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. 145. How School Counselors Can Support Big Feelings in the New Year

    3D AGO

    145. How School Counselors Can Support Big Feelings in the New Year

    January can feel especially tough in schools. Big emotions, increased anxiety, mood changes, and shutdown behaviors often show up as students transition back from break. In this episode, I’m breaking down why January feels so hard, and what school counselors can do to support students in ways that are compassionate, practical, and sustainable. In this episode, I discuss:Why January creates emotional and behavioral shifts for studentsHow anxiety shows up differently across age groupsThe difference between behavior problems and regulation problemsWhy predictability is essential for reducing anxietyCounselor strategies to restore safety and routineLow-pressure Tier 1 lesson ideas for JanuarySmall group supports for anxiety, coping skills, and transitionsTrauma-informed practices that prioritize connection before correction Key Quote from the Episode“Anxiety increases when predictability decreases.” Counselor TakeawayJanuary isn’t about fixing feelings or pushing through. It’s about regrounding, rebuilding routines, and helping students feel safe enough to learn again. Small supports matter—and they add up. Thank you for showing up for your students and for yourself. Your work matters more than you know. 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 Groupa...

    12 min
  2. 144. New Year, Same Counselor

    JAN 7

    144. New Year, Same Counselor

    January has a way of making counselors feel like they should start over with new systems, new routines, new everything. But what if that pressure is actually working against your effectiveness? In this episode of Counselor Chat, I'm offering a grounded reframe for the new year: you don’t need to become a brand-new counselor just because the calendar changed. Instead, this episode invites you to slow down, protect your energy, and focus on what already works. In this episode, you’ll hear:Why January pressure can lead to burnout instead of clarityA simple explanation of the law of diminishing returns in school counselingHow “doing more” can actually reduce your impactWhy small tweaks matter more than big overhaulsPractical ways to carry fall systems into the springThree gentle reflection prompts to guide your January planning “Sometimes less truly is more — especially when it comes to protecting your energy and sustaining your impact.”January Reflection Prompts:What is one counseling routine that felt manageable in the fall?What is one lesson, group, or system I don’t need to reinvent?What is one thing I can stop doing to protect my energy? This episode is a reminder that: You are not starting overYour relationships still matterYour systems didn’t disappearAnd sustainability is what carries you through March, April, and May ✨ New year. Same counselor. Stronger boundaries. Smarter focus. Thanks for being here, counselor friend. You’re doing important work — even when it doesn’t feel loud or new. ⭐ If this episode helped you, a quick review means more than you know Until next time — I hope you have a really great week. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Episode 83 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...

    9 min
  3. 143. What If I Don't Feel Motivated To Go Back To Work (ICYMI)

    12/31/2025

    143. What If I Don't Feel Motivated To Go Back To Work (ICYMI)

    As the calendar turns to a new year, many school counselors find themselves holding a mix of emotions about heading back to work. Motivation might feel low, energy might feel scattered, and that sense of readiness may not be there yet. In this New Year’s Eve re-listen, I'm revisiting Episode 41 of Counselor Chat Podcast, a conversation counselors return to again and again when break comes to an end. This episode is a reminder that feeling unmotivated, heavy, or unsure about returning to school is normal. Motivation does not magically appear on January 1st, and you do not need to have everything figured out before heading back. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why mixed emotions after a break are completely normalHow different breaks can bring different feelings from year to yearThe importance of acknowledging your emotions instead of pushing through themHow reconnecting with your “why” can ground you when motivation feels lowSimple strategies to ease back into work, including building white space into your calendarWhy prioritizing tasks and letting go of doing everything at once mattersThe power of reconnecting with colleagues for support and perspectiveGentle reminders about self care and protecting your energy You are not alone, and you are allowed to take this transition one step at a time. Mentioned in the Episode: Energy Inventory: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eXT5jXvwueU39AGvkFYq7-wvom9TiSns/view?usp=sharing 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...

    15 min
  4. 142. Advice from Counselors to Counselors (ICYMI)

    12/24/2025

    142. Advice from Counselors to Counselors (ICYMI)

    As the holiday season arrives, we’re revisiting one of the most meaningful episodes of Counselor Chat — a conversation filled with honest advice, encouragement, and reminders from counselors who truly understand the work. In this episode, counselors from across the country share the wisdom they wish they had when they were new to the profession — advice that’s just as powerful for seasoned counselors navigating full plates, shifting priorities, and year-end reflection. You’ll hear thoughtful insights on: The importance of visibility and relationship-buildingGiving yourself grace and letting go of perfectionAsking for help and leaning on your support systemBalancing heart work with realistic expectationsCaring for yourself while caring for othersRemembering that even the smallest moments matter This episode feels like sitting down with colleagues who get it — the challenges, the joy, the exhaustion, and the purpose behind the work you do every day. Whether you’re listening on a walk, at the gym, or during a quiet moment of rest, my hope is that this re-listen meets you exactly where you are and reminds you that you are not alone. Ready to share your tips and advice on a upcoming episode? Just hit this link, and then press record on your phone or device. Easy peasy! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/325646/26/h0ldegvcaj9roa3k 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

