School counselors are pulled in lots of different directions. There is always a crisis on a Friday afternoon. How do you maximize your time with students and minimize time spent on less necessary tasks? Check out ways to create routines, prepare ahead of time, and stick to your schedule. Create Routines and Batch TasksMy biggest time […]
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Winter break is a great time to recharge and do some purposeful self-care. Taking this time can help you shift your mindset for the second half of the year. Most of use have been putting off this necessary self-care and running on fumes. Read what Ashley and Brandy do, and share your favorites in the […]
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Do you practice gratitude as a school counselor? Purposefully taking time to express thanks and appreciation for others as well as yourself can have a big impact. Check out what Gretchen and Rebecca do to practice gratitude.Recognize OthersI like to write notes to staff members and parents when they have done something to support the […]
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When school counselors start the year, a lot of misconceptions can exist about their role. Our role has evolved greatly over time. Everyone has an idea of what the school counselor does, and it is so often wrong. Check out these tips for establishing clear communication about your role, changing expectations, and connecting with students […]
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We talk about self-care and work-life balance a lot on Confident Counselors, and for good reason. This is a tough job that comes with a lot of rewards. BUT if you aren’t thoughtful about caring for yourself, you not only won’t be able to effectively care for others, you will burn out. #realtalk. Three […]
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I have a saying, “If it’s uncomfortable, give it to the counselor.” Any time that an awkward or uncomfortable conversation needs to take place with a parent, staff member, or volunteer, counselors are called to use our skills to smooth the way for those involved. Uncomfortable conversations include discussing parenting skills, classroom management, […]
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From time to time, you are going to have a conversation with an angry parent. No matter how hard you try and how much you give, there will eventually be somebody who gets upset for one reason or the other. Remembering some simple rules for dealing with angry parents can help you improve your parent […]
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In my third year of my school counseling career, a student asked me “What’s wrong with you Mrs. Atkins? You used to smile.” Wow, out of the mouths of babes, right? The daily grind of our work can start to grind down the positivity that brought us into this helping career in the first place. […]
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As counselors, we are driven by nature to help, nurture, and solve problems. Therefore, most of us don’t like to say no to any request. This creates a problem because there are only so many hours in the day and we have more than enough counseling duties of our own to fill those hours. […]
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How is your schedule setup? School counselor schedules can vary from building to building, district to district, and state to state. It will depend on your student population, district initiatives, best practices, and your own expertise. Confident CounselorsWe are a group of school counselors collaborating to provide a space filled with resources made for you. […]
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