August doesn’t have to feel like a whirlwind of late nights, unlaminated posters, and cold cups of coffee. I'll share the 10 intentional steps I'm taking this summer to avoid the dreaded back-to-school chaos—and how you can do the same. From organizing your counseling office (yes, both paper files and those prehistoric Google Docs) to prepping data tools, small group plans, and even your go-to “counselor tote,” Carol walks through the exact systems and routines she’s setting up now to make the s...
Jul 23, 2025•17 min•Ep. 120
Are you navigating a new caseload structure this year? Wondering how to divide the work with a co-counselor without splitting the heart of your program? In this episode, I'm sharing practical strategies and real-life examples of caseload division that works—plus the bumps to avoid. You’ll learn: 📚 The most common caseload split models (Alphabet, Grade-Level, MTSS, and more) 🧠 The benefits—and drawbacks—of each 🤝 Pro tips for dividing responsibilities beyond the caseload 🔄 Why it’s okay to tr...
Jul 16, 2025•27 min•Ep. 119
This week on Counselor Chat, we’re taking a break from the heavy stuff and diving into a little mid-summer magic. It’s a personal episode full of recommendations, reflections, and fun finds that are keeping me grounded, growing, and even a little more organized during these sunny months. Here’s what I’m sharing: 📚 What I’m Reading 🎧 What I’m Listening To 📺 What I’m Watching 🥗 What I’m Cooking ✨ What’s Coming Up: I’ll be at the ASCA Conference in Long Beach! Stop by the Perks booth and say hi...
Jul 09, 2025•15 min•Ep. 118
In this candid solo episode, I get real about mid-summer counselor burnout. If you’ve been feeling tired, guilty for not “doing more,” or wondering why you’re not excited for back-to-school season—this conversation is your permission slip to hit pause and actually recharge. I'm sharing personal stories, actionable reflection questions, and why summer isn’t a competition for productivity—it’s a chance to reconnect with who you are and why you started this work in the first place. 🔍 What You’ll L...
Jul 03, 2025•22 min•Ep. 117
In this inspiring guest takeover, Kansas-based counselor Cassie Good shares how starting an Advisory Council changed everything—from how her role was viewed to how she spent her time. What You’ll Learn: Why advisory councils aren’t optional—they’re transformational Real-world examples of using data to advocate for your time and impact How Cassie reduced non-counseling tasks with support from admin Ways to create buy-in from teachers, parents, and district leaders Practical steps to start your ow...
Jun 25, 2025•17 min•Ep. 116
🎙️ Episode Title: That One Student – Ending the Year with Impact In this powerful episode of Counselor Chat , Carol shares the emotional story of “that one student” — or in her case, an entire family — who made a lasting impact during the school year. From crisis to resilience, you'll hear how four siblings reminded her why school counselors do this work, even when it’s messy, hard, and uncertain. You'll walk away with: A reminder of the life-changing power of your presence An invitation to ref...
Jun 18, 2025•9 min•Ep. 115
This week on Counselor Chat , we’re getting personal—and a little behind-the-scenes. 🎧 Episode 114: Conference Confidential – The Backstage Tour of the Summer Counselor Conference In this episode, I’m sharing how the Summer Counselor Conference came to life—from the spark of an idea to a community of thousands of counselors learning together from the comfort of their homes. ✨ Inside this episode: The heart behind the conference (and yes, it includes yoga in your PJs!) Sneak peeks into this year...
Jun 11, 2025•13 min•Ep. 114
In this heartfelt episode, I'm sharing a mix of laughter, encouragement, and reflection for school counselors wrapping up the year. Drawing from letters written by real counselors, this episode offers wisdom to tuck away for the tough days ahead—and a reminder that your work truly matters. Highlights: 💌 “Dear Future Me…” letters full of humor, heart, and hard-earned advice 📢 The importance of advocating for your role (and inviting yourself to the meeting) 🧠 What to remember when you're overwh...
Jun 04, 2025•9 min•Ep. 113
What happens when grief becomes your unexpected companion—but also your teacher? In this heartfelt Podcast Takeover , guest host Carol Colao opens up about guiding children through grief in her school counseling role, sharing signs, stories, and a reminder that children grieve differently--and deeply. She’s joined by Julie Riga , a leadership coach and author, who turned her grief into purpose by completing her late father’s memoir and discovering “authentic grieving” in the process. This episod...
