Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today, we're pulling back the curtain on what really makes individual counseling sessions effective, engaging, and purposeful. If you've ever felt unsure about what to do in these sessions or overwhelmed by how to track student progress, this episode is packed with practical, ready-to-use strategies.
Individual counseling is an important Tier 3 support that allows you to provide targeted, personalized intervention. With the right tools and structure, these sessions can feel manageable and meaningful.
Individual counseling is an essential component of a layered support system. These sessions provide space to work one-on-one with students who need more intensive intervention.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to identify students through referral systems
How group counseling can help you determine which students may benefit from individual support
Why individual sessions allow for deeper rapport and tailored intervention
Data collection does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. This episode highlights simple tools you can implement immediately, including:
A 30-second student rating scale
Thumbs-up or thumbs-down check-ins
Quick data points that help you make informed decisions and track growth
These small, consistent data practices keep you from guessing what students need and allow you to confidently measure progress.
Engagement is key for successful sessions. This episode shares a variety of activities, strategies, and tools you can use to keep students motivated and open.
Model emotional vocabulary
Use the Zones of Regulation
Incorporate visuals
Get-to-Know-You Jenga
Peak and Pit
Genograms
Discussion or interview cards
Digging Deep activities
Personalized social stories
Crafts such as coping skills toolboxes
Board games
Task cards
Art projects
Increased hands-on activities
Use of play dough
Dolls and characters for storytelling
Verbal reflections instead of written prompts
These strategies help students express themselves, stay engaged, and build meaningful connections.
Reflection helps students internalize their learning and practice self-awareness. Inside the episode, we explore:
Journaling
Reflection sheets
Interview-style verbal reflections
Open-ended questions that support closure
Meaningful data guides your decisions and supports your advocacy efforts. You will learn how to use:
Student rating scales
Self-assessments
Behavior surveys from teachers and caregivers
This data helps you determine next steps, identify patterns, strengthen communication with stakeholders, and build year-end reports or data walls that demonstrate the impact of your counseling program.
Provide clear examples for students
Prepare materials in advance
Maintain consistent session structure
Balance conversation with activities
Resources Mentioned:
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!
