Everyone Will Know Your Name by Saturday.
It's not a conference.
It's sixty school counselors, two days, and the questions no one else is asking.
What actually belongs on your plate.
How to hold your ground when expectations get messy.
And how to walk back onto campus knowing exactly what you stand for.
Columbus, Ohio | July 17-18
Limited to 60 school counselors...
Hosted by Steph Johnson, LPC, CSC, NCC - creator of the School for School Counselors Podcast
You've been to the conference where you leave with a tote bag and a vague sense that you should be doing "more."
This is built for the opposite:
Depth, honest conversation about real-world school counseling challenges, and a room small enough that what you leave with actually changes something.
Not trends.
Not the same tired strategies.
Not sales pitches disguised as training.
Only 33 seats remain- get yours now!
-Lynn
District Counseling Director
"One of my counselors attended every one of your sessions yesterday and raved about you on the way home."
-Kim
School Counselor Site Supervisor
"I shared your podcast with the interns I had this year and told them, 'If I had one piece of advice, this would be it- everything she says.'"
Two Days. Three Shifts.
The New Rules of Sanity-Based School Counseling
Forget the Barbie-Dreamhouse version of school counseling everyone else is peddling. If it worked, we’d all be “comprehensive” by now.
Most school counselors aren’t struggling because they’re bad at the job.
They’re struggling because they’ve been handed someone else’s benchmarks and buried under junk-drawer duties that were never theirs to begin with.
In this session, we’ll work from what actually holds up in practice using real numbers from real campuses, including mine.
You’ll leave with a program model designed for your specific school and a concrete plan for stepping into the leadership role you were meant for.
Trauma Stewardship
Being a helper doesn’t mean you’re supposed to stay stuck in everyone else’s mess.
This part of the experience digs into what actually happens when school counselors absorb crisis after crisis, story after story, year after year—and can’t quite climb back out. You’ll look closely at vicarious trauma, how it shows up in your thinking, your body, and your relationships, and why powering through isn’t a solution.
You are a Real Human Being
School counselors don't stop being human just because the job is tough.
This session is a guided return to the reason you chose this work- before the weight of the job settled in and started asking more than you could give.
Through intentional, experiential work, you'll reconnect with what makes you not just effective in the role, but fully present everywhere else- as a partner, a parent, a friend, a person- so the work doesn't slowly crowd out the rest of your life.
You'll also get time to bring your own campus into the room to get real answers...
and leave with a certificate for 9 professional development hours.
You can’t do this work in a packed ballroom.
That’s why we stop at 60.
Only 33 seats remain- get yours now!
And because we’re not all work and no play...
After-hours in Columbus will absolutely be a thing.
Real food, real humans, and Mastermind energy, no mute button required.
These experiences are completely optional and included at no additional registration cost.
Why This Meetup Exists
This experience is hosted by Steph Johnson, LPC, full-time school counselor and founder of School for School Counselors.
For nearly 30 years, Steph has worked inside public schools- serving students, supporting staff, and navigating the same challenges school counselors face every day.
She’s also mentored and advised thousands of school counselors across the country through her trainings, podcast, keynotes, and professional community.
This meetup wasn’t created to showcase a framework or sell a model.
It was created because too many school counselors are expected to follow someone else’s idea of what they need- often without anyone asking what would actually help them do the job well.
This experience flips that script.
Rather than delivering static content, Steph facilitates the room- helping school counselors surface the right conversations, make clearer decisions, and leave with direction that fits their real campus and real role.
-Kim
Mastermind Member
"I feel like I could just sit down with you and chat over a cup of coffee. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to your wisdom, insight and humor."
-Sherri
Texas Regional SC Consultant
"Your sessions are engaging, practical, and inspiring. It is no surprise that everyone was eager & excited to have you back at our event."
A Few Important Things to Know
This meetup is intentionally small.
There are only 60 seats total.
No waitlist. No overflow. (No exceptions.)
The limited number of seats is by design.
The size is what allows the experience to stay personal, responsive, and genuinely useful.
We'll meet at CoHatch Polaris (1554 Polaris Pkwy) in Columbus, OH.
Nearby hotels include:
-
Hilton Columbus/Polaris ($166-$220/night)
0.2 miles from venue -
Residence Inn by Marriott Columbus Polaris (from $270/night)
0.1 miles from the venue Staybridge Suites Columbus Polaris
0.5 miles from the venue
If you’re looking for something ASCA-approved and cutesy, this isn’t it.
If you’re ready for a smart, honest, counselor-to-counselor experience that meets you where you are and helps you step into the school year with clarity and confidence, you’ll be in the right room.
Early Registration Rate for a Limited Time
Registration will be offered in phases to reward those who commit early.
As seats fill, pricing increases.
Once the initial registration window closes- or once early seats are filled- pricing moves to the next tier.
And because this experience is capped at 60 counselors, early pricing is limited and will not be extended.
Columbus. July.
The best school counselors in the country.
One chance to do this work our way.
Only 33 seats remain- get yours now!
Frequently asked questions
Who is this experience for?
This meetup is designed for experienced school counselors who already know the basics and want something deeper than conference-style PD.
If you’re looking for worksheets, scripts, or plug-and-play programs, this won’t be the right fit.
Is this a conference?
No. There are no vendor booths, no rotating breakout sessions, and no strangers reading slides. This is a small, intentionally designed experience focused on real work, real conversations, and real decision-making.
Will I earn professional development hours?
Yes. PD documentation will be provided to show 9 hours. That said, this experience is built for counselors who care more about the quality of the work than the number of hours on a certificate.
Is this only for Mastermind members?
This experience is designed with Mastermind members in mind, and many attendees will already be part of that community. That said, you don’t need to be a member to attend- just aligned with the level and intent of the work.
What will the days actually look like?
You can expect a mix of structured discussion, guided experiential work, and time to think, reflect, and plan—without being rushed from session to session. This isn’t passive listening; it’s active engagement.
Will this be recorded?
No. This work is designed to happen in the room. The conversations, reflection, and depth don’t translate to a replay- and that’s intentional.
Why is the room capped at 60?
Because this kind of work doesn’t happen in a packed ballroom. Limiting the room protects the quality of the conversation and the experience for everyone attending.
What if I’m not sure this is the right fit?
That’s okay. This experience isn’t meant for everyone, and it doesn’t need to be.
But if you’ve been nodding along as you read this page, you’re likely exactly who it was designed for.
Will I have direct access to you during the meetup?
Yes! This experience is facilitated by me from start to finish, and the small size of the room allows for real access- not just listening from a seat. You’ll have opportunities for direct conversation, questions, and consultation throughout the day and a half.
If you’ve been in my world for a while, this will feel familiar: the same depth, clarity, and real-time thinking you’re used to... Just in the room, together.
I’m not coming in to deliver a talk and disappear. I’ll be right there, working alongside you, drawing from decades in the field and years of doing this work in real schools.
Is there a virtual option?
No. This experience is intentionally in-person. The work we’re doing relies on conversation, reflection, and being fully present in the room- things that don’t translate to a screen. If you’re looking for virtual training, the podcast and Mastermind are better fits.
What is your refund policy?
Because this is a small, in-person experience with limited seating, all registrations are non-refundable. Once you reserve your spot, that seat is held specifically for you.
If something unexpected comes up, you may transfer your ticket to another school counselor with prior approval, or apply your registration toward a future School for School Counselors event if one is available. We’ll always do our best to be reasonable—but we can’t offer refunds.
This policy allows us to keep the room small and the experience thoughtfully planned for everyone attending.
The counselors you meet in that room have a way of sticking around.
They'll still know your name- and still be checking in on you- come December.
Only 33 seats remain- get yours now!