When the Groans Start, It's Time to Step In You know the signs—jittery legs, pencil tapping, whispered worries about the math section. You hear the familiar question: “Do we HAVE to take this test?” echoing down the hallway. Yes, testing season is coming. And while our students are starting to feel … [Read more...]

Career Week Doesn’t Have to Be Chaos You know the feeling—you’re casually reviewing the school calendar when suddenly it hits you: Career Week is just around the corner. And just like that, your mind starts racing… guest speakers, dress-up themes, hallway decorations, five lessons, volunteer … [Read more...]

 Why Conflict Resolution for Students Matters More Than Ever Two students burst into your office—one crying, the other furious, both convinced they’re the innocent one. Sound familiar? As a school counselor, you’ve seen this play out hundreds of times: a friendship fracture on the playground, a … [Read more...]

How to Build Rapport With Students as a School Counselor (Even If You Only Have 3 Minutes) If you’ve ever been asked, “How do you get kids to open up so quickly?” you may have smiled politely while thinking:It’s not magic—it’s intentional. Building rapport with students is the quiet engine that … [Read more...]

Let’s talk about that group of students who live somewhere in the middle—not quite Tier 1, not quite ready for intensive, ongoing one-on-one counseling. You know the ones: the repeat office visitors, the kids who melt down right after your classroom lesson, the ones with big emotions and even bigger … [Read more...]

Ever glance at your calendar, realize you have 30 minutes to run a group, and completely blank on what to do? You’re not alone, counselor friend. Early in my career, I found myself rushing from class lessons to crisis calls, then landing in a small-group session with no real plan. I’d piece … [Read more...]