Counselor Chat Podcast

Carol Miller, School Counselor
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Counselor Chat is a podcast for School Counselors. If you're looking for inspiration, collaboration, easy to implement strategies and a bit of joy, you'll want to listen along with your host, Carol Miller from Counseling Essentials. Share in some real talk and get tips, tricks and learn about tools of the trade with Carol and listen in as she interviews other school counselors who are experts in the field as they share their advice and enjoy a few laughs.

  1. 161. How to Choose an SEL Curriculum

    1 DAY AGO

    161. How to Choose an SEL Curriculum

    Mentioned in this episode: Perks Membership

    13 min

  2. 29 APR

    160. Simple Mental Health Supports Every School Can Use Right Now

    Episode 160: Simple Mental Health Supports Every School Can Use Right Now Mental Health Awareness Month is coming up, and I know how easy it is to feel like you need to do more. Add another lesson. Try something new. Fit one more thing into an already full schedule. In this episode, I share a different perspective. Supporting student mental health is not about adding something big. It is about what is already happening in your day and how you show up in those moments. I walk through simple, realistic ways I support student mental health that do not require extra time or complicated planning. These are things you can start using right away. In this episode: Why mental health support is not limited to a lesson, a week, or a specific monthHow everyday interactions shape how students feel and respondSimple ways to support students without overwhelming your scheduleThe role consistency plays in helping students feel safeHow to support your own mental health while supporting others Practical Ways to Support Mental Health: Checking in with students in small, informal moments throughout the dayHelping students understand that all feelings are valid and worth sharingTeaching a few coping strategies and practicing them regularlyCreating predictable routines so students know what to expectMaking space for connection through simple conversationsUsing tools like calm down kits to support regulation when needed "You are not responsible for doing everything. You are responsible for doing what you can with intention." Resources Mentioned: Calm Down Kit Freebie! High School Mental Health Lesson Feelings Check Ins Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast Join 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 Group Mentioned in this episode: Perks Membership

    18 min
  3. 159. You Don’t Have to Do It All: Letting Go This Time of Year

    22 APR

    159. You Don’t Have to Do It All: Letting Go This Time of Year

    Episode Title:Rocks, Sand, and the Pressure to Do It All (Especially in April) Episode Summary:April can feel like a breaking point for school counselors. Between testing, behavior challenges, end-of-year responsibilities, and ongoing student needs, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. In this episode, I'm sharing a powerful perspective shift using the classic “jar of rocks” story to help you refocus your time, energy, and expectations. This is your reminder that you were never meant to do it all—and that doing less of what doesn’t matter can actually help you do more of what does. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why April feels especially overwhelming for school counselorsThe hidden “invisible checklist” many counselors carryHow to identify your “rocks” (what matters most right now)The difference between rocks, pebbles, and sand in your daily workWhy letting go is a strategic decision, not a failureA simple mindset shift to reduce overwhelm immediately Key Takeaway:“You were never meant to do it all.”Reflection Questions:What are your rocks right now?Where are you spending time on sand instead of what matters most?What is one thing you can let go of this week?Where are you already making a difference (even if it doesn’t feel like it)? You don’t have to do everything to make a difference. You just have to focus on what matters most. And right now… that’s enough. 💛 Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast Join 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 Group Mentioned in this episode: Perks Membership

    11 min
  4. 158. Test Anxiety Isn’t Just Nerves—Here’s What Students Really Need

    15 APR

    158. Test Anxiety Isn’t Just Nerves—Here’s What Students Really Need

    Test Anxiety Isn’t Just Nerves—Here’s What Students Really NeedTest anxiety is everywhere this time of year, but it doesn’t always look the way we expect. It’s not just nervous students biting their nails. It’s avoidance. Shutdown. Frustration. “I don’t care.” In this episode, I’m breaking down what test anxiety really looks like, what’s happening in the brain, and how we can support students with simple, effective strategies that build confidence and calm. 💡 What You’ll LearnWhy test anxiety is often misunderstoodHow overwhelm—not defiance—is driving behaviorA simple way to explain anxiety to studentsHow confidence and identity impact test performance 🧠 What’s Really HappeningWhen students feel stressed, their brains flip into alarm mode. Heart rate increasesThinking becomes foggyFocus drops It’s not that they don’t know the material… 👉 Their brain is trying to protect them. 🎨 Easy Activities to Support StudentsColor-by-code coping activitiesConfidence statement practiceCollaborative classroom posters with calming messages Simple. Low prep. High impact. ✨ Key Takeaway“They care a lot… they just don’t feel capable.”🎁 Resources MentionedColor by Code Test Taking SKills Test Strategies Game Test Prep Motivators Test Prep Collaborative Poster Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast Join 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 Group Mentioned in this episode: Perks Membership

    11 min
  5. 157. Why I Don’t Make Kids Apologize (And What I Do Instead)

    8 APR

    157. Why I Don’t Make Kids Apologize (And What I Do Instead)

    Why I Don’t Make Kids Apologize (And What I Do Instead) 💭 Episode OverviewWe’ve all said it: “Go apologize.” But what if that moment isn’t actually teaching accountability? In this episode, I’m sharing why I don’t force apologies—and what I do instead to help students take real ownership, build empathy, and repair relationships in a meaningful way. 🔑 Key TakeawaysAn apology is not the same as accountabilityForced apologies often teach compliance—not empathyStudents need understanding before they can offer a genuine repairSlowing down the process leads to better long-term behavior and relationships ✨ Key Insight“When we force an apology before a student is ready, we’re not teaching empathy… we’re teaching compliance.”🛠️ Resources MentionedThink Sheets Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast Join 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 Group Mentioned in this episode: Perks Membership

