High School Counseling Conversations®

Set Your Year Up For Success With a Summer Team Planning Day [HSCC Favorite]

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is one that high school counselors come back to again and again — and for good reason. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to rese...

Time Management Strategies to Lighten Your Mental Load as a School Counselor with Kaci Ranger [HSCC Favorite]

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If there’s one thing I hear over and over from high school counselors, it’s that there’s just never enough time in the day. That’s why I loved...

Coffee with the Counselor: What It Is and How to Run It [HSCC Favorite]

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re bringing back one of your favorite episodes all about “Coffee with the Counselor”, because any chance to connect with parents (and drink c...

AI for School Counselors: 10+ Ways to Leverage Artificial Intelligence [HSCC Favorite]

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this replay of a High School Counseling Conversations listener-favorite episode, we’re diving into the world of artificial intelligence—specifi...

What I Wish I Knew as a Beginning School Counselor [HSCC Favorite]

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How to Know When It's Time to Move On [HSCC Favorite]

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 cou...

Comparing the Roles of Elementary, Middle, and High School Counselors with Laura Rankhorn and Kim Crumbley [HSCC Favorite]

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

My 4 Must-Listen Podcast Episodes for New High School Counselors [HSCC Favorite]

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I love sharing ideas, tips, and advice about all things related to school counseling. But nothing excites me more than the energy, enthusiasm, and fre...

3 Tasks You're Going to Do Before You Check Out for the Year

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

You’ve Collected Data All Year - Here’s What to Do With It Now

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve been collecting data all year—student attendance, classroom lesson frequency, intervention effectiveness, and student stories… but now wh...

Life Skills Your Students Should Master [Part 3: Healthy Communication]

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Life Skills Your Students Should Master [Part 2: Time Management]

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Life Skills Your Students Should Master [Part 1: Budgeting Basics]

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine if your students graduated not just with academic knowledge, but real-world skills they’ll use every day. Today we’re starting that con...

5 Low-Budget Ways to Address Mental Health Needs

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to student mental health, the need is huge, but the budget? Not so much. If you’ve ever looked around your school and thought, “How ...

Empowering Teens: Navigating Substance Use Prevention with Kriya Lendzion

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Substance use in schools isn’t just a “some kids” issue. It’s happening across all kinds of student groups and the trends are changing fast. I...

6 Ideas for Transitioning Your Seniors to Avoid Summer Melt

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After graduation, students are eager to jump into the next chapter of their lives, but sometimes things fall through the cracks. Summer melt is real, ...

Unique Pathways and Global Perspectives Through Study Abroad with Neal Crosson

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if students could earn college credits, explore the world, and gain invaluable life experience, all before starting their traditional college jou...

Are Non-Counseling Duties Draining You? Here’s How to Take Control

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are non-counseling duties taking over your job? If you’re spending more time on testing, paperwork, and hall duty than actually working with student...

From Hunting for Prestige to a Values-Driven College Search with Jared Epler and Jen Vallieres

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The college search should be an exciting journey, but for many students, it’s filled with pressure, competition, and anxiety. Too often, students an...

College Tours Without Leaving Home! Behind the Scenes of ‘The College Tour’ With Host Alex Boylan

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Choosing the right college is one of the biggest decisions a student will make. But what if there was a way to explore campuses across the country wit...

Gamifying the College Search Process with Sam Bernstein

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Think college searches have to be boring and overwhelming? Think again! In this episode, I sit down with Sam Bernstein, co-founder of the Loper app, t...

Time Management Strategies to Lighten Your Mental Load as a School Counselor with Kaci Ranger

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you constantly juggling emails, student crises, and endless paperwork, feeling like there’s NEVER enough time in the day? I think most of you fe...

When Parents Don’t Understand Your Role as a Counselor (and How to Change That!)

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever felt like parents don’t understand what you actually do as a school counselor? I know I’ve experienced this more times than I can co...

How to Set up a Peer Leader Program in Your School

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could create a program that not only helps your students grow as leaders but also strengthens your entire school community? That’s exact...

Noticing: A Spoken Word by Leah Grant

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever stopped to truly notice the world around you—the small moments and subtle ways people carry the weight of their day? In this unique ep...

We're Back With a Mid-Year Pep Talk and Check In

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After 150 episodes without a break, I finally hit pause - and it was the best decision! But now we’re back with a mid-year check in and pep talk. Pl...

See You in 2025, High School Counselors!