    29 min
  5. 141. The School Counselor’s Holiday Survival Guide

    12/17/2025

    141. The School Counselor’s Holiday Survival Guide

    December in schools hits different. The schedules are off. The kids are buzzing. The teachers are exhausted. And counselors are somehow expected to be part Santa, part therapist, and part crisis manager… all before lunch. If your December feels especially full, you are not imagining it. In this week’s episode of Counselor Chat, I’m sharing The School Counselor’s Holiday Survival Guide. It’s a realistic, no-pressure conversation about how to get through this season without losing your sanity or your joy. In this episode, we talk about: Why December feels so intense for school counselorsHow to simplify lessons and expectations without guiltWhat to do when plans constantly changeSetting boundaries that protect your energy and still support your schoolSupporting students who struggle emotionally during the holidaysFinding small moments of calm and joy for yourself One of my favorite reminders from this episode is this: “Your goal right now is not to win Counselor of the Season. Your goal is to get to winter break in one piece.”If you’ve been feeling tired, stretched thin, or like you’re barely keeping up, this episode is your permission slip to simplify and take care of yourself, too. Mentioned in this episode: Perks Membership

    17 min
  6. 140. Finding Calm in the Counselor Chaos

    12/10/2025

    140. Finding Calm in the Counselor Chaos

    Episode 140: Finding Calm in the Counselor ChaosDecember brings a special kind of school chaos. Schedules shift. Energy skyrockets. Teachers and students feel stretched. And counselors often find themselves trying to hold it all together. In this episode, I am sharing simple ways to stay grounded, centered, and calm during one of the busiest months of the school year. In This Episode You’ll Learn:• Common early signs of counselor burnout  • Why noticing burnout is an act of wisdom, not weakness  • Easy micro practices that take 30 seconds to 2 minutes  • A guided one-minute breathing reset you can use anytime  • How to let go of perfection and choose simplicity  • Ways to weave calm moments into your day without adding tasks Quote From the Episode"You are doing enough. You are enough, and you are allowed to rest." Encouragement for the WeekDecember may be busy, but you do not have to absorb all the chaos around you. Take a pause, take a breath, and give yourself permission to rest. You are doing more good than you know. 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
  7. 139. Growing Gratitude in Your Counseling Program

    12/03/2025

    139. Growing Gratitude in Your Counseling Program

    December can feel like a whirlwind in schools, which makes it the perfect time to slow down and center students in one of the most grounding SEL themes we have: gratitude. In this episode, I am sharing simple, meaningful ways to introduce gratitude to students of all ages, plus ideas for weaving it into your counseling program throughout the whole month. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:• Why gratitude boosts mood, relationships, and academic outcomes • How gratitude connects to all five CASEL competencies • How I use the book Last Stop on Market Street to introduce perspective and meaning • Reflection questions that help deepen student understanding • My daily Witness Moment practice and how students can create gratitude snapshots • A gratitude acorn activity that helps younger students understand growth • A powerful gratitude cross the line lesson for older students • Schoolwide ideas: gratitude walls, gratitude grams, morning announcements • How to track simple Tier 1 data when implementing gratitude centered lessons Quote From the Episode"It can start off tiny, just like an acorn, but gratitude has a way of growing into something great." Encouragement for the WeekAs we close out the year, gratitude becomes a beautiful reminder of why we do this work. Whether it is an acorn on the wall, a hallway display, or a quiet moment in your office, I hope you always find ways to grow gratitude in your school this season. Resources Mentioned: Last Stop On Market Street 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

    13 min
  8. 138. The Gratitude Circle for Counselors: Finding Joy in the Work You Do

    11/26/2025

    138. The Gratitude Circle for Counselors: Finding Joy in the Work You Do

    Right before Thanksgiving, in the middle of progress reports, last-minute meetings, and all the pumpkin spice in the world, it can be easy to miss the small moments that actually fuel us. This episode is a gentle pause.  A breath.  A circle of gratitude created for you. I asked counselors in my Facebook groups what they are most grateful for, and their answers were pure joy, connection, and heart. Today I am sharing their stories, along with a few of my own, as a reminder that even in the chaos, the work you do every day truly matters. ✨ What You Will Hear in This Episode:Why the weeks before Thanksgiving feel especially heavyThe power of stopping to notice the goodA collective gratitude circle filled with counselor shared momentsStudents choosing time with their counselor as their rewardKids using calm down strategies and repeating your words back to youWhen a student calls you their trusted adultWhy small wins often matter the mostReal stories of connection from counselors across the countryA quick 30 second gratitude practice you can do anytimeSimple ideas to keep the gratitude going at school 💬 Quote from the Episode“Emotional safety is such a quiet form of love, and when kids choose to show up in your space, that is gratitude in motion.” 💛 Encouragement for the WeekTake a moment today to name one thing you are grateful for in your work, with no posting or documenting, just a quiet acknowledgment of a meaningful moment. You are the safe space.  You are the trusted adult.  You are the calm in the storm. And that is something to be profoundly grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving, counselor friends. I appreciate you more than you know. 💛 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: a...

    16 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
    146
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Carol Miller, School Counselor
  • Show Website
    Counselor Chat Podcast

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