May 28, 2025•32 min•Ep. 112
As school counselors, we tend to spotlight the big moments—graduations, awards, and final grades. But what about the small wins ? The quiet growth, the subtle progress, and the unseen impact? In this uplifting episode, I'm sharing why those “little things” might just be the most important part of our work—and how you can start recognizing and celebrating them today. You'll hear: Why small wins matter (backed by behavioral science!) Simple celebration strategies for students, staff, and yourself ...
May 21, 2025•10 min•Ep. 111
Surviving school counseling? Sure, it’s doable. But thriving in it? That takes intention. In this episode, Carol shares the 5 non-negotiables that help counselors stay grounded, confident, and impactful—no matter what time of year it is. Whether you're wrapping up the school year or planning ahead, these five foundational pillars will support your work (and your wellness). What You’ll Learn: How building relationships—yes, even the tough ones—is the key to everything What setting strong boundari...
May 14, 2025•14 min•Ep. 110
Between testing, field trips, and students bouncing off the walls, May can be chaotic. But even during the busiest weeks of the school year, you can make meaningful moves for Mental Health Awareness Month—without adding more to your calendar. In this episode of Counselor Chat, I’m sharing quick, creative, and practical ways to promote mental wellness at school without burning yourself out. What You’ll Learn: How to use morning announcements to plant positive mental health messages Ideas for a lo...
May 07, 2025•12 min•Ep. 109
In this episode of Counselor Chat, we’re exploring one of the most important (and exciting!) aspects of school counseling: promoting self-discovery . Forget the "find yourself in a forest" narrative — we're talking about real, practical strategies to help students uncover who they are, what they're great at, and how to channel that into meaningful goals. What You’ll Learn: Fun and effective ways to help students spot their strengths Activities to ignite passions and tap into hidden interests How...
Apr 30, 2025•18 min•Ep. 108
In this heartfelt episode of Counselor Chat , we’re diving into something every school counselor faces: when a student you once saw regularly suddenly fades from view. Whether it's due to schedules, emotions, or avoidance, reconnection is possible—and often starts with something small. 🧠 Here’s what we’ll explore: Common reasons students stop checking in—and why it’s not about you How to send a low-pressure “Hey, I missed you” message Creative ways to re-engage through lunch bunches, hallway gr...
Apr 23, 2025•11 min•Ep. 107
In this episode, we’re cracking open the (possibly chaotic) game closet to help you survive and thrive this spring with low-prep, high-impact games. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: Why spring is the perfect time for play-based counseling Go-to games like Feeling Charades, Coping Skills Memory Match, and Compliment Circle Quick & easy activities for those zero-prep, five-minute-group days (Four Corners, Emotion Detective, Pass the Emoji) Debriefing questions that deepen student reflection and connectio...
Apr 16, 2025•15 min•Ep. 106
It’s that time of year again. The sun is trying to shine, test season is in full swing, and your to-do list just grew its own to-do list. Before the end-of-year whirlwind sweeps you away, it’s time for some spring cleaning —but not just for your desk. In this episode, we’re talking about: 🧹 How to declutter your calendar by identifying what truly matters 📬 Strategies to clean up your email inbox without losing your mind 🗂 Tips for organizing your Google Drive and files so you can actually fin...
Apr 09, 2025•17 min•Ep. 105
Feeling like May and June are just a chaotic blur of testing, field trips, and students who’ve forgotten how to sit in chairs? Same. But believe it or not, it’s actually the perfect time to run small groups—and in this episode, I’m sharing exactly why. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why spring is secretly the best time for small groups 3 small group themes that make a big impact fast Quick ideas for activities that keep students engaged (and sane!) How to keep your groups manageable, meaningfu...
Apr 02, 2025•14 min•Ep. 104
In this episode of Counselor Chat , we’re doing a mid-year check-in to reflect, reassess, and reframe our approach so we can make the rest of the school year impactful and fulfilling. What We Cover: Reflecting on Goals: What were your original goals, and how are they holding up? Celebrating Your Wins: Why it’s essential to recognize small victories and how to celebrate them. Addressing What’s Not Working: Practical tips to clean up your calendar, data tracking, and counseling load without the gu...
Mar 26, 2025•17 min•Ep. 103
March is Self-Harm Awareness Month , and as school counselors, we need to be prepared. In this episode, we cover how to recognize the warning signs, approach students with care, and provide them with real, effective coping strategies. This is a heavy topic—but you are not alone. By the end of this episode, you’ll have practical steps to confidently support students who self-harm, without feeling overwhelmed. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ The real reason students self-harm (it’s not for attention) ✔️ How...
