A Peek Inside My School Counselor Office
Hi there, counselor friend! Back to school season is quickly approaching, and I thought it was the perfect time to give you a school counselor office tour! Setting up a school counseling office is such an exciting time, but when you’re starting from scratch with blank walls and “school-funded” rooms, it can be a little daunting.
Hi, I’m Rachel Davis! I’m a former school counselor with over 8 years of experience in the classroom. I specialize in creating easy-to-implement strategies for busy school counselors, and I am the counselor and curriculum designer behind Bright Futures Counseling, a community designed to offer counselors the support they need to feel confident serving their students well.
Let’s take a little flashback to a few years ago when I was setting up my elementary counseling office after taking a couple of years off. Oh, and did I mention…. my new school was in Costa Rica!
A Little Context Before the School Counselor Office Tour
Okay, now don’t click off this page just because I’m showing an office in a Costa Rica school. I promise there is valuable insight here!
Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. We moved to Costa Rica a few years ago, and at the time I was thrilled to live and work in paradise! But we didn’t have a Target, Dollar Tree, or easy accessibility to office decor.
I could barely find picture frames for my house, much less bean bags for my calm down corner!
So I had to shift my mindset to my counseling office being a “work in progress” over the school year, rather than perfect and ready to go on day 1 of having students.
Flash Forward to Now Me Reminiscing
Y'all this is my favorite office I ever had. Can we just talk about dreaming big for a second?
When I got this job, I had no idea what my office looked like or a clue on how I was going to commute to work (buying a car here is a little tricky too)!
All summer leading up to our move, I was manifesting with the mantra "I have an office with a window that I drive to in my SUV."
After lots of prayers and planning, here we are! I had an office with two huge windows, and we found an SUV!
So please, if you take nothing else away from this blog post, take this: whether you have a closet or a classroom, hang in there and dream big!
My School Counselor Office Space
The Calm Down Corner
A calm down corner is a must-have in any counseling office. In simple terms, it is a safe space where kids can go when they need help managing strong emotions and self-regulating.
This part of your office is supposed to feel cozy and welcoming (aka Hygge). P.S. My husband gives me a hard time that my calm-down "corner" isn't actually in a corner!
My calm down corner had a bulletin board with calming mandalas.
Download the calm down corner mandala banner from my free resource library!
On the same bulletin board, I had an image of a "dot dude" meditating and folders where I kept my feelings check posters and guided meditations.
Little counselor tip: I suggest laminating your feelings check posters since you’ll most likely use them daily with groups and individuals.
My calm down corner also included a coping strategies toolbox. You can read more about my favorite calming strategies for SEL tools in this blog post!
For seating, I had two rugs I found at our local supermarket and a beach tapestry. I couldn't find beanbags, so instead I used my blow-up beach chair!
My students loved this space and used it regularly, and with intention throughout the year! You don’t have to have fancy gadgets or the perfect “aesthetic corner,”; these are some items that were on my Amazon wishlist and I wanted to add in the future:
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These budget friendly fidget balls and these sensory bottles
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Actual bean bags
Bulletin Boards
In addition to the bulletin board in my calm down corner, I have a Self-Regulation Station where students can move a clothespin to indicate which "zone" they are in.
This was my first year having a functional bulletin board, and I loved it!
You can read about all of my bulletin board ideas in this blog post. And remember, if you don't have a bulletin board, hang up a piece of butcher paper and decorate it. That's what I did!
You can even add cute trim from Amazon, like these confetti borders!
School Counselor Office Posters
Inspirational posters are a great addition to any counseling office. I bought these tropical growth mindset posters from My Teaching Pal on TpT.
If you want a full roundup of office decor ideas, I've got a whole post for that here.
My School Counselor Desk
My office desk was basic but functional. I liked keeping a file cabinet by my desk to have a file folder with each student's info easily accessible. I also kept my essential oils diffuser and basic office supplies nearby.
Whiteboard
This was my first year having a dry-erase whiteboard, and it was so functional for writing “on the fly” examples, plus it’s a paper saver!
It also ended up being a great place to display a feelings check prompt and confidentiality sign.
My confidentiality sign is included in my free resource library
My School Counseling Small Group Space
One of my favorite parts of being a school counselor was leading small groups. I loved to lead small groups at a round table or kidney table, because it helps all students feel equal, and it is a great way to facilitate conversations. \
If you’re building a small group space, I definitely recommend investing in a bookshelf to store small group curriculum and your school counseling library.
The Talk Space
This was my favorite spot in my counseling office. I was so excited to have a couch and chair!
Couches create more of a comfortable school counselor office vibe rather than a sterile classroom.
I also loved having adult-size seating options for parent meetings.
Outside Door
On the outside door of my office I had my Meet the Counselor Bitmoji sign (snag the free template in my resource library!) and my self-referral forms.
Students could easily grab a paper form or self-refer using a QR code. You can use this QR code generator to create your own for free. It’s easy, and it makes you look tech-savvy and cool!
Final Thoughts on Setting Up Your School Counselor Office
Here's what I hope you take away from this little tour: your office does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Mine certainly wasn't ready on day one, and that turned out to be okay.
Whether you're working with a spare closet, a shared room, or two big windows in Costa Rica, your space can grow with you over the year. Start with what you have, add a cozy calm down corner, and let the rest come together as you go.
Your students don't need a Pinterest-perfect room. They need a warm, welcoming space where they feel safe, and you're already creating that just by caring enough to read this far.
Join IMPACT: Your All-In-One Counseling Support System
If you are looking for ready-made SEL lessons, planning support, and a community of counselors who understand the unique challenges of this role, you will love IMPACT, my monthly membership for school counselors.
Inside IMPACT, you will receive access to hundreds of counseling resources, monthly professional development with certificates, structured curriculum support, planning tools, and a community of counselors ready to encourage and collaborate with you.
You do not have to navigate school counseling alone. IMPACT gives you the clarity, confidence, and tools to serve your students well all year long.
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