Hello all! I was hoping that you could provide me with potential interview questions for school counseling positions? I obtained my PEL in 2014 and worked in nonprofit organizations within CPS and District 214. In 2018 I had my first child and 2020 my second. I was a SAHM from 2018-2023. I started working in my children's school as a SECA these last 3 school years. I am hoping to continue my professional journey as school counselor, but feel unprepared for the interview process as much has time passed. I would greatly appreciate any help and guidance you can give! Thank you!

I am a psychotherapist who began a solo private practice this year after 27 years of working in the field for various state, federal, and non-profit Agency programs. I focus on treatment with individuals who have a complex history of childhood and adult trauma (abuse, neglect, or marginalization) which has negatively impacted their sense of self or identity, specifically gender, sexuality, disability, or neurodiversity and are currently experiencing distress and low life satisfaction. My approach to trauma healing focuses on improving one’s ability to regulate emotionally and behaviorally, correcting distorted cognitive perceptions of self, others, and their environment, and resetting their overactivated ANS system. To achieve this my interventions are trauma-informed and interpersonal based, along with a combination of Cognitive-Behavioral, Dialectical Behavioral, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques and the use of Somatic/Polyvagal Theory with the Safe and Sound Protocol or Rest and Restore Protocol. I am from Michigan originally but live 40 miles outside Chicago, near Joliet now. I am constantly finding new resources but something that others might not know about is: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness Awareness Training for Focus & Flourishing has a list of curated guided meditations that I share with clients to help them build their awareness "muscle". https://cih.ucsd.edu/mindfulness/guided-audio-video and then with share them with the amazing Tara Brach https://www.tarabrach.com/guided-meditations/ I find this better than pointing clients to random Youtube videos.

Do you have a great career inventory you give your adult clients? I'm looking for one that is free if possible! What do you use?

I’m reworking the PD on Counselor HQ and will be adding courses here on Skool in the next couple weeks. What on-demand PD would you like to see here? What topics would you like to have live webinars on?

When I found my internship site, I was offered not only to do my internship there, but also to stay as a counselor after my hours are completed and my training is done. I had a rough last semester with lots of personal things going on, but I managed to maintain my GPA and got elected to Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society, and the National Society for Leadership and Success. I am running for Graduate Student Board Member at the Illinois Mental Health Counseling Association. I encourage you all to vote if you are a member. It looks like I will be the Grad Student Board member by default because no one else is running, but the Board Member at large has a large number of nominees and it will be interesting to see who wins. I have two more semesters to go, but I only have two more semesters to go!