mega Bundle
• Resource: Junior Year Planning Guide
• Shop All Counselor Clique Resources
• Podcast: Episode 21- How to Close Out the Year as a High School Counselor
• Podcast: Episode 123- End of Year Data: What to Gather and Who to Tell About It
• 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
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email: [email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode124

Sometimes, the things we have to do as high school counselors aren't glamorous, exciting, or thrilling. However, that doesn't mean they're not important or essential for running our counseling programs. One of those things is analyzing data. It's likely that you've collected data throughout the school year, but as the end of the year approaches, you're probably thinking, what do I do with this? In today's episode, I'm sharing how analyzing your end-of-the-year data shows the impact you made this year. 

I've said this many times before, but I'll say it again because I truly believe it; one way to measure our effectiveness as a high school counselor is by this phrase: are students different because of what I'm doing here? It's such a powerful phrase, and the best way to visually see our impact is through data. Trust me, I understand that numbers and evaluation of your program can be intimidating, which is why I've come up with ideas on places you can start to pull your end-of-the-year data and present it in ways that will benefit your program. 

Taking the time to analyze your end-of-the-year data not only shows you how to make your counseling program better with more ways to help students, but it also reminds you of the impact you've made this school year. Whether you're looking at your goals from the year, groups you've implemented, or whatever personal dreams you have for your program, data shows you the answers you need to keep going or make some changes. So be sure to add end-of-the-year data to your to-do list before summer so you can make the appropriate changes to your program for next year! 

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Podcast Playlist: New Counselor Playlist
• Freebie: Data Collection Ideas Guide
• Blog: 4 Valuable Places to Share Your Compelling School Counseling Data
• Blog: Advance Your High School Counseling Program with Social Media: 4 Best Practices
• Blog: 3 Unassuming Ways to Incorporate Perception Data Into Your High School Counseling Program
• 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
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email: [email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode123

I’m shocked to say it, but today’s topic is a first for the podcast! It’s not something that we’re immersed in our day-to-day routine, but it’s so important in supporting student needs that, as high school counselors, we should be knowledgeable about it. That’s right, I’m talking about IEPs and 504s. Since I’m not an expert in this subject, I wanted to bring on a guest who has decades of experience and can help provide us with the information we need when attending IEP and 504 meetings.

Today’s guest, Catherine Whitcher, has a passion for solving special education struggles. She has earned multiple Special Education teaching certifications but left the classroom life behind to become a collaborative resource for parents and teachers at the IEP table. Catherine’s an expert on the subject and is ready to share her advice and tips with us today.

In today’s episode, Catherine is sharing some IEP and 504 meeting strategies and the role of a high school counselor during these meetings. With her experience, she provides helpful advice on how to be an advocate for the child, ways to build relationships with the students and their families, and how to be a “solution finder” instead of adding to the problem. Throughout our conversation, you will hear Catherine’s energy and passion come to light and take away productive and effective ways to be part of an IEP or 504 meeting in the future.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Podcast Playlist: New Counselor Playlist
• 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
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email: [email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode122

I’ve said it before, but this time of year is one of the most stressful with graduation, wrapping up the school year, and so many other things that consume your school day. That’s why I wanted to take a moment and reflect on your year and, more importantly, the success you’ve had throughout the school year. To help celebrate, seven other high school counselors are sharing their counselor wins with our community.

As each high school counselor shared their counselor wins, I was amazed by the number of wonderful things happening in counseling programs. After listening to each counselor, they all hit on the different aspects of high school counseling, such as data, interns, students, advocating for your role, and new programs or groups.

We do so much as high school counselors that we often don’t realize or take the time to reflect on the positive and successful things happening in our program or with our students. By having other high school counselors share their counselor wins, I hope you, too, will hear something that sparks an idea that would be celebratory in your program.

