Episodes
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In this episode, I explore ways school counselors can help parents implement practical Social Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies at home. By building rapport with families and providing simple, screen-free activities, parents can support their children's emotional growth outside of school. I discuss using SEL choice boards, which offer a variety of activities for students to choose from, giving them ownership and encouraging skill development in a fun, engaging way. Plus, I share a variety of mindfulness, gratitude, stress relief, self-esteem, and self-regulation techniques that parents can easily integrate into their daily routines.
Some topics covered in this episode are:
Mindfulness Activities: Deep belly breaths, butterfly breaths, 5 senses check-in, and guided meditations.
Gratitude Practices: Scavenger hunts, letter writing, and creating gratitude lists.
Stress Relief Ideas: Making stress balls, visualizing favorite places, and going for walks or runs.
Boosting Self-Esteem: Collage-making with affirmations, writing songs, and painting future self-portraits.
Self-Regulation Techniques: Acting out emotions, creating coping strategy toolboxes, and practicing deep breaths with a balloon.
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Check out this blog post on learning without screen time!
Grab the counselor curriculum map freebie here!
Grab the choice board, as mentioned in this episode, here!
Connect with Rachel:
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More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In this episode of School Counseling Simplified, I am sharing practical strategies for supporting and building rapport with school administrators. As a key stakeholder group, administrators play a crucial role in the success of a school counseling program. I am outlinging four (plus one bonus) strategies that counselors can use to effectively collaborate with their administrative team, including conducting needs assessments, utilizing data-driven check-ins, discussing school-wide initiatives, and engaging in big picture planning. By implementing these approaches, school counselors can strengthen their relationships with administrators and ensure their programs are aligned with the school's overall goals and priorities.
Here are some highlights from this episode:
Conducting needs assessments with administrators to identify high-need areas Using data-driven check-ins to address achievement gaps, attendance issues, academic problems, and behavior concerns Discussing school-wide initiatives like career fairs and parent workshops with administrators Engaging in big picture planning to align on counseling program goals for the year Advocating for the school counselor's role and communicating the impact of their work
- Strategies for building rapport and working effectively with school administratorsListen in to the full episode and learn more.
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
Grab My free Curriculum MapIf you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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Missing episodes?
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This episode of School Counseling Simplified is all about building strong relationships with teachers. I am sharing four practical strategies that school counselors can use to collaborate more effectively with the teachers in their building. From conducting needs assessments to offering supplemental lessons and organizing fun staff activities, I'm providing you with a roadmap for strengthening those crucial counselor-teacher partnerships.
Some highlights from this episode:
The Importance of a needs assessment to understand what teachers are struggling with and how you can best support them.Offering "as-needed" counseling lessons on specific topics is a great way to provide just-in-time support for teachers and students.
Building rapport through self-care activities and simply being present in the teacher's lounge can go a long way in showing teachers you're on their team.
Pro Tip: Counselors get out of your office and be more visible around campus to strengthen relationships with teachers.
Listen in to hear the full episode!
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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October is Bullying prevention month. I couldn't let the month get past without touching on the importance of teaching students to be "upstanders" as a key bullying prevention strategy. I am introducing the concept of an upstander as someone who witnesses bullying and intervenes to stop it, in contrast to a bystander who does nothing.We will discuss the benefits of empowering students to be upstanders, including preventing future bullying, supporting targets, and reducing bullying-related anxiety and depression. I will also touch on several teaching strategies for introducing the upstander concept, such as traditional lessons, interactive games, and digital resources.
Some highlights from this episode include:
Learning the importance of teaching students the different roles in bullying (bully, target, bystander) and avoiding stigmatizing language like "victim."
Diving deeper on the concept of an upstander is defined as someone who witnesses bullying and intervenes to stop it, in contrast to a bystander.
Highlighting the numerous benefits of teaching upstanders as a highly empowering bullying prevention
Teaching methods, including lessons, games, Boom Cards, and videos, to introduce and reinforce the upstander concept.
Listen in and see what you can implement before the month is over!
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Check out this Upstander blogConnect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
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Facebook Page
Facebook Group
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Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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Halloween is just around the corner, and I know you are looking for fun and engaging ways to incorporate the season into your lessons and activities.
In this episode, I'm sharing 5 creative ways you can use Halloween candy buckets to liven up your counseling sessions. From identifying and changing negative thoughts to practicing self-regulation, these activities are sure to get your students excited and eager to participate.
