A Bit About Me

Welcome to my school counseling blog! I’ve created my little place on the web to connect with fellow counselors and educators (and anyone else who helps kids reach their full potential).

I love sharing ideas and strategies with fellow counselors, educators, and parents. I hope you find information and tools that you can use right away.

I tend to post things as they come up in my work so please let me know if you would like information or ideas on a particular topic

Better yet! Take a sec and answer 6 short questions on this counselor poll. All participants will receive a copy of my inspirational posters and notecard set!


I aim to be as helpful as possible (hey! It’s in the name!!!) Your feedback and comments on blog posts keeps me in the know about what matters to you most.

So don’t forget to comment, like, and share posts that you find helpful!

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Comments

40 responses to “A Bit About Me”

  1. Alissa : Creative With Kids Avatar
    Alissa : Creative With Kids

    Great to find your website Heather! Thanks for visiting Creative with Kids; I look forward to looking around some more 🙂

    Reply
  2. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Found your website through a pin on pinterest. The title was “35 ways you can help an angry kid,” but when I got to your website, I couldn’t find the article. I could REALLY use this right now. Can you help me out, please? Loving the great things I have found through your website!

    Reply
    1. Heather Avatar
      Heather

      Glad you found me, but I’m sorry about any confusion. You can find the post here: http://www.thehelpfulcounselor.com/35waystohelpanangrychild/ If you don’t find what you are looking for feel free to email me and I can help brainstorm some ideas.

      ~Heather
      changeispossible at live dot com

      Reply
  3. nan Avatar
    nan

    Where is the newsletter sign-up?

    Reply
    1. Heather Avatar
      Heather

      It’s in the upper right-hand corner. I had to update the plug-in. Sorry about any inconvenience!
      ~Heather

      Reply
  4. Carol Ann Avatar
    Carol Ann

    Great job I am proud of you I know you will help a lot of kids and I am with you on bullying. i was bulled in school and it was very painful. We did not have counselors to help us out or no school backing. God bless you for all your efforts. Keep up the excellent work you are doing

    Reply
  5. barbara silverberg Avatar
    barbara silverberg

    Heather help please. I accidently deleted the welcome anger cards.

    Reply
    1. Heather Thomas Avatar
      Heather Thomas

      Email me at thehelpfulcounselor@gmail.com and I will forward them to you! 🙂

      Reply
  6. bvkulajta Avatar
    bvkulajta

    Great to see you online. Congrats on the recent career options. Keep up the wonderful resources. The blog is very easy to navigate. You might want to add blog design to your list of accomplishments! What a wonderful small world we live in.
    -Bianka

    Reply
  7. dsinger Avatar
    dsinger

    We would LOVE to see some of your wonderful resources listed on http://www.AutismEducators.com. You have some products posted here that would be fabulous for our kids!

    Reply
    1. Heather Thomas Avatar
      Heather Thomas

      I’m flattered by your offer. I’ll have to check it out. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Jim Zyderveld Avatar
    Jim Zyderveld

    Hi Heather. You OK if an Aussie wants to join? I’ve been in counselling for 30 yrs including 17 years in school chaplaincy. Now, at the venerable age of 61, i’m developing a private clinic focused on helping kids in school settings who are struggling.with so many pressures. Good to see you’re helping resource busy professionals working with these kids. Jim

    Reply
    1. Helpful Counselor Avatar
      Helpful Counselor

      Hi Jim! Welcome 🙂 I’m glad to have you aboard!!! Sounds like you really love what you do. Succeeding in school is vital for lifelong success.
      Best Wishes~Heather

      Reply
  9. selesthebilog-cahiwat cahiwat Avatar
    selesthebilog-cahiwat cahiwat

    hi there! from the Phil.. I am a registered Guidance Counselor and wroking for 4years now in the public school. Good luck!

