296. Counseling Outside of Your Office
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Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today’s episode is a short but powerful reminder to take your counseling outside of your office.
This was something I really struggled with during my first year. I loved my office. I had created a cozy, welcoming space with all the things that made it feel safe and calm for students. It was a place where students came for small groups and individual sessions, and it worked well for that purpose. But during my in between time, I found myself sitting at my desk handling emails, scheduling, and other tasks.
As I began shadowing veteran counselors and gained more experience, I noticed something important. Many of them were rarely in their offices. They were out in the building, supporting students in real time, observing behaviors, and making their presence known throughout the school.
Taking your counseling outside of your office allows you to connect with students in more natural and meaningful ways. It also gives you valuable insight into how students are functioning in their everyday environments.
Here are a few simple ways to do this.
Morning arrival
Many counselors begin their day by helping with morning drop off. This is a great opportunity to see how students are arriving at school, observe interactions with caregivers, and make quick, informal check ins that set the tone for the day.
Lunch or recess duty
These duties can feel like they are outside of your role, but they can actually be incredibly valuable. This is a perfect time to observe students you are currently working with and see if they are applying the skills you are teaching. It is also a great opportunity to connect with students who are not on your caseload and begin building relationships.
Informal connection opportunities
Use unstructured time to build rapport with students. This might look like starting an impromptu lunch bunch game, walking around campus, or stepping into classrooms to observe and support. These small moments often lead to meaningful connections and help teachers feel supported as well.
When you step outside of your office, you expand your reach and impact. Students begin to see you as a consistent and approachable presence throughout their day, not just someone they visit when something is wrong.
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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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