Grab your pumpkin-shaped buckets and get ready for some spooky counseling fun!
Some things covered in this episode are:
Using candy buckets to sort negative and positive thoughts, helping students reframe their mindsets
Sorting "tattling" vs. "reporting" scenarios to teach appropriate communication
Exploring growth mindset vs. fixed mindset by categorizing statements into corresponding buckets
Practicing problem-solving skills by sorting problems into "tiny," "small," "medium," "big," and "huge" buckets
Utilizing the color-coded "zones" of self-regulation by sorting feelings and behaviors into the appropriate buckets
I'm giving you all the detailed instructions and examples for each of these engaging activities, making it easy for you to implement in your counseling sessions. I would love to see you to share your experiences on social media, and tag me @BrightFuturescounseling for a chance to inspire others.
Whether you're looking to add a seasonal twist to your lessons or simply want to try something new and interactive, these Halloween candy bucket activities are sure to be a hit with your students. Tune in to learn more and get ready to spookify your counseling sessions!
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
5 Ways to Use Halloween Buckets- BlogIf you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
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Facebook Group
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More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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It's Part 2 of the Small Group Planning podcast episodes. Today I am diving into the planning and implementation of small group counseling.
If you didn't catch Part I, I covered the logistics of getting small groups started, but now we will focus on the curriculum development, group structure, and data collection involved in running effective small counseling groups.
Some highlights from this episode:
Importance of standards-aligned small group curriculum planning
Using pre and post-assessments to collect data and determine student progress
Essential components of an engaging small group structure (feelings check, group rules, icebreakers, main activities, discussion, reflection)
Leveraging the Impact membership resources for small group curriculum and support
Transitioning students between tiers of intervention based on small group outcomes
Listen in to get a clear roadmap for planning and facilitating small counseling groups that meet the unique needs of your students.
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student SuccessIf you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
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Facebook Page
Facebook Group
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More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In this episode of School Counseling Simplified,I am diving deep into the topic of small group counseling. As a small group enthusiast, I'm sharing my expertise on the benefits of small group work and provides a step-by-step guide for school counselors on how to effectively plan and implement small groups from start to finish. This episode is packed with practical tips and strategies to take the stress out of small group planning.
Some Highlighted from this episode:The two main reasons Rachel loves facilitating small groups: efficiency in seeing more students in less time, and the opportunity to watch students connect, bond, and learn from one another.
The importance of having a referral system in place to identify students who would benefit from small group counseling.
Tips for recruiting students for small groups, including reaching out to teachers and parents.
The necessity of obtaining parent permission before starting a small group, and suggestions for what to include in the permission slip.
Strategies for scheduling small groups, including navigating potential pushback from teachers and finding the best time that works for all students involved.
Don't miss out on the rest of my advice on small group planning. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about this efficient and impactful tier of school counseling services.
** And don't forget to tune in next week for Small Group Planning Start to Finish Part II**
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! School Counseling Referral Form Editable Parent Permission Slip If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In today's episode, I am talking on the importance of creating a classroom calming corner - a designated safe space for students to manage their emotions. I'll be discussing the benefits of calming corners for teachers, counselors, and students, as well as practical steps for setting them up effectively. I'll also touch on how to handle potential pushback from teachers and strategies for implementing a school-wide approach to this valuable tool.
Some highlights from this episode include:
Identifying Calming corners as a toolkit to help students self-regulate and manage their emotions rather than a punishment
Highlighting the Benefits of calming corners which include happier teachers, less burdened counselors, and more regulated students.
How to set up Calming corners so they can be distinguished from the rest of the classroom and include visuals, soft furnishings, and a calm-down toolbox.
How to address potential teacher concerns and how taking a school-wide approach are key to successful implementation of calming corners.
Listen in and let me know what you think and what you plan to implement.
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! Snag my free Curriculum Map Here How to create a calming Corner If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In this episode, I am discussing strategies for scheduling class lessons for the entire school year. I'm breaking down the benefits of batch work and encouraging you all to plan lessons in advance to save time and reduce stress. We are going to dive into some digital tools like Google Sheets and Airtable that can be used to create checklists and track the status of scheduled lessons.
