Starting out as a high school counselor is both exciting and overwhelming—and there’s a lot you don’t learn until you’re in the role. In this episode, I’m reflecting on the top three things I wish I knew when I was just beginning my counseling career. From navigating tricky relationships with parents and colleagues to connecting with hard-to-reach students, these lessons are ones I wish I could go back and share with my younger self.

Whether you’re brand new to high school counseling or still preparing for the role, this episode offers honest encouragement to help you grow with confidence. You’ll also hear practical advice on avoiding common mistakes, finding meaningful professional development, and embracing the challenges that come with stepping out of your comfort zone.

Resources Mentioned:

• Sign up for my free 3-day video challenge for high school counseling job interviews.
• Get on the waitlist for The Clique Collaborative!
• Podcast: Episode 30, Where to Look for Relevant High School Counseling Professional Development
• Podcast: Episode 31, 4 Things I’ve Learned About Getting Money for Professional Development Opportunities
• Podcast: Episode 57, Your Guide to Navigating Parent Relationships
• Blog: 4 Places to Find Relevant School Counseling Professional Development
• Blog: Your Cheat-Sheet for Navigating Parent Relationships: 4 Pro Tips
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.com
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Original show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/beginning-high-school-counselor/

Feeling burned out as the school year ends? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re diving into the tough(but important) question many school counselors ask themselves: Is it time to move on? Summer break gives you the space to reflect, and this conversation offers support and clarity as you sort through the weight of burnout and consider what’s next.

We’ll walk through practical questions to ask yourself, common scenarios that lead counselors to consider a change, and how to identify what you truly want in your career. Plus, if you’re not ready to leave but know something needs to shift, we’ll explore what changes could make your current role more sustainable. Whether you’re staying or stepping away, this High School Counseling Conversations listener-favorite episode is here to help you move forward with purpose.

Resources Mentioned:

• Clique Collaborative Membership
• Podcast: The Lazy Genius- Episode 368: My Playbook for a Lazy Genius Summer
• Research Article: School Counselors’ Work-Related Rumination as a Predictor of Burnout, Turnover Intentions, Job Satisfaction, and Work Engagement by Mullen, Backer, Chae, and Li
• Podcast: Episode 101, Navigating Adult Friendships in The Workplace with Blake Blankenbecler
• Podcast: Episode 98, What Should You Do if an Administrator Isn’t Acknowledging the Value of Your Work?
• Podcast: Episode 77, What it Looks Like to Implement MTSS In a High School Setting with Dr. Jake Olsen and Dr. Peg Donohue
• Podcast: Episode 60, Setting Boundaries with Others and Managing Expectations Around Burnout
• Podcast: Episode 45, 4 Different Caseload Model Types (Plus My Honest Thoughts on Them)
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.com
• Join the Clique Collaborative

If you’ve ever been curious about the differences in school counseling roles based on the grade levels they support, then this episode is for you. I’m joined by Alabama school counselors, Laura Rankhorn and Kim Cumbley. Between the three of us, we have experience as elementary, middle, and high school counselors.

Our conversation centers around the differences and similarities between these grade levels. You might be surprised to find that our skills are really interchangeable in any grade level! One thing is for sure – there’s so much opportunity to collaborate with school counselors who support grades other than your own.

The building blocks are established by elementary school counselors, especially in developing social-emotional skills in students, and high school counselors must continue this work. Elementary, middle, and high school counseling roles may have their differences, but at the core, they all share the same goal of providing stellar support to students.

If you’re considering a leap between grade levels, don’t be afraid! Embrace it as something new and full of possibilities. If high school is where you’re headed, my audio course, The High School Counseling Kickstart can offer additional support!

Resources Mentioned:

• Join The High School Counselor Kickstart Course
• Get on the waitlist for The Clique Collaborative
• Shop Counselor Clique back-to-school resources
• The Counselor Accents Podcast
• Book: Growing Your Program for School Counselors by Laura Rankhorn and Kim Crumbley
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.com
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/comparing-school-counseling-roles/

I love sharing ideas, tips, and advice about all things related to school counseling. But nothing excites me more than the energy, enthusiasm, and fresh perspective of new high school counselors! They’re full of ideas and ready to hit the ground running. So if you’re a new high school counselor wondering, “What do I need to know before the school year begins?”—this episode is for you.

Starting out in this role can feel overwhelming, so in today’s episode, I’m sharing four must-listen podcast episodes specifically for new high school counselors. Each one highlights a different aspect of school counseling and includes a short clip with practical advice or a helpful idea to consider.

This podcast is a way for me to support school counselors, especially those who are just getting started or looking for fresh ideas, whether it’s for running small groups or using data effectively. So if you're new to the role, be sure to check out these four episodes to help you feel more confident and prepared heading into the fall.

