The Counselor Collaborative: A Full Day of Learning for Miami-Dade School Counselors

Last week, The Mindful Network brought together 140 school counselors from across Miami-Dade County for a professional development day built entirely for them.

We called it The Counselor Collaborative — and it was everything we hoped it would be.

School counselors carry a lot. They're often the first person a struggling student turns to, and the last line of support before a crisis. So we didn't want another sit-and-listen training. We wanted a day that filled their cups back up.

We started with Motivational Interviewing

Dr. Mejia and her team from the Adolescent Wellness Academy (AWA) opened the day with an interactive Motivational Interviewing session — and they set the tone immediately.

No lecture. No slides you forget by lunch.

Real practice, real conversations, and tools counselors could walk back into their offices and use the very next morning to meet students where they are.

Then we connected them to care

Next came the part we care about most at TMN: connection.

Counselors spent time networking with providers from our network — the ones offering specialized treatments and higher levels of care. Because when a student needs more than a school can offer, a counselor should already know exactly who to call.

That's the whole point of what we do. Fewer dead ends. More trusted hands.

And we closed with burnout — because they needed it

Dr. Mejia came back to close the day with a session on burnout, and it landed.

Counselors give and give. This was the part of the day that reminded them to protect their own well-being, too — with stress techniques they can actually use, not just talk about.

You can't pour from an empty cup. So we made space to refill.

A full day of learning, connection, and care

By the end, it was clear this was more than a training. It was 140 people who spend their days serving Miami-Dade’s youth, getting served for once.

More tools. Stronger networks. Better care for the students who need it.

Thank you

None of this happens without partnership.

A huge thank you to Dr. Cine and Ms. Lee, the mental health leaders at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, for working alongside us to make this day possible. Your trust and collaboration built something our community will feel for a long time.

And to every counselor who showed up ready to learn — thank you for the work you do every single day.

This is just the beginning.

The Mindful Network connects South Florida families to trusted mental health and recovery providers. Explore the directory at themindfulnetwork.com.