274. Behind the Scenes of Successful Small Groups
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Release Date: 11/11/2025
289. Self-Care and Student Relationships with Colleen Mosley
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am interviewing Colleen, a school counselor and IMPACT member, who shares her journey from nursing school to school counseling and her passion for teaching students the coping skills she did not learn growing up. Colleen Mosley is a School Counselor in Long Island, New York. This is her fourth year at her current school. Previously, she worked as a School Counselor for four years in Northern Virginia. Before becoming a counselor, she served on the Leadership Team at a private school in Northern Virginia. Colleen is deeply...
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288. How to Build Relationships and Rapport with Hadley Rapp
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am interviewing Hadley, a school counselor and IMPACT member, for a special guest episode. Hadley is passionate about building rapport and meaningful relationships with students. In this conversation, she shares practical advice for new counselors and simple, effective ways to build strong connections with students. Hadley lives in a small rural town in mid Missouri. She has been married for 10 years and has two daughters who are 8 and 4 years old. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s of...
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287. How to Write a School Counseling Parent Newsletter
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today we are talking about how to create a parent newsletter, something I personally send out every month to my IMPACT members and one of the resources they love the most. I want to pull back the curtain and share exactly how I structure my parent newsletters so you can try this in your own counseling program. For the next few months, I am running a themed series, and right now the focus is on screen time, a topic I am incredibly passionate about. Parent newsletters are a powerful way to advocate for your role, communicate...
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286. Hit All 3 Tiers with Ease
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I want to talk about a question that shows up in my inbox all the time. How do you stop constantly putting out fires and actually manage your limited time as a school counselor? So many counselors find themselves stuck in a reactive state. When you are constantly responding to drop ins, crises, and last minute needs, it can feel overwhelming and exhausting. My goal is to help counselors shift into a more proactive state where they can intentionally manage tier one interventions, small groups, individual counseling, and...
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285. Are Boom Cards Still Relevant?
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Happy January! Today we are talking all about Boom Cards and answering a question I get asked often. Are Boom Cards still relevant in school counseling today? I first started using Boom Cards in 2020 during the shift to virtual learning. Fast forward to now, and the answer is still a resounding yes. Boom Cards are absolutely relevant and incredibly useful across all tiers of support. Boom Cards are interactive digital flashcards that help students practice skills and learn new concepts in a fun and engaging way. They are...
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284. 5 Small Groups to Start in January
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Happy January. Today I am sharing five small groups to start in January. While I always use referrals and data to form small groups by identifying areas of need, I also like to plan groups around intentional seasonal themes. For example, January is the perfect time to offer a goal setting group as students transition into the new year. Small groups are one of my favorite ways to support students. They allow me to serve more students at once, and students often feel more comfortable opening up in a group setting than in one-on-one...
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283. Do you know these counseling secrets?
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Happy January. Today I am sharing one of my favorite trainings that I regularly present called 3 Secrets to Transform Your Counseling Program. This training is full of practical strategies that can help you increase your impact and gain the recognition your counseling program deserves. 3 Secrets to Transform Your Counseling Program Quick Organization Tip Assign colors to different categories on your calendar Color code recurring events such as lunch or recess duty and weekly meetings Use one color for individual student...
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282. School Counseling Systems for Success
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Happy January! Today I am sharing some of my favorite school counseling systems for success and how setting up simple systems can save you time, reduce stress, and help you better serve your students. In this episode, I am taking you inside one of my most used systems, what I call the counseling hub. This system keeps everything organized in one place and helps ensure no student falls through the cracks. What is the counseling hub The counseling hub is made up of two core systems that work together: a counseling caseload and a...
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281. Best of SCS: 3 Must-Have Data Tools for Individual Counseling
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. Today we are doing a throwback to one of my favorite episodes, all about three must-have data tools for individual counseling. Data collection does not have to be complicated or time consuming. Having simple systems in place allows you to track student progress, guide your sessions, and advocate for your role with confidence. In this episode, I am sharing my three go-to data collection tools for individual counseling and how to use them effectively. Self Assessments Self assessments are pre and post surveys that...
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280. Best of SCS: How to Design Small Group Curriculum That Works
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. Today we are doing a throwback to one of my favorite episodes, all about how to design a small group curriculum that actually works. In this episode, we are getting into the meat and potatoes of small group curriculum. My goal is to make the process simple, realistic, and easy to implement so you can confidently design groups that support your students and meet your counseling goals. When it comes to small group curriculum, you are likely doing one of two things. You may be using activities or curriculum that you...
info_outlineWelcome 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
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Identify students using referrals, previous counseling data, or needs assessments.
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Choose group size (4–6 students is ideal) and keep age and behavioral needs in mind.
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Plan for 6–8 sessions, around 30 minutes each, and consider holidays or school events when scheduling.
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Set up a welcoming group space with privacy for journaling and reflection.
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Send home permission slips and coordinate schedules with teachers.
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Organize your materials: individual folders, crafts, worksheets, sign-in sheets, and a group folder with rules and games.
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Keep a digital spreadsheet or counseling log to track attendance and progress.
How to Lead Engaging Small Groups
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Begin each session with group rules and a feelings check. Focus on what students should do rather than what they shouldn’t.
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Incorporate icebreakers like bingo, Jenga, “sides of the room,” or Simon Says to build connection and teamwork.
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Introduce your main concept with a mini-lesson, video, or poster.
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Use interactive activities like role play, crafts, flipbooks, sorting games, or discussion cards.
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End with a journal reflection or quick self-assessment to encourage personal growth and track student progress.
By creating structured yet flexible small groups, you can provide meaningful support and help students grow socially and emotionally.
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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!