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: High School Planning Mega Bundle
• Resource: School Counselor Beginning of the Year Presentation
• Resource: Bulletin Board Bundle 2
• Free Resource: New Counselor Podcast Playlist
• Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Audio Course
• Podcast: Episode 32, Back to School Tips for High School Counselors: Office Prep
• Podcast: Episode 73, What I Wish I Knew as a Beginning High School Counselor
• Podcast: Episode 72, Don’t Make These Mistakes as a New High School Counselor (and What to Do Instead!)
• Podcast: Episode 22, A Pep Talk for New High School Counselors
• Leave your review for School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook

As the school year wraps up and summer break draws near, it’s tempting to mentally check out and leave everything behind. But before you do, there are a few key steps you can take that will save you headaches next fall and make your summer more peaceful! In this episode, I guide you through three simple yet powerful end-of-year tasks to help you wrap things up thoughtfully and set yourself and your students up for success.

You’ll learn how to capture important data and reflections while they’re still fresh, ensure students who need extra support have access to summer resources, and dream big about your summer, whether that means professional growth or well-deserved relaxation. If you want to step into summer with a clear plan and a lighter load next year, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to check out the resources I mention to take action right away and start the new school year stress-free!

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: End of Year Bundle
• Free Resource: 3-Day Interview Video Challenge
• Podcast: Episode 168, You’ve Collected Data All Year - Here’s What to Do With It Now
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.com
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode169

You’ve been collecting data all year—student attendance, classroom lesson frequency, intervention effectiveness, and student stories… but now what? In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly what to do with all that school counseling data so it actually works for you. Because let’s be real, data is only powerful if you know how to use it to show your students’ progress and advocate for your role as a school counselor.

You’ll hear how to make sense of the data you’ve collected all year without getting overwhelmed. Whether you’ve set SMART goals, facilitated small groups, or tracked individual student progress, I walk you through how to pull that information together in a meaningful way. We’ll review the three types of data to track and the important role each of them plays. Most importantly, you’ll walk away with five different places where you can share out your school counseling data. You didn’t gather all of that information only to not do something with it!

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Resource: Podcast Playlist for New High School Counselors
• Free Resource: Data Collection Ideas Guide
• Blog: 4 Valuable Places to Share Your Compelling School Counseling Data
• Blog: 3 Unassuming Ways to Incorporate Perception Data Into Your High School Counseling Program
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.com
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode168

From awkward group projects to job interviews, communication is the life skill students will use daily, but rarely get taught. In the final episode of my “Life Skills Your Students Should Master” series, we’re diving into healthy communication life skills - the kind that makes a lasting impact on students’ personal and professional lives. If you missed last week’s episode on time management or the one before that on budgeting, be sure to check those out too!

In this episode, I’ll share why communication is a must-have life skill, how it ties into ASCA mindsets and behaviors, and my favorite hands-on methods to help students practice. Whether it’s role-playing tricky social situations or handling difficult conversations, I’m offering practical ways to get students comfortable with communicating, no matter how uncomfortable the topic.

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: Communicating Feelings Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Soft Skills Bundle
• Resource: Healthy Relationships Classroom Lesson
• Free Resource: New Counselor Podcast Playlist
• ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors
• Podcast: Episode 165, Life Skills Your Students Should Master [Part 1: Budgeting Basics]
• Podcast: Episode 166, Life Skills Your Students Should Master [Part 2: Time Management]
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:lauren@counselorclique.com
• Join the Clique Collaborative

Time management is one of those essential life skills that often gets overlooked—and yet it can make a huge difference in a student’s success both now and in the future. In this episode, we’re continuing our life skills series (listen to part one HERE!) with a focus on helping high schoolers understand and practice effective time management before they graduate. You’ll hear how this skill connects to ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors and why it’s a game-changer for building independence.

I’ll share simple, practical ways to introduce time management through your counseling program, from identifying schedule non-negotiables to exploring planning tools students will actually use. You’ll also get strategies to help students build routines, increase self-awareness, and approach it all with grace and empathy. Be sure to check out the resources below to put these ideas into action!

Resources Mentioned:

• Resource: High School Counselor Kickstart Audio Course
• Resource: Organization Digital Counseling Activity
• Resource: Life After High School Classroom Lesson
• Resource: Transition to College Digital Presentation
• Resource: End of Year High School Counseling Bundle
• Podcast: Episode 166, Life Skills Your Students Should Master [Part 1: Budgeting Basics]
• Podcast: Episode 83, How to Use Needs Assessments Strategically This Year in Your High School Counseling Program
• Resource: ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook