A Year in the Life of a
School Counselor 

See what I do to set up a school counseling program throughout the school year. Get fresh ideas for your school counseling program and share your creative school counseling examples too!

I thought it would be interesting to show new school counselors (veterans too!) what it is like for me each year as I set up my school counseling program in elementary school. I have also been a middle school counselor, so I will add some ideas for middle school as well.

I have been a school counselor for over ten years now. Before that I was a school teacher. I also worked in the community counseling field for five years as well. I have taught graduate classes to counseling students for seven years at two major counseling universities. The classes I specialize in are play therapy and sand tray therapy.

Let me show you what it is like for me as I work through the year as a school counselor. I have worked in large schools and small schools. This includes public schools, as well as a private school.

I have finally found the perfect little school in the mountains of North Georgia! I have about 300 students now. The rural life is so different from the 1,500 middle school students or the 800 elementary students I have had in the past, but I love it!

I also have the world's greatest principal (no lie) at my school! She supports me 150%. I have not always had supportive principals in the past. I must say that when I have support I can do my job properly. A school counselor must have support from her administration. My theory is that a school counselor is only as good as her principal! Mine is the best!!!

Still, there are days when I feel I need three of "me" to get the job done. I love to tell people that, "Counseling is like a box of chocolates, you never know what kind of day you will have!" I have had to learn that I need to take the most urgent request first. My creative counseling skills have gotten me through a lot of "stressful moments" in my career as a counselor. I hope to share these ideas with you over the year.

Please keep checking back to see a month to month schedule of how I run my school's counseling program. Let me know your ideas as well and we can publish these on the site. I look forward to sharing my ideas and experiences with you this year! 

School Counselor eBook Guidance Lesson & Stories Below:

Get a year's worth of school counselor guidance lessons with "Creative Warm & Fuzzy Classroom Guidance Lessons eBook". Introduce your students to the "Warm & Fuzzy Way". Click the link below for more information:

Get a year's worth of school counselor's guidance lessons, character education words, and social stories! Complete with lesson plans and behavior incentives.

Warm & Fuzzy School Counselor Guidance Lessons eBook 

A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: The Months of June and July

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor Continues: The Month of August

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: The Month of September

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: The Month of October (Red Ribbon Week)

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: The Month of November

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: December

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: The Month of January

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: February

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: March

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A Year in the Life of a School Counselor: May

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Get More School Counseling Ideas Here

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Share Your Creative Ideas with Other School Counselors Here

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Creative Counseling 101.com Home

Disclaimer: This website and its content is intended for trained licensed mental health professionals and school certified mental health professionals to use for their clients / students at their own discretion.

*If you ignore the disclaimer above are using these techniques on yourself and you feel any discomfort or upset it is highly suggested that you seek out a licensed  mental health professional immediately.

"Beyond Art Therapy" is the concept from Dr. Stangline that combines all creative fields in therapy. It is not the traditional "art therapy" but goes beyond to include sand tray therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, meditation, color therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a vast majority of other therapies.

For any other type of mental health emergency call your local 911 / Police Number immediately.

Dr. Stangline does not offer advice / suggestions to anyone who is not a professional mental health provider, or a student who is studying this field and has questions about mental health programs of study.