    9 min
  6. 156. Spring Fever Is Real: Managing Big Energy & Bigger Behaviors

    1 APR

    156. Spring Fever Is Real: Managing Big Energy & Bigger Behaviors

    Episode Title: 156. Spring Fever Is Real: Managing Big Energy & Bigger Behaviors 🌱 Episode OverviewApril is here—and with it comes big energy, distracted students, and behaviors that can leave teachers feeling overwhelmed. But what if those behaviors aren’t defiance… What if they’re communication? In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful reframe that will shift how you see student behavior this time of year—plus simple, practical strategies you can use immediately to support regulation, connection, and readiness to learn. 💡 What You’ll LearnWhy “spring fever” is really a perfect storm of unmet needsHow to reframe behavior from frustration to understandingThe connection between regulation, belonging, and behaviorWhy community and purpose matter for both staff and students 🛠️ Quick Tier 1 Strategies You Can Use Right Away1. Brain Breaks with Purpose Cross-body movements to support focus60-second resets for breathing + attentionIntentional movement (not just “random wiggle time”) 2. Reset Routines After Transitions Build in a 1–2 minute reset after lunch, recess, or specialsUse simple check-ins or grounding exercisesDon’t expect instant regulation—teach it 3. Calm Down Spaces That Actually Work Focus on regulation—not punishmentInclude tools students already know how to usePractice when students are calm (not just overwhelmed)Consider portable calm down kits for smaller classrooms ✨ Key Takeaway“They’re not just acting out… they’re overwhelmed.”When we shift from asking “How do I stop this behavior?” to asking “What does this student need right now?” …that’s where real change happens. Resources Mentioned Behavior Toolkit Calm Down Kit Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast Join 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 Group

    17 min
  7. 155. How Long Is a Lifetime? (And What Are You Going to Do With Yours?)

    25 MAR

    155. How Long Is a Lifetime? (And What Are You Going to Do With Yours?)

    Episode 155. How Long Is a Lifetime?This week on Counselor Chat, I’m zooming out. Over the past few weeks we’ve talked about college exploration, career research, brackets, and future possibilities. But in this episode I wanted to step back and ask a bigger question — one I ask my upper elementary and middle school students every year: How long is a lifetime? To explore that question, I use a simple visual with jellybeans, where each one represents a day of life. When students see them all laid out it feels like forever… until we start sorting them into things like sleeping, working, and everyday routines. That’s when perspective shifts. When we do the math together, students realize the average person may spend about 43 years working before retirement. And that leads to one of my favorite questions to ask them: “If you’re going to spend 43 years working, how do you want those years to feel?”Instead of focusing only on what job they want someday, students begin thinking about the kind of life they want to build — and how the effort and skills they build now create opportunities later. In This Episode• The jellybean lifetime visual and why it resonates with students • How I help students see the value of their time and future choices • Why asking students how they want life to feel changes the conversation • The connection between effort today and opportunities later • The transferable skills that prepare students for any career path Sometimes the most powerful lessons aren’t about choosing a career yet. They’re about helping students understand that their time matters. Because when you see your life represented by jellybeans, it becomes real. Resource MentionedFuture Plans Lesson (How Long Is A Lifetime?) Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast Join 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 Group Mentioned in this episode: Perks Membership

    10 min
  8. 154. March Madness and School Counseling

    18 MAR

    154. March Madness and School Counseling

    154. March Madness and School Counseling March Madness already brings energy into our school buildings. Students are talking about brackets. There’s excitement. Competition. Predictions about who will win. In this episode, I share how I take that same excitement and turn it into a college and career exploration experience that students find engaging and meaningful. Because if there’s one thing I want students to feel about their futures, it’s this: I want their future to feel exciting, not overwhelming. So instead of basketball teams… I create a Future Bracket Challenge. As I tell my students during this lesson: “What if your future had its own bracket?”What if colleges competed for you? What if careers battled it out? And what if you got to decide what makes it to your Final Four? In This Episode• How to turn March Madness energy into meaningful college and career exploration • The College Research Pennant Project and how it makes research feel celebratory instead of overwhelming • The Career Research Pennant Project that helps students connect education pathways to real careers • A Career Cluster Bracket Challenge that encourages critical thinking and reflection • A Sweet 16 Skills Bracket that explores essential future workplace skills • Reflection questions that help students identify what matters most in their future These activities help students begin to see their future not as something distant or intimidating… But something they can start exploring right now. Resources MentionedCareer Research Pennant Project College Research Pennant Project These ready-to-use templates include structured research sections and resource links, so students can focus on exploration rather than teachers building materials from scratch. Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast Join 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 Group Mentioned in this episode: Perks Membership

    12 min
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About

Counselor Chat is a podcast for School Counselors. If you're looking for inspiration, collaboration, easy to implement strategies and a bit of joy, you'll want to listen along with your host, Carol Miller from Counseling Essentials. Share in some real talk and get tips, tricks and learn about tools of the trade with Carol and listen in as she interviews other school counselors who are experts in the field as they share their advice and enjoy a few laughs.

Information

  • Creator
    Carol Miller, School Counselor
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    162
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Carol Miller, School Counselor
  • Show Website
    Counselor Chat Podcast

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