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: High School Counseling Data Collection Ideas Guide
• Resource: Leadership High School Counseling Small Group
• Podcast: Episode 101, Navigating Adult Friendships in The Workplace with Blake Blankenbecler
• 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
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email: [email protected]
• Join The Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode121

As graduation approaches, you’re probably doing all the last-minute details of finalizing the details of the event, ordering cap and gowns, designing the program, and about a million other tasks. And while you’ve thought of every detail, you probably didn’t consider or want to think about the seniors not graduating. While it’s an unfortunate and depressing thought, it’s the reality that a lot of counselors have to face during this time of year.

So, if you’re in this situation right now, what do you do? Even though you might have some seniors not graduating, that doesn’t mean your job is done and there’s nothing left for them to do. Instead, I’m sharing some steps you can start taking now with these seniors to ensure that they still have a future and next steps to look forward to. Along with these steps, I provide you with a few logistics you need to work through and what conversations should have already happened and then need to happen moving forward.

If you ask me, this time of year is the most stressful part of the job! You feel like the graduation rate and seniors not graduating all depend on you. But I’m also here to tell you to remove that thought from your mind. You can only help and support a student so much before you rely on them to do the work. So, if it looks like you’re going to have a senior not graduate, I am going to help you accept that and show you how to keep taking steps forward despite them not getting their diploma with the rest of their class.

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Senior School Counseling Bundle
• Resource: Job Interview 3 Day Video Challenge 
• 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
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email: [email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode120

We’ve officially entered the last quarter of the school year, which means graduation for seniors is just around the corner. However, we all know some students who are at risk and in jeopardy of not getting their diplomas. As high school counselors, it’s part of our job to help those at-risk students graduate. So, I’m sharing ways you can specifically support them during this time.

Being a high school counselor, you probably already have a relationship with these at-risk students and have supported them throughout their high school years. However, with graduation approaching, that relationship becomes even more important. Knowing the student, the ones close to them, what motivates them, and their current scenario and situation, along with a few other things, is necessary to help them achieve this goal.

We tend to put a weight on ourselves to make these at-risk students successful and graduate, but we can’t do everything for them. Instead, we provide them with the tools, resources, and support to walk across the stage and have a sense of direction once they graduate. So, if you have a few students in mind who are at risk of not graduating, this episode is for you! 

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Podcast Playlist: Classroom Lessons Playlist
• Resource: High School Counseling Graduation Credit Check Spreadsheet
• Resource: Life After High School Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Goal Setting Classroom Lesson
• Blog Post: Remember These 3 Fundamentals When Engaging Failing Students
• Podcast: Episode 47, 3 Ways to Help Your Failing Students Find Success
• Podcast: Episode 63, Strategies to Employ When You Have Frequent Flyer Students
• 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
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email: [email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode119

As high school counselors, doing classroom lessons is part of the job and helps us stay connected to students and their needs. However, most of our lessons tend to focus on the essentials of scholarship programs, financial aid literacy, reading transcripts, and so much more academically. Instead, I want to give you some counseling classroom lesson ideas that involve social-emotional learning. 

In order to have a proactive counseling program, we need to provide and teach our students the necessary skills they need to be successful. I’m sharing six counseling classroom lesson ideas that do just that, along with sample activities and how each lesson can look in the classroom. Since we can’t give lessons every day to the same students, we need to make sure what we’re presenting is engaging so students remember and use the skills we taught them. 

If you’re looking for fresh and new but also important and informative counseling classroom lesson ideas, I’ve got you covered! By presenting my six favorite lessons, you will engage your students while also giving them skills to practice and master as independent adults. 

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode118

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Free Classroom Lesson Roadmap
• Free Podcast Playlist: Classroom Lessons Playlist
• Resource: Goal Setting and Soft Skills Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Communicating Feelings and Interacting with Others Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Healthy Relationships Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Growth Mindset Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Coping Skills Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Stress on the Brain and Body Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Classroom Lesson Bundle (20% off)
• 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
• Visit my TpT store
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook
• Send me an email: [email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative