High School Counseling Conversations®

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/planningpartyArticle: "Use the Power of the Calendar"Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode142Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

Whether you’re still on summer break or have already kicked off a new school year, there’s one thing I think you need during this season: a curriculum map! While it’s very common for teachers to use this planning tool, I believe there are so many benefits for high school counselors to use it as well. In today’s episode, I’m sharing why you should create a curriculum map and how it sets you up for a successful school year.One of the things I love about a curriculum map is that it helps you visually see the gaps in your program and ways you can meet those gaps to help better serve your counseling program and students. Even though the beginning of the school year is hectic, making this curriculum map at the start of the year allows you to have a vision and direction of where you’re headed. It also creates accountability for yourself and breaks down where you’re spending your time.I know you have dreams and goals for your high school counseling program this school year. One of the best ways to achieve those dreams and goals is by creating a high school counseling curriculum map. This visual planning tool will be the ultimate game changer for you to have a successful school year. No matter where you are in the school year right now, make some time to create your own high school counseling curriculum map!Resources Mentioned:Free Resource: How to Kick-Start Your Year as a High School Counselor https://counselorclique.com/privatepodLive Workshop: Power Hour Planning Party (Using a High School Counseling Curriculum Map to Plan Your School Year) https://counselorclique.com/planningpartyLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode141Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

You’ve waited four episodes to listen to the last episode in our grade-level counselor series. A student’s senior year is full of ups and downs, celebratory moments, and disappointments, and a senior counselor gets to experience it all with them. My guest on today’s episode, Brittany Slagle, experienced all of this and is sharing both what she loves and where she struggles in working with seniors. I’ve talked on the podcast before about the stress and responsibilities of being a senior counselor. Brittany discusses how she managed the bigger administrative tasks of graduation, scholarship deadlines, and test scores, along with the smaller tasks of her role. She admitted that working with seniors can feel intimidating, but building relationships always outweighs the stressors. When I was a high school counselor, I loved working with seniors, and Brittany feels the exact same way. With this being her first year solely working with seniors, she has learned a lot and has kept notes on what she wants to do differently when she works with them again in three years. I loved her realistic perspective on the stressful, fun, and celebratory moments while working with seniors, and I know you will, too!Resources Mentioned:Resource: Free Scholarship Spreadsheet https://counselorclique.com/scholarshipResource: Credit Check SpreadsheetResource: Senior Bundle Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Brittany:Email: mailto:slagleb@btcs.orgInstagram: https://instagram.com/thewhitewoodfarmhouse Connect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode140Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year:...

Being a school counselor allows you to form close relationships with your students and help guide them through their high school years. It’s honestly one of the best and most rewarding parts of the job, and no one believes that more than my guest, Leigh Pottle. Leigh is a high school counselor who works with all grade levels, but she is giving her perspective and insight on working with juniors specifically. Leigh acknowledges that when you work with students as upperclassmen, their needs are different, and their plans start to take action. This requires her to emphasize and constantly reiterate to her students that their academics, attendance, behavior, and discipline matter. During their junior year, everything starts to become more real, which is one reason Leigh works so hard at building relationships and is constantly improving her counseling program. Throughout our conversation, Leigh often refers to her juniors as mini-adults. She shares how to balance guiding and supporting them in their future goals while also keeping them accountable and responsible for their own actions. After listening to our conversation, you will see why Leigh loves working with juniors and see her care and concern for them shine through.Resources Mentioned:Resource: Free Scholarship Spreadsheet https://counselorclique.com/scholarshipResource: Data Guide https://counselorclique.com/dataideasResource: ​​First Generation Small GroupLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Leigh:Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lcp0710 Connect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode139Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

We’re continuing our series on talking with different high school counselors who work with specific grade levels, and today is all about sophomores! Sophomores hold a special place in my heart because when I first started as a counselor, I worked primarily with sophomores. So, I was excited to sit down with my guest, Hannah Fain, to see how our experiences aligned and how things might have changed over the years. Hannah has a great perspective on working with sophomores and the importance of having conversations and small groups to work on certain social and problem-solving skills, along with making sure they’re staying on the right track toward graduation. She emphasizes that having these conversations often and early, along with the help of other staff in the building, keeps the students accountable and builds those relationships for success. Resources Mentioned:Resource: YouScience Career AssessmentsResource: Sophomore Planning BundleResource: Healthy Relationships Classroom LessonResource: Career Bundle 2Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Hannah:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-fain-131494113 Connect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode138Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

When you’re a counselor who works solely with ninth graders, your role and challenges can sometimes look different from those of other counselors working with older high school grades. No one knows this better than my guest, Felicia Carter. Working primarily with ninth graders her entire counseling career, she has gained so much knowledge through her experience and is sharing her wisdom with you all. In this episode, Felicia shares how she seamlessly transitions ninth graders into high school, along with what she’s learned and let go of along the way.One of the things I loved most from our conversation was Felicia’s optimistic perspective and encouraging words for working with ninth graders. She worked hard at fostering a sense of belonging and school spirit before ninth graders even started their first day of school. I gained a new outlook for ninth graders, and I know after listening to this episode, you will, too!Resources Mentioned:Private Podcast: Kick-Start Your Year as a High School Counselor https://counselorclique.com/privatepodResource: Freshman Year Planning BundleResource: Ninth Grade Transition to High School PresentationResource: Freshman Year Planning GuideResource: Soft Skills BundleResource: Back-to-School BundleLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Felicia:Instagram: http://instagram.com/schoolcounselingsmart Connect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative

Before the new school year officially begins, I’m starting a new series where I’m talking with counselors from different grade levels to gather insight into their roles and the specific struggles or challenges they face with the grade level they serve. Today, I’m kicking off the series with middle school counselor Lauren Tenholder. Lauren shares what high school counselors need to know about incoming ninth-grade students and their transition to high school. When incoming ninth graders enter high school, high school counselors often feel like they have to start from scratch by gathering information on their students. However, Lauren emphasizes using their feeder middle school counselors as a resource. She believes communication and collaboration amongst middle school and high school counselors will make a student’s transition to high school smoother and make the ability to take action on serving their social and academic needs easier. Throughout our conversation, Lauren provides a lot of insight into the common struggles eighth graders have about entering high school, the pressure parents can put on their kids when it comes to academics, and the growing number of expectations these students are facing. I loved the perspective Lauren conveyed about a student’s transition to high school and what kind of information they’re equipped with and still need to know. So, if you’re a high school counselor who works directly with ninth-grade students, this episode is for you!Resources Mentioned:Resource: Transition to High School Ninth Grade PresentationResource: Freshman Year Planning Guide​​Resource: Freshman Year Planning BundleLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren Tenholder:Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090560221288&mibextid=ZbWKwL Instagram: https://instagram.com/onecraftycounselor   Etsy: https://etsy.com/shop/onecraftycounselor Connect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews: https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store: https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique: https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook:

When you’re a new high school counselor, you think you need to have a Pinterest-perfect office in order to be effective. However, your worth as a high school counselor isn’t dependent on how much stuff you have in your office or how much financial support you get from your principal, districts, or PTSA. But having a few essentials and office must-haves that you can’t live without will certainly make your life easier! This episode highlights a few back-to-school tips and some high school counselor office non-negotiables and “would be nice” things to get your space and program ready for students. While these things worked for me when I was working as a school counselor, everyone’s must-have office items will be different and need to work for you. Rest assured, all the things in this episode will just enhance the wonderful things you’re already doing as a high school counselor since it’s your skills, knowledge, and experience that make you an effective high school counselor!Resources Mentioned:Private Podcast: How to Kick-Start Your Year as a High School Counselor https://counselorclique.com/privatepodResource: School Counselor Beginning of the Year Presentation https://counselorclique.com/beginningResource: Back-to-School High School Counseling BundleBlog: 4 Helpful Categories of Back-to-School Essentials for High School Counselors https://counselorclique.com/back-to-school-essentialsBlog: 3 Ways to Complete Your School Counselor Office Like a Rockstar https://counselorclique.com/school-counselor-officeAmazon Store Front: https://amazon.com/shop/counselorcliqueBack-to-School Blogs and Podcasts: https://counselorclique.com/category/back-to-schoolLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative https://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: a...

One of the best ways I grew as a professional and leader was when I was a supervisor to high school counseling interns. Being responsible for teaching, guiding, and preparing future high school counselors was something I knew was important for the future of the field. In today's episode, I'm sharing four key things you should do as a supervisor for your counseling interns.My goal as a supervisor was to get my counseling interns to be able to do this job without me. This is why each of the four things I focus on helps to accomplish that goal. The ideas I'm talking about include teaching interns flexibility, encouraging them to take ownership of their own resources, giving opportunities to fail and learn from mistakes, pushing them out of their comfort zone, and providing honest feedback. I also share examples of how these ideas benefit you as the supervisor.When you sign on to be a supervisor who is invested in raising up the next generation of high school counselors, I hope that you'll find that the experience benefits you as well. This episode will provide you with practical and direct ways to guide and navigate you through this supervisor/intern relationship.Resources Mentioned:Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Audio Course https://counselorclique.com/newcounselorResource: New High School Counselor Playlist https://counselorclique.com/newcounselorplaylistResource: High School Counseling Planning MEGA BundleLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode134Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

I’m always looking to find new resources and information that will be helpful tools for high school students. Whether that be career opportunities, college options, or test-taking strategies, I want to get the right resources in YOUR hands to give to your students. So when I came across Dan Heath’s podcast, "What It’s Like to Be," I knew this modern platform would be the perfect resource to provide high school students and their parents.In each of Dan’s episodes, he interviews someone in a unique career to tell a story about their profession. Each guest loves what they’re doing, which comes across in the interviews. In this fun career exploration podcast, high school students can listen and learn about new careers that they may not have been exposed to otherwise. I hope Dan's podcast will be just one more resource for career research and career exploration for your high school students. Use it to ignite their curiosity about what jobs are out there. Take this podcast and let students dive into career exploration to find what they want to do in the future!Resources Mentioned:Resource: Counselor Clique’s Amazon Storefront https://amazon.com/shop/counselorcliquePodcast: Back to School Tips for High School Counselors: Office Prep https://counselorclique.com/episode32Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Dan:Podcast: What It's Like to BeLinkedInConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode133Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

As a new school counselor, we’re excited and eager to focus on students, enhance the counseling program at our school, and advocate for our role to others in the building. But being the new counselor might mean you’re working closely with veteran school counselors, formerly known as guidance counselors, who might not have the same mindset or perspective as you. So what do you do if you’re in this situation? In this episode, I’m sharing what to do when working with an old-school guidance counselor as a new school counselor.Now, I’m not saying that every veteran school counselor has an “old-school” mentality because I was eager to step into a school counseling position where my co-workers had years and years of experience and knowledge that I could soak in. However, I’ve also known the struggle of trying to implement new strategies and techniques into a counseling program with major pushback from my peers. When establishing your role as a new school counselor with a veteran school counselor, it’s important to be aware of the three big ideas that could hinder your role. I help define and find solutions to those ideas, explain the characteristics of a guidance counselor, and share the magical answer of what you need to do as a new school counselor when working with an old-school guidance counselor in this episode!Resources Mentioned:Resource: High School Credit Check SpreadsheetResource: Gallup StrengthsFinder 2.0Resource: How to Kickstart Your Year Private Podcast Series https://counselorclique.com/privatepod (this is how you can get on my email list if you haven't already!)Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode132Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

The end-of-year stress and exhaustion can bring up a lot of emotions for school counselors. And when it’s finally summer break, you have the time to stop and reflect on what you want professionally going forward. When a school year wraps, I know many school counselors ask themselves, is it time for me to move on from this? It can be hard to sift through all you’re feeling and decide what your next step is. So, in this episode, I’m helping you examine when it’s time to move on from high school counseling when managing the weight of burnout. There are many reasons why a school counselor would want to move on from their current position. Before going through them, I share some practical items you need to think through that will help you better understand what your next move is. Then, I discuss multiple scenarios you could find yourself in when thinking it’s time to move on. The breakdown of these scenarios will show you what you’re lacking in your current position or what you’re looking for in the future. However, leaving your current position might not be what you need. Instead, you might find that you want to stay in your role, but certain things need to change. I discuss those items as well to help prepare you for those changes when you return to school in the fall. So, whether you know it’s time to move on or are staying with a few changes, I hope this episode provides you with support, guidance, and an understanding of what’s going to make you happy in your role as a high school counselor!Resources Mentioned:Podcast: The Lazy Genius- Episode 368: My Playbook for a Lazy Genius SummerResearch Article: School Counselors’ Work-Related Rumination as a Predictor of Burnout, Turnover Intentions, Job Satisfaction, and Work Engagement by Mullen, Backer, Chae, and LiLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode131Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

Everyone wants to feel successful in their job. But sometimes, there are certain aspects in and out of your control that contribute to you feeling hesitant to speak up, questioning your ability, or finding it difficult to create change. This occurs when psychological safety is low in the work culture, which then contributes to doubting yourself. My guest on today’s episode, Caroline Crawford, is sharing ways for navigating imposter syndrome and facilitating a positive work culture and how this relates to high school counseling.Work culture is so important that it can truly affect your feeling of safety. Caroline speaks of feeling connected and safe in order to feel motivated in our jobs and how this can be done through your example as a high school counselor. It’s understood that there will be days in this role that are tough and hard to deal with, but Caroline shares how to engage in self-care and always look towards the why of your job to help you through.Caroline’s message in this episode is one of empowerment and motivation. She believes in facilitating a positive work culture through psychological safety and navigating imposter syndrome in order for you to find success and happiness in your role as a high school counselor, which you will definitely learn from her words and examples in this episode.Resources Mentioned:Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Caroline:Website: www.carolinecrawfordconsulting.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/carolineccrawfordFacebook: www.facebook.com/carolinecrawfordconsultingEmail: contact@carolinecrawfordconsulting.comConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode130Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

If you’ve been in the education field long enough, you know that the people you work with, encounter along your journey, and meet on the different paths in your career all shape who you are and your approach to your role. Well, I’m no exception to that philosophy. As a high school counselor, I met many fellow counselors who had an impact on my role as a school counselor and the qualities I tried to embody on a daily basis. In this episode, I reflect on the three educators who inspired me and changed how I approached my high school counseling job. Although I’ve worked with many high school counselors, three have stood out after many years on the job and beyond. With each person that I name, I also share how and why they impacted my approach to school counseling. Each had different strengths and was successful in their own ways, whether through relationship building, always willing to learn something new, the qualities of a good leader, and so much more. These, along with many others, are reasons why they had an impact on me. Additionally, all three of these women were successful school counselors in different seasons of their lives, which I found encouraging. By sharing the educators who inspired me in my approach to high school counseling jobs, I hope you feel encouraged to take the time to reflect and think through the educators in your life who were mentors and impacted your role as a school counselor.Resources Mentioned:Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode129Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

I know when I first started out as a school counselor, I was incredibly nervous and constantly worried about both the small and big things that would happen in this role. And while this feeling was completely normal when first starting out, I quickly realized that worrying didn’t do me any good and that I needed to focus on my job and what I knew I could do. So, if this sounds like you, in today’s episode, I’m sharing four things to quit worrying about if you’re a brand new school counselor.Since I’ve been in your shoes before, I decided to select the four biggest things that would’ve made an impact on being a brand new counselor. When I describe and discuss the things to quit worrying about, I also provide insight into why this shouldn’t be something that worries you in your new role. Additionally, I share insight and encouragement to trust in your experience, knowledge, and skills to not only overcome these worries but excel in this new role. During this episode, you will get a mixture of pep talk, tough love, encouragement, and finally, some next steps on how I can personally help you ease your continuous list of worries. Starting a brand new job, especially as a school counselor, can make you nervous and overwhelmed. But after listening to this episode, you’ll learn four things to quit worrying about that will make your first year as a school counselor a success! Resources Mentioned:Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Audio Course—use code PODCAST20 for 20% off! https://counselorclique.com/newcounselorResource: New Counselor Playlist http://www.counselorclique.com/newcounselorplaylist Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode128Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

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/ninthgradetransitionResource: 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/newcounselorLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode127Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

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 BundleResource: School Counselor Beginning of the Year Presentation Resource: Bulletin Board Bundle 2Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Audio Course—use code PODCAST20 for 20% off! https://counselorclique.com/newcounselorFree Resource: New Counselor Playlist https://counselorclique.com/newcounselorplaylistLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode126Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever

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/newcounselorFree PDF Download: Sample School Counseling Interview Questions from ASCALeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviewsVisit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shopSend me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorcliqueFollow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorcliqueSend me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.comFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode125Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the first-ever Power Hour Planning Party, where we'll use a high school counseling curriculum map to plot out your school year: https://counselorclique.com/planningparty

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 CounselorsShop All: Bulletin Board ResourcesFreebie: Data Ideas Collection GuideResource: Digital Activities Mega BundleResource: Junior Year Planning GuideShop All Counselor Clique ResourcesPodcast: Episode 21- How to Close Out the Year as a High School CounselorPodcast: Episode 123- End of Year Data: What to Gather and Who to Tell About ItLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job InterviewsVisit my TpT storeSend me a DM on Instagram: @counselorcliqueFollow me on FacebookSend me an email: lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique...

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 PlaylistFreebie: Data Collection Ideas GuideBlog: 4 Valuable Places to Share Your Compelling School Counseling DataBlog: Advance Your High School Counseling Program with Social Media: 4 Best PracticesBlog: 3 Unassuming Ways to Incorporate Perception Data Into Your High School Counseling ProgramLeave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple PodcastsConnect with Lauren:Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job InterviewsVisit my TpT storeSend me a DM on Instagram: @counselorcliqueFollow me on FacebookSend me an email: lauren@counselorclique.comJoin the Clique CollaborativeFull show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode123Mentioned in this episode:Join me for the