    Reply
  10. Dena Nelson Avatar
    Dena Nelson

    Visiting your website for the first time. LOVIN’ IT! I have a quick question. I’ve been providing elem. school counseling to a 5th grade boy since his first grade year. His family is now relocating and I want a special activity to do with him before he moves. We’ve been talking/discussing/ planning for the move, but we are down to the final weeks. Any ideas?
    I’m very fond of this boy, he’s special to me due to the years I’ve worked with him. Any ideas appreciated.

    Reply
    1. Heather Thomas Avatar
      Heather Thomas

      I would spend the time remaining to create a memory book with the student. Create journal pages like “My favorite memory” “I’ll always remember” “Best advice” etc. Include a spot for him to collect contact information so he can keep in touch with friends. You may also want to give him a preaddressed envelope/card so he can write to you/school/classroom when he moves to his new school.

      Reply
  11. JRTaylor_36 Avatar
    JRTaylor_36

    I just found your website today and I have to say that I love it!! I am currently a junior psychology major and am strongly considering pursuing a degree in school counseling. It seems to me that you think it was a good decision (: I can’t wait to explore the site more and start to decide if this is the path for me! Any advice?

    Reply
    1. Heather Thomas Avatar
      Heather Thomas

      Hi JR! I’m glad you’ve found my website. 🙂

      I started my career with a BS from U of M in Community/Clinic Psychology so you are on a great path to becoming a school counselor. I recommend that you continue onto grad school as soon as possible. I was a bit intimidated, but it was the best move I have made (in terms of my career).

      I absolutely love school counseling! Best of luck in your academic pursuits!
      ~Heather

      Reply
  12. Lee Smitherman Avatar
    Lee Smitherman

    Hey there. Thanks for the helpful post about the school counseling internship.

    I am going for my internship interview to a high school in New Hampshire on May 2nd. The only thing I know about the interview is we are “going into two classrooms” and having lunch with some faculty.

    Do you have any advice about what to expect or what I can do to prepare?

    Thanks, -Lee

    Reply
  13. Deborah Kemp Avatar
    Deborah Kemp

    Hi Heather! I’ve been following your blog for quite a while! Always good to read. I would love for you to visit my new blog K-4 Teaching Resources! If you like it, follow me on the Bloglovin button! I’m just starting out, but maybe you would like to be a guest blogger and let me post an article-giving you full credit of course! It would be relevant to my audience. Thank you! Debbie
    http://www.deborahpagekemp.com

    Reply
  14. Heather Moen Brandt Avatar
    Heather Moen Brandt

    What is the best paint color for a school counselors?

    Reply
    1. Heather Thomas Avatar
      Heather Thomas

      I’m not sure…are you referring to painting a counselor’s office? I would try to choose soothing (earthy) tones.

      Reply
  15. Michelle Skram Maynard Avatar
    Michelle Skram Maynard

    I love your website! I am starting a new job in the Fall this year and really want to get organized. I was doing a little reading about your background. I was wondering how you went from school counselor, opened your own practice, and still see students? What a wonderful experience! If you wouldn’t mind sharing how you went about setting that up I would appreciate it.

    Reply
    1. Heather Thomas Avatar
      Heather Thomas

      Hi Michelle!

      I actually started off as a therapist for children who were made wards of the state due to abuse and/or neglect. I intended to go back to clinical counseling but I picked up the school counseling track (as well) in grad school and voila! I ended up landing a job before my last semester of grad school.

      In Michigan, we have a MA in Counseling with a school counseling endorsement so school counselors can see kids in private practice as long as they have the right supervision.

      It is a pain starting out with a limited license since it’s all but impossible to bill insurance as a private provider. I don’t mess around with insurance though…my clients pay me directly and I provide in-home counseling.

      I only see a few students outside of school hours to help keep my sanity.

      Reply
  16. Vanessa Gallo Avatar
    Vanessa Gallo

    Hello,

    I am really impressed with your blog as well as the contents in your blog. I would say your posts are really excellent. I appreciate the way you are maintaining it. Since I am impressed with your blog, I am keen on to submit my content on your blog (as guest post) along with my website link. I normally write in accordance with academic and non-academic related topics. Please tell me if you can accept guest posts and I will be so happy to share my content to publish in your blog. I guarantee you with 100% original and good quality content.

    Regards,
    Vanessa

    Reply
  17. Valerie Henning Avatar
    Valerie Henning

    I stumbled upon your blog and love it. Thank you for what you are doing! I have a question for you and your readers…. I just received an iPad from my administrator. Can you make suggestions for ways of using it in an elementary counseling setting? I am not overly tech savvy, but I know there are tremendous resources I am just now aware of at this time!
    Thank you!
    ~Valerie

    Reply
  18. Judith Azran Avatar
    Judith Azran

    Hi Heather, absolutely love your site! Informative and full of good energy! I am a graduate student and putting together an anti bullying booklet as part of my project. If I buy one of your booklets, can I use parts of it in my project? (Coloring pages, bookmarks.)

    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Heather Avatar
      Heather

      Sorry for not responding in a more timely manner! I appreciate your attempt to contact me and I’ll assume you used the material. I would love to see a copy of your finished project!

      Moving forward, my material (free and paid) is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without expressed permission. If you have additional projects and would like to include purchased or free downloads, please make it so that the material cannot be reproduced by writing “sample” across activity pages and include my website on your resource page.

      Of course, feel free to share links to my free downloads so your fellow counselors-in-training can get a set for their own stash!

      Reply
  19. Laurie Avatar
    Laurie

    Hi Heather,

    I am trying to download your brochure and Meet the Counselor, but can’t get it to work. I have installed Zip Devil and it is showing on my dock. Any other ideas?
    I love your stuff and site!

    thanks,
    Laurie

    Reply
    1. Heather Avatar
      Heather

      Sorry! I’m not familiar with that program. 🙁

      Reply
  20. lolobunny Avatar
    lolobunny

    Hi Heather,

    New follower here. Love the resources in your TPT store. You blog is going to be very helpful for my teaching 🙂

    Reply
    1. Heather Avatar
      Heather

      So glad you found me!

      Reply
  21. Jeanie Cave Avatar
    Jeanie Cave

    Hi There,

    I am a clinical psychologist in private practice in South Africa. Where can I please purchase your ultimate social skills checklist?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Heather Avatar
      Heather

      Hello Jeanie,

      Lovely to know that my activities are helpful half-way across the world!!! There’s no need to purchase the checklist. It’s a free download. Just click on the download text!

      Best wishes,
      Heather

      Reply
  22. Tracey Watkins Avatar
    Tracey Watkins

    Hi Heather,

    I am a preschool autism unit teacher always searching for different assessments to use with my students. I came upon you Ultimate Social Skills Checklist but it will not download. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    1. Heather Avatar
      Heather

      Hello Tracey,

      I checked it and the link is working properly.

      Best wishes,
      Heather

      Reply
  23. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    Thank you for sharing your concern with me. If you are familiar with my work you will know that I have many resources that portray African American children with a wide variety of feelings. I also use clip art that features children of other ethnicities with angry expressions. In addition, I have numerous articles featuring pictures of “white” kids expressing anger.

    While I realize that “The Angry Black Man” is a horrible stereotype in our society. However, all races experience emotions…especially anger. I’ve worked for over a decade in inner-city Detroit and Flint. I create resources that will connect with my students and the children I service.

    Open dialogue is very important to dealing with the racial tensions of our country, but that goes both ways.

    Sincerely,
    Heather

    Reply
  24. maggie26 Avatar
    maggie26

    what a great blog. My son has been left out since he started at his new school. It has been three years and things seemed so great this year until the last month. There was a disagreement and my son and another child. Now this other child does the gosipping and continues with the remarks. Slowly the group has stopped communicating and talking to him. It is so hard to watch. I will use your tips though,

    Reply

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