Counselor Chat Podcast

The One Question That Makes a Think Sheet WorkWhen “Why did you do that?” leads to a shrug or “I don’t know,” where do you go next? In this episode of Counselor Chat, Carol shares how rewinding the situation and asking “What were you hoping would happen?” can help students reflect and practice a more helpful response.In this episode:How to explore what a student was thinking and feeling before a conflict.Ways to respond when students struggle to explain their actions.How to turn vague promises into specific, practiced next steps.Using think sheets to support accountability, repair, and learning.Your quick win: Try the question with one student this week, then practice one realistic next step together.Resources mentioned:Think Sheets PowerPoint (Grab this free!)Think SheetsGrab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin 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 StoreCounseling Essentials WebsiteInstagramFacebookElementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook GroupCaught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook GroupHigh School Counselor Connection Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Perks Membership

Four Team-Building Lessons Students Will Actually EnjoyTeam building doesn’t have to require complicated materials or hours of preparation. In this episode of Counselor Chat, Carol shares four engaging lessons that get students moving, communicating, and working together.You’ll hear how to use:Pass the Pencil to build connectionsHuman Taco to strengthen communication and inclusionShipwrecked to practice problem-solving and respectful disagreement4 Corners to discover common ground and appreciate different perspectivesWant the lessonsI use? Here are the links:Pass The PencilHuman TacoShipwreckedGrab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin 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 StoreCounseling Essentials WebsiteInstagramFacebookElementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook GroupCaught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook GroupHigh School Counselor Connection Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Perks Membership

Your First Counseling Small Group Doesn’t Have to Be PerfectStarting your first counseling group can feel overwhelming. Are the right students selected? What should the permission form include? What if students don’t participate—or the lesson falls flat?In this episode of Counselor Chat, we’re taking the pressure off and focusing on what you truly need to launch a purposeful, safe, and effective small group.You’ll learn how to:Select students thoughtfullyHandle family permission and student assentCreate clear group expectationsUse a simple, repeatable session structureMeasure student progress without complicated dataAdjust your curriculum as student needs emergeYour students don’t need a perfect group counselor. They need someone who is prepared, present, and willing to learn alongside them.Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin 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 StoreCounseling Essentials WebsiteInstagramFacebookElementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook GroupCaught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook GroupHigh School Counselor Connection Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Perks Membership

Small Groups: Who Should You Start With First?You have time to run only a few counseling groups—but your referral list keeps growing. How do you decide which group should come first?In this episode of Counselor Chat, we explore how to choose small groups based on your school’s current data and student needs instead of automatically repeating the groups you ran last year.You’ll learn:Which school data sources can help identify group needsHow to distinguish patterns from isolated incidentsThree important filters: need, fit, and feasibilityWhy the most requested group may not be the highest priorityWhat to consider when selecting group membersHow to create measurable group goalsSimple ways to collect data before, during, and after a groupHow to support students whose groups cannot begin immediatelyThe goal isn’t to run the most groups possible. It’s to run the right groups for the students who need them now.Links:My favorite Small Groups:K-3 Girls Friendship Group4-8 Girls Friendship GroupK-3 Impulse Control GroupK-2 Coping Skills Group1-4 Anxiety Group4-8 Having Hope GroupHS Anxiety GroupGrab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin 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 StoreCounseling Essentials WebsiteInstagramFacebookElementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook GroupCaught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook GroupHigh School Counselor Connection Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Perks Membership

A strong counseling SMART goal does more than meet a requirement—it gives your program direction, connects your work to student needs, and helps others understand the impact school counselors make.In this episode, we explore how to create a meaningful, data-informed SMART goal and use your annual administrator conference to gain support, clarify expectations, and align your counseling program with school and district priorities.You’ll learn:How to move from an activity-based goal to a student outcome goalWhat data to consider when identifying a program priorityHow to use the annual administrator conference to build administrator buy-inWays your goal can help advocate for your role and appropriate use of timeHow to map your goal across the school yearWhy participation, student standards, and achievement data all matterHow regular checkpoints help you adjust your plan before the end of the yearYour SMART goal shouldn’t be a document you write and forget. It can become a roadmap for your program, a foundation for collaboration, and a powerful way to show how school counseling supports student success.ASCA National Model 5th Edition Free DownloadGrab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin 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 StoreCounseling Essentials WebsiteInstagramFacebookElementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook GroupCaught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook GroupHigh School Counselor Connection Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Perks Membership