234. How to Source Lesson Topics and Choose Engaging and Effective Activities
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Release Date: 02/04/2025
261. Dealing with School Refusal
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified! As we dive into the back-to-school season, many of us are seeing students who are struggling with separation anxiety and school refusal. In this episode, we’re talking about how you can support not only the students experiencing anxiety, but also the teachers in your building and the parents at home. We’ll cover a wide range of practical, school-based strategies that you can implement right away. From calming tools and classroom tips to talking points for caregivers, this episode will give you a full toolkit for addressing separation anxiety at...
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260. 9 Must-Have Class Lessons for Back to School Season
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! August is here, which means it’s officially back-to-school season and time to start planning your class lessons. While small groups and individual sessions are important, those referrals often trickle in later as teachers get to know their students. That’s why I love starting the school year with a strong foundation of proactive, Tier 1 class lessons. In this episode, I’m walking you through 9 of my must-have class lessons that are perfect for kicking off the year. These lessons help you see every student and establish a...
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259. Preventing Risky Behaviors with Dr. Crystal Collier
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an inspiring guest: Dr. Crystal Collier, PhD, LPC-S. Dr. Collier is a therapist, educator, and author, known for her powerful work in prevention education and brain development. She is the author of The NeuroWhereAbouts Guide and the Know Your Neuro children’s book series. The Know Your Neuro prevention model was selected for the Prevention and Education Commendation from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Dr. Collier received the Torch Bearer Award from the Texas...
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258. What counselors think about IMPACT
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
School is right around the corner, and I want to help you feel confident and prepared as you head back! I’m offering a free live training all about how to use a Meet the Counselor lesson to introduce yourself to your students and advocate for your role as a school counselor. You’ll get a free copy of my favorite lesson and a PD certificate for attending! This training is TODAY to make sure to use the link below in resources and save your seat! In today’s episode of School Counseling Simplified, I wanted to take a break from our usual content to let you hear directly from the amazing...
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257. How to Use AI in Your School Counseling Program with Bradford Goodridge
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Today’s episode features Summer Summit presenter Bradford, a seasoned school counselor from Chattanooga, TN. Bradford has six years of school counseling experience, teaches weekly at his church, and recently served as an adjunct professor. He’s passionate about building strong student relationships, and he’s also excited about incorporating new tech into his counseling program. Summer Summit Replay Access Did you miss Summer Summit? It’s not too late! When you join IMPACT, my monthly membership for school counselors,...
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256. Executive Functioning Hacks with Sarah Lovell
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Today, I’m joined by a special guest, Sarah Lovell—an executive function and ADHD coach who brings so much value for both our work with students and our own professional and personal lives. Sarah Lovell (she/her) is an executive function & ADHD coach for college students, ambitious professionals, overthinkers, and recovering perfectionists who are tired of feeling stuck and are ready to work with their brains, not against them. With 11 years of experience, Sarah helps clients who try tool after tool… only to burn...
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255. Starting an Attendance Committee with Elissa Hughes
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified! This week, I’m sitting down with Elissa Hughes, a middle school counselor who shared a standout presentation during Summer Summit. If you didn’t get a chance to attend live, don’t worry—Summer Summit recordings are available inside the IMPACT membership, along with PD certificates and hundreds of other school counseling resources. Elissa Hughes is a middle school counselor with experience at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She is a member of her school’s attendance committee, focusing on tiered supports, student...
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254. Attachment Theory in the Classroom with Patti Sutherland and Monique Gougeon
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified! We’re continuing our special Summer Summit speaker series, and today I’m joined by an incredible pair: Monique and Patti, two clinical social workers and certified play therapists who specialize in attachment and child development. They recently spoke at Summer Summit about a topic that’s essential for every educator and school counselor: Attachment Theory in the Classroom. If you missed Summer Summit, it’s not too late. When you join IMPACT, my monthly school counselor membership, you’ll gain access to all of the Summer Summit recordings...
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253. Sustainable Self-Care for School Counselors with Joyce Harduvel
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified! Summer Summit may be over, but the value continues. Today, I’m chatting with one of our incredible Summit speakers, Joyce Harduvel, about a topic every school counselor needs—sustainable self-care. If you missed the Summit, it’s not too late! All the recordings and PD hours are still available when you join the IMPACT membership. You’ll get access to this session and so much more. Joyce is a licensed clinical social worker. She is a passionate advocate for youth and the school counselors and social workers who support them. She worked in...
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252. Celebrating All Brains with Brandon Gernux
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! We’re just TWO days away from Summer Summit, my virtual conference for school counselors happening June 11th and 12th! This two-day event is packed with amazing topics, live Q&A sessions, and even a virtual happy hour. For just $39, you’ll get your seat at the summit plus your first month inside the IMPACT membership! Today I’m joined by Brandon Gernux (he/they), an elementary school counselor from Santa Ana, CA, and one of our Summer Summit speakers! Brandon brings such valuable insight into making Tier 1 classroom...
info_outlineWelcome back to School Counseling Simplified! Today, I’m sharing another training clip from my IMPACT membership PD—a monthly professional development training I offer exclusively to our community of nearly 1,000 school counselors. As an IMPACT member, you get unlimited access to my TPT resources, engaging PD, and a supportive network of counselors just like you!
In this episode, we’re diving into how to source lesson topics for your tiered instruction—whether it’s class lessons, small groups, or individual sessions. You don’t have to start from scratch! By using data, needs assessments, and creative themes, you can make your lessons both impactful and engaging.
Ways to Source Lesson Topics for Each Tier
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Use Needs Assessments & Data
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Look at referral data to identify common struggles.
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Conduct an informal teacher survey throughout the year.
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Gather feedback from your principal on key student challenges (behavior, academics, attendance).
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Utilize pre- and post-assessments to measure student growth and share progress with admin.
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Use the Calendar for Inspiration
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Holidays & Seasons: Incorporate themes like gratitude in November or kindness in February.
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Awareness Months: October (Bullying Prevention), May (Mental Health Awareness), etc.
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Review Existing Curriculum
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Modify school-provided curriculum to fit student needs.
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Supplement with engaging activities, games, and interactive lessons.
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Use Books to Anchor Lessons
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Anchoring lessons to books is a great way to introduce counseling themes!
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Laura from Pawsitive School Counselor is a fantastic resource for book recommendations.
✨ Want more strategies like this?
Join IMPACT for exclusive PD, unlimited access to my TPT resources, and a thriving counselor community!
Resources mentioned:
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More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!