Counselor Chat Podcast

Carol Miller, School Counselor
  • 4.9 (65)
  • How To
  • Updated Weekly

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. 2d ago

    181. The One Question That Makes a Think Sheet Work

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

    181. The One Question That Makes a Think Sheet Work

  2. Sep 30

    180. Four Teambuilding Class Lessons For School Counselors

    Four Team-Building Lessons Students Will Actually Enjoy Team building doesn’t have to require complicated materials or hours of preparation. In this episode of Counselor Chat, Carol shares four engaging lessons that get students moving, communicating, and working together. You’ll hear how to use: Pass the Pencil to build connectionsHuman Taco to strengthen communication and inclusionShipwrecked to practice problem-solving and respectful disagreement4 Corners to discover common ground and appreciate different perspectives Want the lessonsI use? Here are the links: Pass The PencilHuman TacoShipwrecked 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

    180. Four Teambuilding Class Lessons For School Counselors

  3. Sep 23

    179. Your First Counseling Small Group Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

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

    179. Your First Counseling Small Group Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

  4. Sep 16

    178. Small Groups: Who Should You Start With First?

    Small Groups: Who Should You Start With First?You have time to run only a few counseling groups—but your referral list keeps growing. How do you decide which group should come first? In this episode of Counselor Chat, we explore how to choose small groups based on your school’s current data and student needs instead of automatically repeating the groups you ran last year. You’ll learn: Which school data sources can help identify group needsHow to distinguish patterns from isolated incidentsThree important filters: need, fit, and feasibilityWhy the most requested group may not be the highest priorityWhat to consider when selecting group membersHow to create measurable group goalsSimple ways to collect data before, during, and after a groupHow to support students whose groups cannot begin immediately The goal isn’t to run the most groups possible. It’s to run the right groups for the students who need them now. Links: My favorite Small Groups:K-3 Girls Friendship Group 4-8 Girls Friendship Group K-3 Impulse Control Group K-2 Coping Skills Group 1-4 Anxiety Group 4-8 Having Hope Group HS Anxiety Group 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

    178. Small Groups: Who Should You Start With First?

  5. Sep 9

    177. Creating SMART Goals for Your School Counseling Program

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

    177. Creating SMART Goals for Your School Counseling Program

  6. Sep 2

    176. 8 Counseling Office Must-Haves I Actually Use

    What counseling office supplies truly earn their shelf space? In this episode of Counselor Chat, I share eight tried-and-true favorites she uses to organize lessons, reuse counseling resources, improve classroom management, and make games and groups run more smoothly. In This Episode, You Will Learn A simple system for storing lesson pieces and reusable group materials Why a wider laminator can be worth the investment How laminating helps turn lessons, games, and worksheets into reusable tools The presentation-clicker tip that can save you from searching the classroom A quieter, easier solution to dice rolling during counseling games How Yikerz naturally supports impulse control and flexible thinking Why a familiar game like Chutes and Ladders still works with older students Shop My Counseling Office Favorites Clear project cases Scotch Pro 13-inch laminator Bulk laminating pouches Presentation clicker Sterilite clear latching bins Pop-o-matic dice poppers Yikerz magnetic game Chutes and Ladders Download the free guide 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

    176. 8 Counseling Office Must-Haves I Actually Use

  7. Aug 26

    175. The Counselor Introduction Lesson Students Actually Need

    Your counselor introduction lesson is more than a back-to-school formality. It is one of the first ways you build trust, increase access, and help students understand when and how to ask for support. In this episode of Counselor Chat, Carol shares what students actually need to hear during a counselor introduction lesson—and what you can skip. You’ll learn how to: Explain your role in student-friendly languageHelp students understand when they might come see youClearly explain confidentialityTeach students exactly how to request supportReduce the stigma that counseling means “being in trouble”Make your lesson interactive and memorableGive students a few key messages they can carry with them all year The goal is not for students to memorize what a school counselor does. It is for them to know, “I know who my counselor is, I know how to reach them, and I know they can help.” Intro Lessons: Meet the School Counselor Tic-Tac-Toe School Counselor BINGO Meet the School Counselor Lesson Plan 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

    175. The Counselor Introduction Lesson Students Actually Need

  8. Aug 13

    174. The First 30 Days: What School Counselors Should Focus On

    The first month of school can make counselors feel like they need to do everything at once—but you don’t. Here's a simple roadmap for the first 30 days of school, including what to prioritize, what can wait, and how to build a strong foundation for the rest of the year. You’ll hear practical ideas for: Building relationships with students and staffCreating simple referral and counseling systemsUsing data and needs assessments to guide your programStrengthening Tier 1 supportsProtecting your time before your calendar fills upOrganizing your counseling program without starting from scratch Resources Mentioned: From TpT: Meet the Counselor Tic-Tac-ToeMeet The Counselor Lesson PlanBehavior Intervention Toolkit All these resources and more are included in Perks Counseling Content Club You do not have to have the entire year figured out in September. Focus on the foundation first. 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

    174. The First 30 Days: What School Counselors Should Focus On
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4.9
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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
    182
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Carol Miller, School Counselor
  • Show Website
    Counselor Chat Podcast

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