Some topics covered:
How to schedule class lessons for the entire school year using batch work so you can significantly improve efficiency and organization. Using Google Sheets to create a simple checklist for monitoring the status of scheduled lessons, including teacher names, grade levels, topics, dates, and lesson planning progress. Looking into Airtable for a more visually appealing and feature-rich alternative to Google Sheets, allowing for customizable fields, color-coding, sorting, and filtering options to manage classroom lesson planning. Learning the Importance of Staying organized with digital tools like Google Sheets or Airtable so you can save time and allow you to focus more on serving students.Listen in and tell me what you plan to incorporate this school year!
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
Grab my 30-60-90 Day Plan for FREE FREE Curriculum MapIf you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified.
Today, we're diving into a topic that's crucial for the success of our counseling programs - getting teacher buy-in and support when scheduling those all-important classroom lessons. As we all know, building strong relationships with our teaching staff is key to delivering impactful services to students. And when it comes to those classroom lessons, having the teachers on board can make all the difference.
In this episode, I am sharing some incredibly practical strategies to help you navigate this process and ensure your lessons are welcomed and valued by your teaching team.
Some highlights include:
Learning how to share the "why" behind the counseling lessons, such as citing data or research on the benefits
Getting teacher input by conducting a needs assessment survey to understand their perspectives on lesson topics
Having a backup plan in case some teachers are resistant, such as leveraging administrator support or using alternative scheduling
Offering "as needed" lessons tailored to specific teacher requests, even if they don't align perfectly with the overall lesson plan
Emphasizing the importance of ensuring all students receive the counseling lessons, even if it requires creativity and persistence in working with teachers
Be sure to listen in, take some notes and start implementing these strategies to build stronger partnerships with your teachers. Happy listening, friends!
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! 30-60-90 Day Plan- FREEBIE Grab my FREE Curriculum Map Join Stress Free School Counseling If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In this episode, host I am sharing game-changing tools for scheduling class lessons as a school counselor. I'm covering three main tech tools - Google Sheets, Calendly, and Google Calendar - that can streamline the scheduling process.
The key highlights include:
Using Google Sheets to have teachers sign up for available class lesson times, allowing them to take ownership of the scheduling.
Utilizing Calendly, a free scheduling app that makes it easy for teachers to book appointments for lessons.
Leveraging Google Calendar to create recurring calendar invites with reminders once lesson times are scheduled.
The importance of being strategic about your availability and scheduling lessons first before filling in other commitments.
By implementing these scheduling tools and strategies, school counselors can get their class lessons scheduled efficiently in advance, allowing them to better manage their overall schedule and priorities throughout the school year. Listen in and change the game for yourself!
Resources mentioned:
Curriculum Map Freebie Stress Free School Counseling Free Training happening TODAY!Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In this episode, I am sharing my 3-step process for effectively scheduling class lessons at your school. Learn how to determine the location, setup, and frequency of your classroom lessons to feel prepared and deliver engaging counseling sessions.
I know how overwhelming this can be whether you are brand new or a seasoned veteran, but I have nailed down a process so you don't have to recreate the wheel. This process will help you feel prepared and ready to deliver effective counseling lessons.
Some highlights I cover are:
Join my FREE TRAINING Engaging Individual Counseling Sessions. Struggling with one-on-one sessions? Then this Free live training on using individual counseling curriculum is for you all Live Attendees receive free curriculum set and PD certificate!
Breaking down the 3-step process for scheduling class lessons: which include, location, materials and frequency!
Emphasizing the importance of feeling and being prepared to deliver effective counseling lessons. My biggest tip for Avoid last-minute stress and engage students better- JOIN IMPACTListen in for all the details. You don't want to miss out!
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! 30-60-90 Day Plan - FREE Curriculum Map- FREE Join Stress Free Class Lessons! FREE LIVE TRAINING- How to use individual counseling curriculum to engage students and effectively track data! If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube More About School Counseling Simplified:School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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Back to school season is in full swing and I'm popping in today's episode to break down your first 90 days of school. We are going to break down my free 30-60-90 Day plan, so that we can break down that seemingly overwhelming to do list that you have. Tune in and follow along with your freebie in hand!
What to do in your first 30 days- like identifying needs through a needs assessment, meeting with new administrators, introducing yourself to students How to establish your counseling caseload in your first 60 days- scheduling class lessons, preparing data collection tools, planning small group curriculum, and organizing school-wide activities. Building Conistency in your program- By the 90 day point, you should be implementing your services. The 30-60-90 day plan helps break down the overwhelming back-to-school to-do list into manageable, prioritized steps to ensure you're on track in the first few months. Having this structured plan in place from the start of the school year will help you be more proactive, organized, and prepared to deliver effective counseling services to students.
I'm breaking down each month piece by piece so that you can be create the impact you are wanting to this school year, without the overwhlem.
Some highlights from this episode:Resources mentioned:
30-60-90 Day Plan
Daily Lesson Plans
Join my IMPACT membership here!
School Counseling Data Collection Spreadsheets - Caseload and Counseling Log
School Counseling Data Tracking Tools Bundle - Data Driven Counseling Program
Stress Free Class Lessons
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In this episode,I am sharing four back-to-school small group ideas to help students transition into the new school year, including groups for new students, friendship skills, self-control, and goal setting. I'll also give you the inside scoop on my IMPACT school counselor membership.
Some highlights from this episode:
"New Students Friendship Group" to help ease the transition for students new to the school."Friendship Group" for younger students (K-2) to learn essential social skills and conflict resolution.
A "Self-Control Group" can teach impulse control strategies and help students recognize signs of anger and frustration.
A "Goal Setting Group" can support students in setting and achieving their academic and personal goals for the new school year.
IMPACT membership program offers school counselors access to a wealth of resources, trainings, and a collaborative community to help them thrive.
If you're a school counselor looking for practical, ready-to-use resources and a supportive community, be sure to check out IMPACT! TUNE IN FOR A SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE!
Resources mentioned:
30-60-90 Day Plan
Free EDITABLE Year Long Curriculum Map!
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
Friendship Group for New Students - Growing Friends Counseling Group
Friendship Counseling Group - Blooming Friendships Small Group
Self-Control Counseling Group Wiggle Worms, Impulse Control, Behavior Management
Self-Control School Counseling Group: Develop Self-Control Accountability Habits
Goal Setting and Intrinsic Motivation Growth Mindset School Counseling Group
Study Skills Small Group | Test Taking, Executive Functioning & Managing Anxiety
https://shop.brightfutures-counseling.com/products/executive-functioning-and-study-skills-counseling-group-small-group-sel
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In today's episode, I am talking all about the several back-to-school activities and strategies for school counselors to implement at the start of the new school year. So many different ideas you can implement in your program.
Some highlights covered are:
Create a caseload spreadsheet to stay organized and track students receiving counseling servicesMaintain a counseling log to document dates, duration, and activities for each student session
Conduct needs assessments with teachers and parents to identify key areas of focus for the school year
Make referral forms widely available to encourage staff and families to request counseling support
Host a back-to-school night to introduce yourself, share services, and distribute referral forms
Tune in and get all of my Back to School To Dos.
Resources mentioned:
30 60 90 Day Plan
Counseling Lesson Plans
Meet the Counselor Free training
School Counseling Data Collection Spreadsheets
School Counseling Data Tracking Tools Bundle
Meet The Counselor Game Show
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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Are you ready for the new school year?? In today's episode I dive into starting the year with a "Meet the Counselor" lesson and setting up an effective school counseling office. I'll be sharing tips and resources to help you as the school counselor feel motivated and organized for the upcoming school year.
Some Highlights:
Free live training on August 13-14 to show how to use a "Meet the Counselor" lesson to engage students and advocate for the counselor's role.
Creating a calming "calm down corner" in the counseling office with cozy seating, fidgets, and guided meditation scripts.The importance of using bulletin boards, both inside and outside the office, to display counseling work and create a visual representation of the counselor's role.
Setting up an organized and functional school counseling office, including a file cabinet, whiteboard, small group space, and signage on the office door.
Tune in to listen to the full episode.
Resources mentioned:
30-60-90 day plan Counseling Lesson Plans FREE TRAINING: Meet the Counselor Counseling Office Tour Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here! If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest YoutubeMore About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In today's episode of School Counseling Simplified, I sit down with my friend and fellow counselor, Leslie Cuprill. We talk all things on implementing advisory programs and strategies for effective counseling.
Leslie Cuprill is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Brooklyn, New York who loves supporting educators and students. For two decades she has worked with court and gang-involved youth, LGBTQ+, teen mothers, special needs populations, and educators. Throughout her career, she has taught, counseled, and ensured support while conducting academic intervention services, supervised, facilitated professional development trainings, designed curriculums, and developed programs.