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can you believe that in 150 episodes of this podcast, I've never taken a week off from releasing episodes? Well, the time has come! High School Counse...

Shining a Light on Child Sex Trafficking with Krystal Nierman of Switch

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about a lot of sensitive topics as school counselors, and today is no exception. We’re taking a deep dive into child sex trafficking. Heavy,...

Pregnant and Parenting Teens: How to Support This Unique Population as a High School Counselor

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do if a student tells you they’re pregnant? There’s a good chance you were asked this question during a job interview because it’s a...

Developing Cultural Competency to Better Support Your Students with Jocelynn Hubbard

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You may not realize this, but you have a unique superpower in your role as a high school counselor! You have the ability to nurture your students and ...

Exploring Gap Year Opportunities for Your Students (or You!) with Julia Rogers

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have your students ever expressed interest in taking a gap year? A gap year is more than just time off! It’s a deliberate period to explore personal...

The School Counselor’s Role in School Safety and Crisis Management with Brandy Samuell

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you work in a school, there are a million and one things to think about every single day. School safety is at the top of that list, and might eve...

I Gave up Social Media for a Month, and Here’s What Happened

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you checked your phone’s screen time lately? If you’re anything like me, you might be embarrassed about how much time you actually spend on y...

How to Host a College Application Day

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As school counselors, we know that not all of our students are going to go to college after graduating. However, for the students who do have college ...

Coffee with the Counselor: What It Is and How to Run It

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever held a “Coffee with the Counselor” event at your school? This can be a great opportunity for parents to connect with counselors and ...

Why You Need to Plan Your Year with a 10,000 Foot View

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Begin with the end in mind. You've probably heard this advice before, but I want it to be your mantra this school year! One of the best things you can...

How a High School Counseling Curriculum Map Will Set You Up to Win This Year

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you’re still on summer break or have already kicked off a new school year, there’s one thing I think you need during this season: a curric...

Highs and Lows of Working with Seniors with Brittany Slagle

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve waited four episodes to listen to the last episode in our grade-level counselor series. A student’s senior year is full of ups and downs, c...

How Do You Handle Working with Juniors? An Interview with Leigh Pottle

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Being a school counselor allows you to form close relationships with your students and help guide them through their high school years. It’s honestl...

What It’s Really like to Work with Sophomores with Hannah Fain

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’re continuing our series on talking with different high school counselors who work with specific grade levels, and today is all about sophomores!...

How to Seamlessly Transition 400 Ninth Graders into High School with Felicia Carter

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re a counselor who works solely with ninth graders, your role and challenges can sometimes look different from those of other counselors wo...

What We Need to Know About Our Rising Ninth Grade Students with Lauren Tenholder

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Before the new school year officially begins, I’m starting a new series where I’m talking with counselors from different grade levels to gather in...

High School Counselor Office Prep for Back-to-School Season

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re a new high school counselor, you think you need to have a Pinterest-perfect office in order to be effective. However, your worth as a hi...

What I Learned from Supervising High School Counseling Interns

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the best ways I grew as a professional and leader was when I was a supervisor to high school counseling interns. Being responsible for teaching...

Career Exploration Help for Your High School Students: A Free Podcast Resource

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’m always looking to find new resources and information that will be helpful tools for high school students. Whether that be career opportunities, ...

What to Do When You Work with an Old School Guidance Counselor

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As a new school counselor, we’re excited and eager to focus on students, enhance the counseling program at our school, and advocate for our role to ...

How to Know When It’s Time to Move On

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The end-of-year stress and exhaustion can bring up a lot of emotions for school counselors. And when it’s finally summer break, you have the time to...

Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Psychological Safety in the Workplace with Caroline Crawford

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone wants to feel successful in their job. But sometimes, there are certain aspects in and out of your control that contribute to you feeling hes...

3 Educators Who Changed the Way I Approached My High School Counseling Job

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve been in the education field long enough, you know that the people you work with, encounter along your journey, and meet on the different p...

4 Things to Quit Worrying About as a Brand New School Counselor

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I know when I first started out as a school counselor, I was incredibly nervous and constantly worried about both the small a...

High School Transition: Creative Ways to Help Your Students Make the Leap from Eighth Grade to Ninth Grade

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Think back to the time you transitioned from middle school to high school. You went from being the oldest in the school to now being the youngest in a...

My 4 Must-Listen Podcast Episodes for New High School Counselors

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I love sharing ideas, tips, and advice about all things related to school counseling. But nothing makes me more excited than the joy, eagerness, and e...

