School Counseling Simplified Podcast Podcast Por Rachel Davis arte de portada

School Counseling Simplified Podcast

School Counseling Simplified Podcast

De: Rachel Davis
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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.COPYRIGHT © 2020 · Bright Futures Counseling - www.brightfutures-counseling.com/disclosure-and-tou
Episodios
  • 276. Behind the Scenes of Successful Data Tracking

    276. Behind the Scenes of Successful Data Tracking
    Nov 25 2025
    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 a five-minute self-assessment. - Create a quick Google Form with a few skill-based or feelings-based questions. You can either interview students and record their responses or have them complete it independently. Make sure to capture their name, their responses, and the date for easy tracking. The Big Takeaway Every counseling session should be purposeful and aligned with a clear objective. Before each session, ask yourself what skill, strategy, or concept you are focusing on. Your data tracking should reflect this objective so that you are gathering meaningful and relevant information. My Favorite Data Tracking Tools Self-Assessments Self-assessments allow students to report on their own experiences, skills, or emotions. Use these during the first and last sessions to monitor growth. Build your questions around the objectives of your session or group. These can be objective questions tied to specific skills or subjective questions tied to feelings. Google Forms is an excellent tool for organizing and reviewing this data quickly. Behavior Surveys Behavior surveys provide valuable insight from teachers and caregivers. Send these forms digitally for easy completion and record keeping. This data helps identify gaps between how students view themselves and how their behavior is observed by people in their daily environments. End-of-Year Reports This is one of the most powerful data tools for communication and advocacy. An end-of-year report summarizes how many students you served, the lessons you taught, and the time spent providing support. These reports help guide decision-making, highlight the effectiveness of your program, and advocate for your role within the school. Data Walls A data wall is a bulletin board that displays key information and outcomes. Place this in a location with high visibility such as the front office, hallway, or multipurpose room. Update it regularly, whether monthly or quarterly, and share only the most relevant results to keep the information clear and impactful. How to Interpret Data to Improve Your Program Data is only useful if it informs next steps. If data shows student improvement, celebrate the progress and consider transitioning students to a lower tier of support. If data indicates limited or no improvement, evaluate the situation. You may need to adjust interventions, refer students out, or move to a different tier of support. Use the information to determine short-term, solution-focused next steps. How to Use Data to Advocate for Your Role When presented clearly and consistently, data shows the impact of your work and communicates the value of your counseling program. Data helps stakeholders understand how many students you serve, what needs are emerging within the school, and how your services contribute to positive outcomes. It is one of your strongest advocacy tools. Resources Mentioned: Join IMPACT Connect with Rachel: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube 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!
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    41 m
  • 275. Behind the Scenes of Successful Individual Counseling Sessions

    275. Behind the Scenes of Successful Individual Counseling Sessions
    Nov 18 2025
    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 Matters Individual counseling is an essential component of a layered support system. These sessions provide space to work one-on-one with students who need more intensive intervention. In this episode, you'll learn: How to identify students through referral systems How group counseling can help you determine which students may benefit from individual support Why individual sessions allow for deeper rapport and tailored intervention Quick Wins for Tracking Data Data collection does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. This episode highlights simple tools you can implement immediately, including: A 30-second student rating scale Thumbs-up or thumbs-down check-ins Quick data points that help you make informed decisions and track growth These small, consistent data practices keep you from guessing what students need and allow you to confidently measure progress. How to Engage Students in Individual Counseling Engagement is key for successful sessions. This episode shares a variety of activities, strategies, and tools you can use to keep students motivated and open. Feelings Check-ins Model emotional vocabulary Use the Zones of Regulation Incorporate visuals Rapport-Building Activities Get-to-Know-You Jenga Peak and Pit Genograms Discussion or interview cards Hands-On and Creative Activities Digging Deep activities Personalized social stories Crafts such as coping skills toolboxes Board games Task cards Art projects Modifications for Younger Students Increased hands-on activities Use of play dough Dolls and characters for storytelling Verbal reflections instead of written prompts These strategies help students express themselves, stay engaged, and build meaningful connections. Reflection Tools for Closing Sessions Reflection helps students internalize their learning and practice self-awareness. Inside the episode, we explore: Journaling Reflection sheets Interview-style verbal reflections Open-ended questions that support closure Using Data to Track Student Progress Meaningful data guides your decisions and supports your advocacy efforts. You will learn how to use: Student rating scales Self-assessments Behavior surveys from teachers and caregivers This data helps you determine next steps, identify patterns, strengthen communication with stakeholders, and build year-end reports or data walls that demonstrate the impact of your counseling program. Additional Tips Provide clear examples for students Prepare materials in advance Maintain consistent session structure Balance conversation with activities Resources Mentioned: Join IMPACT Connect with Rachel: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube 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!
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    40 m
  • 274. Behind the Scenes of Successful Small Groups

    274. Behind the Scenes of Successful Small Groups
    Nov 11 2025

    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, or needs assessments.

    • Choose group size (4–6 students is ideal) and keep age and behavioral needs in mind.

    • Plan for 6–8 sessions, around 30 minutes each, and consider holidays or school events when scheduling.

    • Set up a welcoming group space with privacy for journaling and reflection.

    • Send home permission slips and coordinate schedules with teachers.

    • Organize your materials: individual folders, crafts, worksheets, sign-in sheets, and a group folder with rules and games.

    • Keep a digital spreadsheet or counseling log to track attendance and progress.

    How to Lead Engaging Small Groups

    • Begin each session with group rules and a feelings check. Focus on what students should do rather than what they shouldn't.

    • Incorporate icebreakers like bingo, Jenga, "sides of the room," or Simon Says to build connection and teamwork.

    • Introduce your main concept with a mini-lesson, video, or poster.

    • Use interactive activities like role play, crafts, flipbooks, sorting games, or discussion cards.

    • 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.



    Resources Mentioned:

    • Join IMPACT

    Connect with Rachel:

    • TpT Store

    • Blog

    • Instagram

    • Facebook Page

    • Facebook Group

    • Pinterest

    • Youtube

    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!
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    47 m
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hello, I am a new Counselor in Washington. my program is a little different then most schools. Either way I am the only one in my school and my school is new, so they have never had a Counselor. This has helped me in so many ways and how to also stand out as a new Counselor. Thank you!

new Counselor

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This podcast has helped me so much as a first year school counselor. I highly recommend!

Amazing 👏

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