Everyone Will Know Your Name by Saturday.
This is not a conference.
It's sixty school counselors in one room for two days: small enough that by Saturday morning, everyone knows each other's names.
The sessions are built around what school counseling actually looks like on real campuses with real ratios and real admin who don't always make it easy.
Not the ideal model. The messy, busy, 1000 mph reality.
Hosted by Steph Johnson, LPC, CSC, NCC - creator of the School for School Counselors Podcast
I'll be teaching in that room the entire time. Working my guts out. For both days. Because when you walk through that door in Columbus, I want to be able to look you in the eye and know that I earned your respect.
There are no guest presenters. No fellow school counselors who submitted a session proposal and are trying out an idea on a live audience. Just me. Both days. Giving everything I have to this room. Because when this is over, I have to be able to look every one of you in the eye and know it was worth your summer.
No trends.
Not the same tired strategies.
Not sales pitches disguised as training.
21 seats remaining
-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
Most school counselors aren't struggling because they're bad at the job. They're struggling because the model they were handed was never built for their actual campus: their actual ratios, their actual community, the real-world reality of a day when three things are happening at once and someone just added a fourth.
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.
The Counselor Behind the Caseload
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.
21 seats remaining
After the first day of sessions, we're doing dinner and drinks in Columbus.
First round is on me.
Not a "networking event." Just sixty school counselors who just spent a full day doing real work together, sitting down somewhere with food and something cold to drink.
The kinds of conversations that start with, "Okay, but what do you actually do when..." and end hours later when someone realizes they have to be up early.
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 typical "conference" 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
Columbus. July 17-18.
$229
Registration closes July 1.
21 seats left.
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 open to any school counselor who wants something more substantive than standard conference PD. Mastermind members will find familiar language and frameworks, but no prior Mastermind experience is required.
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 this room have a way of sticking around.
They'll still know your name- and still be checking in on you- when December rolls around.
21 seats remaining