284. 5 Small Groups to Start in January
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Release Date: 01/20/2026
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...
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279. Best of SCS: 5 things I wish I knew when I first started counseling
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. Today we are revisiting one of my favorite episodes as part of a best of School Counseling Simplified throwback series. This episode focuses on five things I wish I had known when I first started counseling. In this episode, I get personal and share stories from my early days as a school counselor. As counselors, we are lifelong learners who are constantly refining our skills and practices. However, there were several pain points early in my career that I wish I had been prepared for. Knowing these lessons sooner...
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278. How to Conduct a Mid Year Check In using a Data Wall
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. This time of year is fast paced as the semester wraps up and the holidays approach. In the last episode I briefly mentioned data walls, and today I am taking a deeper look at how to conduct a mid-year check-in using a data wall. While end-of-year reports are valuable, data tracking should not be reserved only for the end of the school year. Ongoing data review is essential because it helps ensure that the support you provide continues to meet the changing needs of your students. A data wall is a bulletin board...
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277. My Favorite December School Counseling Activities
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. This is a fun but busy time of year as the semester wraps up and the holidays approach. Even if you are not teaching full lessons or running small groups this month, you will likely still have drop-in students who need support. December is a great time to add a seasonal twist to your counseling activities, and today I am sharing my favorite ideas to help you stay engaged, organized, and prepared. Countdown to Winter Break One of my favorite activities this month is a Countdown to Winter Break inspired by a...
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276. Behind the Scenes of Successful Data Tracking
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today we are taking a behind-the-scenes look at effective data tracking and how it can help you better support students while advocating for the role of the school counselor. Data can feel overwhelming, but when used intentionally, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your counseling program. This episode breaks down simple, practical strategies to help you collect, interpret, and share data with confidence. A Quick Win for Data Tracking One of the easiest ways to begin building a data-driven counseling program is through...
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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...
info_outlineWelcome 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 sessions.
Five Small Groups to Start in January
Goal Setting
This group helps students identify personal goals, explore what motivates them, and learn strategies to achieve those goals throughout the semester.
Stress Management
As academic expectations increase after winter break, many students experience higher stress levels. This group focuses on coping skills, emotional regulation, and stress reduction strategies.
Growth Mindset
This group teaches students how the brain works and why challenges help us grow. Students learn to reframe mistakes and develop perseverance through effort and practice.
Conflict Resolution
This group supports students in navigating friendship challenges by teaching communication skills such as using I statements and practicing conflict resolution through role-play scenarios.
Self Esteem
The new year is a great opportunity to focus on confidence building. This group emphasizes self-reflection, positive self-talk, communication skills, and personal goal setting.
If you are looking for meaningful and effective ways to support students as the new semester begins, these small groups are a great place to start.
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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!