275. Behind the Scenes of Successful Individual Counseling Sessions
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really makes individual counseling sessions effective, engaging, and purposeful. If you’ve ever felt unsure about what to do in these sessions or overwhelmed by how to track student progress, this episode is packed with practical, ready-to-use strategies. Individual counseling is an important Tier 3 support that allows you to provide targeted, personalized intervention. With the right tools and structure, these sessions can feel manageable and meaningful. Why Individual Counseling...
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274. Behind the Scenes of Successful Small Groups
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of successful small groups and sharing how to set them up for success. We’ll talk about how to engage your students, keep sessions organized, and measure their progress with ease. Small groups are a key Tier 2 intervention and an important part of a layered approach to student support. In this episode, you’ll learn everything you need to know to start and lead small groups with confidence. How to Set Up Counseling Groups Identify students using referrals, previous counseling data,...
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273. Behind the Scenes of Successful Class Lessons
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Today we are going behind the scenes to talk about how to create engaging class lessons that keep students interested and make your counseling program run smoothly all year long. 1. How to Map Out Lessons for the Year Start by looking at your school calendar and noting upcoming dates, themes, and holidays. For example, October is Bullying Prevention Month, which is a great time to plan related lessons. Review your referral data and needs assessment responses to identify key areas of focus. Check what curriculum your school...
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272. ICYMI Proactive Bullying Prevention: Teaching Self-Advocacy
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout October, we have been exploring practical bullying prevention strategies, and today we are wrapping up the series with a focus on teaching self-advocacy. While this may seem like a more reactive approach, it is an essential skill that helps students navigate challenges with confidence. In this episode, we explore three simple ways to help students learn to advocate for themselves and others: Practice Scripts Provide students with sample scripts they can use in real-life situations. Watch short videos together, then...
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271. ICYMI Proactive Bullying Prevention: Friendship Skills
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! October is Bullying Prevention Month, and throughout the month I’ll be sharing some replays of our best episodes focused on strategies to prevent bullying in schools. In today’s episode, we’re diving into friendship skills — an essential foundation for creating a kind, connected, and inclusive school culture. I’ll be sharing ideas you can use at every level: schoolwide, classroom, small group, and individual. Schoolwide Strategies Buddy Bench (Elementary Level): Transform an existing bench at recess into a “Buddy...
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270. ICYMI Proactive Bullying Prevention: Conflict Resolution Strategies
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified. Since October is Bullying Prevention Month, this episode focuses on practical conflict resolution strategies you can use at the schoolwide, classroom, and small group levels. If you have not listened to last week’s episode on restorative circles, start there for helpful background on resolution circles and community-based approaches. Today we build on that foundation with tangible tools you can use right away to help students resolve, forgive, and repair relationships. What you will learn in this episode How to use classroom-based activities to...
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269. ICYMI Proactive Bullying Prevention: Creating a Culture of Kindness
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Since October is Bullying Prevention Month, I will be highlighting some of our best podcast episodes all about bullying prevention strategies. Today, we are diving into practical ways to create a culture of kindness in schools. Promoting kindness is one of the most effective ways to reduce bullying. In this episode, I share strategies that teachers and counselors can use to set a positive tone, build empathy, and encourage collaboration. Morning meetings are a simple yet powerful practice that helps students begin their day...
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268. Measuring the Effectiveness of Your Counseling Lessons
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout September, we have been diving deep into classroom lessons. I love using them as tier 1 interventions, and so far we have talked about how to plan, schedule, teach, and manage behaviors during lessons. Today, we are shifting the focus to data and exploring how to measure the success of your classroom counseling lessons. Often, counselors rely on self-assessments or individual assessments during small group or one-on-one sessions, which is a fantastic approach. But did you know you can also track data in your classroom...
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267. Managing Behaviors During Counseling Lessons with Gina Venancio
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout September, we are diving deep into classroom lessons. I love using them as my tier 1 interventions. While many times we are handed lessons to deliver, there are plenty of situations where you have to create everything on your own. That is why I am sharing how to schedule, plan, and teach classroom lessons. These insights come from my Stress-Free Class Lessons Course, a five-module program that equips you with tools and strategies to feel prepared and confident. In today’s episode, we are focusing on behavior...
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266. Teaching Counseling Lessons
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout September, we are diving deep into classroom lessons. I love using them as my tier 1 interventions. While many times we are given lessons to teach, there are also plenty of situations where you are expected to create everything on your own. That is why I am sharing strategies on how to schedule, plan, and teach classroom lessons. These ideas come from my Stress-Free Class Lessons Course, a five-module program designed to help you feel confident and prepared. In today’s episode, we are focusing on the teaching piece...
info_outlineWelcome 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 the start of the school year.
Whether you’re working with new kindergarten students, recent transfers, or kids who are just feeling unsure after summer break, these ideas will help you build connections, reduce fear, and create a strong foundation for the year ahead.
Tips for Supporting Students
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School Tours: Offering a separate tour (outside of open house or back-to-school night) can help new or anxious students become familiar with the campus and reduce fear of the unknown.
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Safe Spaces: Creating a calm-down corner in your counseling office, or encouraging teachers to have one in the classroom, can give students a space to feel grounded.
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Daily Check-ins: Offer brief check-ins during the first few days or weeks to help students feel supported by a trusted adult.
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Safety Plans: For students still experiencing significant anxiety after rapport has been built, work together to create a personal safety plan that outlines their support system and calming strategies.
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Small Groups: Run a separation anxiety small group using CBT-based activities, mindfulness tools, and games to help students feel less alone and more empowered.
Tips for Teachers
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Buddy Systems: Pair students experiencing anxiety with a calm, confident peer to help them feel supported and included.
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Visual Schedules: Use visual schedules to help students know what to expect throughout the day, reducing anxiety caused by uncertainty.
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SEL Integration: Incorporate social-emotional learning into daily routines with a consistent morning meeting or circle time.
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Read-Alouds: Use books like The Invisible String to open up conversations about separation and connection.
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Classroom Jobs: Assign meaningful classroom roles to help anxious students feel a sense of purpose and belonging.
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Transitional Objects: Allow students to bring a comforting object from home (such as a stuffed animal, small toy, or photo) during the first few days.
Tips for Parents and Caregivers
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Validation: Encourage caregivers to acknowledge their child’s feelings without minimizing them. A simple “I see this is really hard for you” goes a long way.
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Consistent Routines: Remind parents of the power of predictability. A steady sleep schedule, breakfast routine, and drop-off ritual can ease anxiety.
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Practice Separations: Suggest that parents do short practice separations before school starts (e.g., playdates or time at a grandparent’s house).
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Quick Goodbyes: Encourage brief, confident goodbyes at drop-off and reassure the child about who will pick them up. Lingering can unintentionally reinforce anxiety.
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Positive Modeling: Remind parents that children often take cues from adults. Expressing enthusiasm and trust in the school helps children feel the same.
By supporting students, teachers, and families together, you can help reduce separation anxiety and set everyone up for success this school year. This episode offers you a well-rounded approach that’s practical, compassionate, and easy to implement.
Resources Mentioned:
Books:
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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!