Mar 19, 2025•17 min•Ep. 102
Want to make your lessons fun and engaging without feeling like a stand-up comedian? The energy you bring into your classroom can make or break student engagement. In this episode, we dive into simple ways to bring enthusiasm, structure, and interaction to your lessons—without adding extra work to your plate. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ Why your energy sets the tone for engagement ✔️ The easiest way to instantly shift a classroom’s atmosphere ✔️ How movement, tone, and facial expressions keep students...
Mar 12, 2025•25 min•Ep. 101
🎉 100 episodes! Can you believe it? This milestone is all thanks to YOU—our amazing community of school counselors who tune in, take action, and make a difference every single day. Whether you’ve been listening since episode one or just found Counselor Chat , I’m beyond grateful for your support. This podcast started as a simple idea—to create a space where school counselors could get practical strategies, feel supported, and be reminded that they’re never alone in this journey. And wow, has it...
Mar 05, 2025•11 min•Ep. 100
Crisis situations in schools are unpredictable—but your response doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Counselor Chat , we’re diving into Crisis Management 101: what to do before, during, and after a crisis to ensure the best possible support for your students, staff, and yourself. From grief and loss to natural disasters and mental health emergencies, we’ll cover the key steps to handling crises with confidence. 🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ The different types of school crises and h...
Feb 26, 2025•16 min•Ep. 99
What if making your counseling program more effective didn’t require a total overhaul? In this episode of Counselor Chat , we’re talking about small, strategic changes that can create major improvements—without adding more to your plate. From simple check-in boards to five-minute classroom visits, these easy tweaks will help you better connect with students, streamline your work, and make a lasting impact. 🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How a check-in board can give you real-time insigh...
Feb 19, 2025•14 min•Ep. 98
Self-care has been marketed to us as bubble baths, spa days, and green juices—but let’s be real, school counselors don’t always have that kind of time. In this episode, we’re breaking down what self-care really looks like when you’re juggling a full caseload, endless emails, and back-to-back student crises. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The truth about self-care that no one talks about Why saying no is just as important as saying yes How to build micro moments of care into your daily routin...
Feb 12, 2025•16 min•Ep. 97
Happy National School Counseling Week! While we’ve already talked about ways to celebrate (check out Episode 94 if you missed it), today we’re taking it one step further—by creating a vision board for your school counseling program. A vision board isn’t just a fun craft project; it’s a powerful tool for goal setting, advocacy, and intentionality in your counseling program. Whether you’re focusing on student engagement, SEL initiatives, or data-driven success, having a visual roadmap can help kee...
Feb 05, 2025•15 min•Ep. 96
Welcome back to Counselor Chat ! In this episode, we’re diving into the often-overlooked but incredibly powerful tool of small talk . Whether you’re working with a shy first-grader or a skeptical high schooler, small talk is more than just casual chitchat—it’s a bridge to building trust, setting the tone, and paving the way for meaningful conversations. Here’s what we’ll cover: Episode Highlights: 🌟 Why small talk matters: Discover how these seemingly trivial conversations create a sense of saf...
Jan 29, 2025•13 min•Ep. 95
National School Counseling Week is just around the corner, and this episode of Counselor Chat is all about helping you make it memorable! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, I'm sharing creative ideas, advocacy tips, and time-saving strategies to celebrate your work, engage your school community, and amplify your impact. From fun activities like counselor coffee chats and student shout-out walls to leveraging social media with themed posts and hashtags, there’s something for every sc...
Jan 22, 2025•17 min•Ep. 94
New Year, new resolutions to get organized! In this episode of Counselor Chat , I’m tackling one of the biggest challenges we face as school counselors — time management . Between unexpected crises, back-to-back meetings, and never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. But guess what? Time management isn’t about squeezing more into your schedule — it’s about focusing on what truly matters. I’ll share practical tips to help you: ✅ Prioritize your most im...
Jan 15, 2025•26 min•Ep. 93
Are you constantly saying "yes" to everything and feeling overwhelmed? In this episode of Counselor Chat , we’re tackling a topic that hits home for many school counselors: overcommitment . As natural helpers, we often feel the urge to take on more, but saying yes to everything can quickly lead to burnout. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎯 Why overcommitment is so common among school counselors 🎯 The real reason saying no feels uncomfortable — and how to move past it 🎯 How to reframe your ...
Jan 08, 2025•11 min•Ep. 92
Today, we’re diving deep into the power of mentorship in school counseling. Whether you’re a seasoned professional ready to share your expertise or a newbie looking for guidance, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Emotional Phases of Counseling : From the excitement of starting out to the rejuvenation and reflection phases, learn how mentorship can help navigate the ups and downs of this career. 7 Steps to Mentorship Success...
Dec 18, 2024•20 min•Ep. 91
