u/Glum_Sand6487

Hey y’all! Happy start of school year for most folks!

This year I’m trying to track my time more thoroughly so I have data about how much time I spend on what. I’m using a Google sheet to track how much time a day I spend on these categories: Direct Student Services, Indirect SS, Planning/Data, and Non-Counseling Duties.

Two questions for the group:

1. Any input on other categories I should add or tips you learned from tracking your time?

2. How would you classify time when you’re informally talking with students like during lunch, period changes and arrival? I probably spend at least an hour everyday just being present in the common areas so I’m available to students and building rapport but I’m not sure if that’s necessarily direct time?

Hi all! Happy August Eve!!!

I’m starting my third year as a school counselor but this will be my first year as a 9th Grade Counselor. (Just the one grade). The past 2 years I’ve been a 12th grade counselor so I am used to data heavy, intensive graduation and college/career stuff. My new school wants me to focus on SEL and MTSS stuff for the 9th graders including some high school transition lessons. I’m excited for a change but also nervous! I was so confident working with 12th grade but the more SEL heavy 9th grade counseling is a little intimidating to me.

Please share any advice or specific resources you have for classroom lessons or MTSS for 9th graders!

Hey all!

I’m leaving my school after only 2 years (only bc I’m moving) and though my time here was short I am really proud of the strong relationships I built with students and staff. I’ve already told staff I’m leaving but I didn’t say anything to my students. The end of the year came so quickly and I didn’t have time to come up with a plan. Their last day was weeks ago. I work with 11th and 12th grade so I know it’s not necessary to prep them for a transition to a new counselor but several of them will probably try to email me over the summer with questions/concerns about their upcoming senior year, etc and I don’t want them to be blindsided or panicked when it bounces back.

I’m thinking about sending a short message to all my upcoming seniors congratulating them on finishing this year and letting them know I won’t be returning, but will be working until Friday if they have any questions for me, as well as who else to contact at school after I leave if they have questions or need help.

Is this too extra or an appropriate way to wrap up this year?

shoutout to someone on another subreddit who recommended vitamin D to help with withdrawal/discontinuation effects

I recently halved my Cymbalta dose from 60 to 30 due to severe overheating and temperature regulation issues (esp in the summer). I followed the advice of decreasing the actual little beads in the capsule over the course of about 2 mos. Once I was on 30mg/day I was still feeling severe fatigue and could barely last a day without a mid day nap but the vitamin D I think made a huge difference???? I suddenly have energy in the mornings and am no longer automatically waking up depressed… Maybe my body finally acclimated to the new dose but this started on day 2 or 3 of taking vitamin D so either way…. thanks universe 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Hi all!

Hope you’re enjoying your summer! (or will be soon—I’ve still got 2 weeks)

Anyways, I’m moving and switching jobs and looks like I’ll be doing a shift to a very small k-12 (about 250 total, their graduation class this year was 15!). I’ve never been at a school so small and am trying to prepare myself for the switch of having ALL grade levels (yes, I’ll be the only counselor for kindergarten to 12th grade) as well as having less supports (less support staff, no counseling team, less community resources)

What’s been your experience working at small schools, and/or schools with limited resources?

I’m moving this summer and just landed a job in my new area. I’m excited but it’ll be quite a big switch!

I’ve only been a full time counselor for 2 years. I’m the 11th-12th grade counselor in a 7-12 building, and work with a team of 4 other full time counselors in our building. Our building has about 1,000 students and we’re part of a huge school district.

Next year, in the position I just accepted, I’ll be the only full time counselor (there’s one .5 counselor too) at a super small district (less than 300 students across 2 buildings). I’ll be splitting time between the K-6 building and the 7-12 building. Basically building a school counseling program from scratch at the Elementary building and assisting the .5 counselor with the high school counseling.

I’m nervous as hell but also excited for this opportunity to work with all ages in a new community.

➡️What advice do you have for working with the whole range of k-12??
➡️How the HECK do I prepare for this over the summer??
➡️any advice for building a comprehensive school counseling program?? (my school doesn’t have one, we’re inner city and way more reactive than proactive…)

Hi all!

I have a really hard time with heat intolerance, mostly due to the medications (SNRI) im on, but am trying to do everything I can to still live my best life this summer.

Partner and I are doing a short 3 day Disney World trip in July (no, we can’t reschedule. we’re tagging onto a family members trip.)

I’m worried about the July Florida heat and want to be as prepared as humanly possible. ANY IDEAS/PRODUCTS/ADVICE welcome :)

Things I already plan to do:
- bring ice water and electrolytes into the park with me
- frequent breaks in the shade and AC when possible
- sunscreen duh
- handheld rechargeable fans (I have at least 3)
- cooling hat maybe??? any recs??
- we already have plans to go as soon as the parks open (we’re staying at a Disney resort so we get early entry) and leaving during peak heat hours if im having a bad time