Advice for School Counseling Job Interviews with Rachel of Bright Futures Counseling

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is the time of year when you might start looking for new opportunities in the form of a new counseling job. Whether you’re a student who just g...

Ready for Summer? Close out These 3 Things to End the Year as a High School Counselor

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Even though for some of you, summer might feel so far away, in reality, it’s just around the corner. I know I was always ready to lea...

Making an Impact with Data at the End of the Year

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, the things we have to do as high school counselors aren't glamorous, exciting, or thrilling. However, that doesn't mean they're not importa...

School Counselor Strategies to Bring to Your Next IEP or 504 Meeting with Catherine Whitcher

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’m shocked to say it, but today’s topic is a first for the podcast! It’s not something that we’re immersed in our day-to-day routine, but it’...

7 High School Counselors Share Their Inspiring Wins

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve said it before, but this time of year is one of the most stressful with graduation, wrapping up the school year, and so many other things that ...

Accepting the Reality That Some Seniors Might Not Graduate

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As graduation approaches, you’re probably doing all the last-minute details of finalizing the details of the event, ordering cap and gowns, designin...

From Off-Track to Graduation: Counselor Tips for Supporting At-Risk Students

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve officially entered the last quarter of the school year, which means graduation for seniors is just around the corner. However, we all know som...

6 High School Counseling Classroom Lesson Ideas

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As high school counselors, doing classroom lessons is part of the job and helps us stay connected to students and their needs. However, most of our le...

How Do I Start Taking Action on Classroom Lessons As a High School Counselor?

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been wanting to start classroom lessons in your high school counseling program but haven’t taken the plunge yet? You’re in the right plac...

3 Steps to Hosting a Successful Career Fair

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you interested in hosting a career fair at your high school and wondering where to begin? That's similar to the position I was in as a school c...

Finances for High School Counselors: Spending, Saving, and Investing with Jeremy Schneider

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As high school counselors, we are experts at discussing mental health, relationships, self-regulation, and post-secondary planning. But when it comes ...

How to Collect and Share Data for Your Small Groups

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You're ready to start using small groups in your high school, but you need to be able to measure their effectiveness and have something tangible to s...

Getting on Board with Small Groups in High School Counseling

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have mixed feelings about counseling small groups? Today's episode will pique your interest and get you thinking about incorporating them into ...

Solution-Focused School Counseling with Dr. Russell A. Sabella

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When was the last time you reviewed different counseling theories you could bring into your role? It's probably something you have not considered s...

The Clique Collaborative is Open and Better Than Ever!

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you looking for a high school counselor membership that provides the information you need to know, helps you understand how to apply everythi...

Here’s Why You Should Care About National School Counseling Week

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know National School Counseling Week is only a few weeks away? This year's celebration is from February 5 through February 9, 2024. Before ...

4 Essentials for a Successful Second Semester

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You made it to the halfway point; it's time to begin the second semester! You may feel excited, overwhelmed, and wondering where to start. All those...

How Maritza Cha Obtained Her Doctorate and Supports School Counselors

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever considered going back to school to get your doctorate? You may have wondered how doctorate school counseling could benefit your career....

3 Ways to Reset As You Kick Off the New Year [Replay]

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are taking it back to the second episode of this podcast! This episode is the perfect reminder to focus on resetting yourself for the new year and...

Increase Your Job Satisfaction by Setting and Keeping Boundaries: Here’s How!

25 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As high school counselors, many of us are natural helpers, and some are to a fault. This often shows up as us not following through on the boundari...

Inside Clique Collab Live: Hear Ideas, Challenges, and Inspiration From This School Counselor Community

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a high school counselor looking for a supportive and engaging community? The Clique Collaborative might be just what you're looking for, and...

What to Know About Multi-Tiered System of Supports as a High School Counselor with Dr. Jake Olsen and Dr. Peg Donohue [Replay]

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you familiar with MTSS? In case you aren’t, MTSS stands for Multi-Tiered System of Support. Essentially, it is a framework that helps schools be...

Rachel Davis Shows Us How to Reclaim Our Schedule With a Time Audit

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired of trying to squeeze in everything and feeling overwhelmed? Scheduling is hard when you're pulled in so many different directions, and i...

Support Strategies for Meeting Your High School Students’ Mental Health Needs

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As high school counselors with large caseloads, it can feel like a lot of pressure when it comes to trying to handle the mental health needs of stude...

Navigating Adult Friendships in The Workplace with Blake Blankenbecler

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle to manage the adult friendships in your life? You're not alone! Maintaining relationships as we age can be challenging. But with some...

100th Episode Q&A: Podcasting, Prioritizing Your To-Dos, Landing Jobs, Counselor Challenges, and More!

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

WOOOOO! We've hit 100 episodes on the High School Counseling Conversations Podcast! It's existed for almost two years now, which is wild for someone w...

How This High School Counselor Planned an Unforgettable Student Wellness Day with Tylee Resetich

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our high school students are so busy and surrounded with pressures of classes, college applications, sports, friendships, and more. With everything th...

What Should You Do if an Administrator Isn’t Acknowledging the Value of Your Work?

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We know that as high school counselors, our roles are unique and specialized, and it's crucial to feel valued and respected by our admin. But what hap...

A Parent-Counselor Perspective of the College Application Process with Tyesha Hemmans

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When we have children of our own, we have to juggle the role of parent and high school counselor. Our experience in school counseling can pay off when...

AI for School Counselors: 10+ Ways to Leverage Artificial Intelligence

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve likely heard all the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI). But let’s talk about AI for school counselors specifically. Can we really us...

How to Tackle the Stressors That Come with a Large Caseload

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s one big reason for counselors feeling stressed out, overworked, underpaid, and spread thin? A large caseload!  You know how it is when you’...

Create a Community of Raving Fans for Your High School Counseling Program

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a community of raving fans for your high school counseling program? You know, those people who are not only aware of the...

School Counselor Advocacy and Empowering Students for Post-Secondary Success with Priscilla Grijalva

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After witnessing a student feel defeated about plans to attend community college rather than a University, Priscilla Grijalva knew that she needed to ...

How to Advocate for Undocumented Students in Your High School

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Each student on your caseload has unique needs. Your DACA and undocumented students face a particular set of challenges, and you have the opportunity ...

Simplify the College Search: 5 Free Tools for High School Counselors and Students

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As we gear up for the school year, I know you've probably already started fielding questions from your seniors about their college search. It’s impo...

3 Assumptions to Avoid If You Want to Increase College Access on Your School’s Campus

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We all want our students to find success after high school and we do everything in our power to get them to where they need to be by graduation. This ...

What to Know About Implementing an Effective Student Support Team

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We all have students on our caseload who are falling through the cracks in one way or another. While part of your job is to advocate for these student...

The Clique Collaborative is Now Open: What to Expect Inside

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a high school counselor looking for a supportive and engaging community? The Clique Collaborative might be just what you’re looking for, and...

Conquer Counselor Imposter Syndrome Once and For All!

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ready to kickstart your year with a jolt of inspiration? This week we’re diving headfirst into the world of imposter syndrome. It’s that nagging d...

Comparing the Roles of Elementary, Middle, and High School Counselors with Laura Rankhorn and Kim Crumbley

07 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

My Highlights and Reflections from the ASCA 2023 National Conference

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I recently attended the ASCA 2023 National Conference in Atlanta and it's time for a debrief! Between the 12 sessions I attended and meeting so many i...

5 Back to School Essentials for High School Counselors

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As high school counselors, we all have our must-have items that help to get us through the year (or the day!). Today I’m sharing my top high school ...

How to Use Needs Assessments Strategically This Year in Your High School Counseling Program

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Let's tackle a topic that's been surprisingly absent from the podcast so far: needs assessments! You're gearing up for a new school year and are ready...

Set Your Year Up For Success With a Summer Team Planning Day

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Summer is for relaxing and recharging before you head into another busy school year. I hope you're taking full advantage of this season because we all...

Protecting and Prioritizing Student Confidentiality as a School Counselor

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of our greatest responsibilities and privileges as school counselors is student confidentiality. I know how difficult it can be when others in the...

From Guidance Counselor to School Counselor: Why Our Title MATTERS!

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s talk about something that may (or may not) ruffle some feathers - our title!  Does it really matter if we’re called guidance counselors ins...

My Top Tips for Attending the ASCA Conference In Person

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a high school counselor preparing to attend the ASCA National Conference for the first time? Or maybe you’re a seasoned pro in need of a ref...

How Collecting Calendar Data Can Actually Advocate for Your Role

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As school counselors, we often find ourselves reacting to emergencies rather than proactively helping our students. But what if I told you that your w...