She started Informed Decisions to provide resources for counselors and teachers working with multicultural urban youth, teens, and young adults. She wants educators to feel confident in facilitating and engaging in interactive activities for their students. The information and resources she provides are culturally, racially, and developmentally appropriate materials used to engage, educate, guide, and inspire today’s youth. Our youth deserve to be awarded equitable opportunities to become productive contributing members of society. Together, she believes we can engage multicultural youth in making informed decisions about their lives and future successes!
some highlights include:
The value of preparation and planning for school counselors, including color-coding, laminating, and gathering student input.
Strategies for counselors when asked to lead a group or lesson at the last minute, such as asking key questions of administrators and involving students.
The importance of explaining Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs to parents and educators to avoid misconceptions and gain support.
The significance of self-care and work-life balance for school counselors to avoid burnout and show up fully for students.
Insights into the varying school start dates and work habits across the country, with tips on how to stay productive during commutes and travel.
Don't miss out on this one, tune in and let me know what you think!
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest YoutubeConnect with Leslie:
Advisory and SEL Programs And Activities Facebook Group Informed Decisions Instagram Informed Decisions TpT Advisory and SEL SurveyMore About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In today's episode of the School Counseling Simplified podcast I interview Brandon Gernux, a school counselor who advocates for embracing neurodiversity in schools. Brandon discusses practical strategies for creating inclusive and sensory-friendly environments to support all students, including adjusting lighting and sounds, using visual timers, and collaborating with teachers.
Brandon I. Gernux (he/they) is an Elementary School Counselor in Santa Ana and serves on the CASC Social Justice, Equity, and Anti-Racism Committee, is a leader of the ASCA Elementary School Counselor Affinity Group, and is a recipient of the 2024 Orange County School Counselor of the Year recognition.
Some Highlights:
Defining Neurodiversity and how it refers to the idea that every brain is unique, and counselors should presume competence in all students.
Counselors can make their spaces more sensory-friendly by adjusting lighting, sounds, and providing calming tools like headphones.
Collaborating with teachers to create sensory-friendly classrooms is key, as students spend most of their time in those environments.
Using visual timers can help students with executive functioning challenges manage transitions between activities.
Brandon encourages counselors to try new inclusive practices without fear of perfection, and offers to connect on Instagram (@BigSchoolCounselor) for further support.
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
Connect with Brandon:
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More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In today's episode, I chat with Ashley Lutz. who shares strategies and advice for school counselors on working with special education students and collaborating with special education teachers.
Ashley has been working in Special Education for 12 years. She was a middle school self-contained teacher for 7 years working with students with intellectual disabilities and did 4 years as a special education inclusion teacher in an elementary setting. In 2022, she switched roles to be an Early Childhood Special Education teacher (ECSE). Outside of the classroom, Ashley is married with 3 kids; an 8 year old and 6 year old twins. When she is not running after her littles, she enjoys workouts, putting her toes in the sand, reading, and drinking lots of coffee!
Some Highlights include:
Strategies for counselors to support special education students, such as building rapport with families, providing sensory input, and using fidget toys or puzzles to help students open up.
Co-teaching models for counselors to work with special education teachers, including team teaching and station rotations.
The importance of validating emotions and supporting teachers' mental health, with suggestions for counselors to offer a safe space for teachers to vent and regulate their emotions.
The value of early intervention and open communication between educators and parents to address mental health concerns in students.
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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In Today's episode I chat with Bradford Goodridge,an elementary school counselor in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He discusses his approach to comprehensive school counseling lessons, including his "paws" program that aligns with his school's lion mascot. He shares tips for creating lessons from scratch, integrating school values, and supporting students through self-referral groups.
Some topics covered in this episode are:
Bradford's background in education and his transition to becoming an elementary school counselor.The "paws" program he developed to provide structured, instructional lessons for students to share their thoughts and feelings.
His process for creating school counseling lessons from scratch, incorporating mandated topics and aligning with his school's core values.
How he pitches and manages self-referral student groups, using kid-friendly terminology to engage students.
The importance of being a visible, supportive resource for both students and parents, and the challenges he faced in a previous disciplinarian role.
Resources mentioned:
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Connect with Rachel:
TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
Connect with Bradford:
InstagramMore About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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